@redball342 posted:Hope you are feeling better after all these months.
Was glad to see your post the other day. Chime in here more often. You can give us a lot of advice on our layouts.
Redball342
Elliot hasn’t visited the forum since January. His handle is Big_Boy_4005. So it wasn’t his post you saw.
@Jim R. posted:Elliot hasn’t visited the forum since January. His handle is Big_Boy_4005. So it wasn’t his post you saw.
With all due respect to Elliot as well as the concerned members of this forum. Folks should pay closer attention to posting dates as well as the content of an older thread.
From the first page of this thread , posted 11/27/20:
"As for the subject of this topic, I have not set foot in the train room in well over a year. All train related activities have stopped. The main reason for this is my health. The neuropathy in my hands is so severe, I have trouble with a knife and fork, let alone modeling tools. My other problem is my knees. I injured the left one about three years ago, when I tripped over an electrical cord, and landed on the bare concrete. The following year, I did the right one, when I did a toe plant into the floor while putting away groceries."
"As if all of that wasn't enough, fourteen weeks ago, I fell again. This time was the worst. I ended up with a compound fracture of both the right tibia and fibula. That's when the bone sticks out through the skin. For football fans, think Dak Prescott, or if you're old school, Joe Theismann."
"There was a silver lining to having neuropathy in my legs, I heard the bones snap, but never felt any pain. The ambulance crew, sheriff's deputies, and ER staff, couldn't believe it. The first day in the hospital, I took a couple rounds of Tylenol, but that was it."
"After a couple nights in the hospital, they shipped me off to rehab for two and a half weeks. I was lucky to have dodged Covid while I was there. They started getting cases just after I went home."
"We had to rent a ramp, so I could get in the house in my wheel chair. One day, about five weeks ago, it snowed. That was the day I relearned how to get up the steps in the garage. I'm getting around pretty well now, but I still have to wear a boot 24/7. I'm pretty sure the bones are healed. The problem is the skin, that's still a mess. Of course I can't drive, because it's my right leg."
"I haven't been through a metal detector since I did this, but I'm curious if all this metal would set it off, cause there is a bunch of it, rods and plates and pins and screws."
"Well, there you have it, straight from the horse's mouth. No more guessing required."
"Without anything train related to talk about, I don't plan to hang out here anymore. It has been a difficult decision to give it up, but I just can't do it anymore. Sorry guys, it was fun while it lasted."
Elliot
Elliot has some sobering thoughts on the temporal nature of this hobby that can control our lives if we let it.
Especially significant coming from one who was building what may well be the finest and most intricate of 3 rail layouts.
Elliot has been very helpful in patiently responding to my questions with detail that saved me wasted dollars & effort. He had planned to visit my layout just before the start of his recent health challenges.
Elliot's prospective reminded me of a letter the great John Allen penned in 1965 while dealing with some life altering health issues "...I'm now at the point where I'm doubting if the hobby isn't too trite to pursue further. "
There are spiritual and relational values that far transcend our enjoyable hobby and sometimes it takes an unexpected life impact to get our attention. At least that was my experience, hence my signature...
Regret to info everyone that Elliot Feinberg passed away this morning. It was my honor working with him for 4 years on his huge layout in his home basement.
Patrick
Thank you for the sad information
Thanks for letting us know, Patrick. Definitely sad news to learn. My condolences to all his friends and family.
-Greg
Very sad news indeed. Condolences to the family, friends, and those of us on this forum that enjoyed this man and his contributions to the forum.
That is truly sad news, please pass my condolences on to his family and friends.
Condolences.
Very sad news.
Patrick,
Thank you for passing this on. This is a sad day indeed. I've been following his layout build from the beginning. It truely was a wonderful, monumental undertaking. He will be missed. My condolences to his family and friends.
Chris
LVHR
I and another train friend were talking about Big Boy this morning. He helped me on 2 of my biggest projects and I am grateful for his help.
I also am truly sorry to hear of his passing.
May God let him rest in peace.
Elliott Feinberg, Rest In Peace, Brother. We'll blow the whistle for you in remembrance. The end of the line was, for you, much too soon. This sadness will linger.
Always my worst fear when we don't hear from someone for a while. He definitely was a fighter. Prayers go up.
Dave
So sad to hear of Big Boys' passing. My highest regards to his long and valuable contributions to the Forum. May he rest in well deserved peace.
John
Thank you for news Patrick. Elliot has already been missed here, and I feared this news was inevitable. My condolences to his family, and to you Patrick on the loss of your friend. May he rest in peace, and God's light shine down to all who loved him.
This hits hard.
Elliot was an important figure to me when he opened EnterTrainment, an O gauge layout attraction, in the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN, in August 1992, when the shopping center was unveiled.
When I connected with Elliot in person in 2016, I was happy to invite him to visit the Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Club in New Berlin, WI, a kind of payback for his efforts 20 years earlier. (That’s me on the left and Elliot to the right in the photo.)
I figured I would one day follow up with a visit to his Stillwater, MN, home, but his subsequent health struggles and my own scheduling challenges made that more difficult. Now I regret not making it a priority.
Elliot was a fun guy. How could I not like him?
My condolences as well.
@CGWforever posted:Regret to info everyone that Elliot Feinberg passed away this morning. It was my honor working with him for 4 years on his huge layout in his home basement.
Patrick
I had the privilege of meeting him and visiting his layout back in 2019. He was a gracious host, but it was apparent that his health issues were taking a toll on him. I've missed his posts, and it's unfortunate that his layout was never completed. He was a skilled and passionate model railroader, and a fine person.
Please pass along my condolences to his family.
Saddened by the news of Elliot's passing. My condolences to Tammy and family. Elliot was truly a visionary and gifted modeler. I had the pleasure of visiting his layout on several occasions. He was a very gracious host and his layout and postings were an inspiration to all of us. I remember visiting his "Entertrainment" layout that was featured on the top floor of the Mall Of America back in the early days of the malls existence. It was truly a wonderland of operating trains. Thank you Elliot for your lifelong contribution to this hobby.
Rest in Peace!
Dave
Very sad news. I found Elliot's "Dream Nightmare Layout" thread when I joined the forum. I was truly impressed by his undertaking. Learning of his background with Entertrainment made it even better.
Despite his health issues, he was always the eternal optimist despite nails in the foot, banged up knees, and the regular dialysis treatments.
The giant helix was awesome.....
Thanks for sharing the news with us Patrick.
Rest in peace Elliot.
Bob
Elliot was a real positive contributor to the hobby. Gone too soon. Condolences to his family and friends.
I am so saddened to hear this. My heartfelt condolences to all his family and friends.
RIP
Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
Jerry
Elliot provided many hours of enjoyment reading the thread on his layout. It always was a must read. I will miss him. Respectfully, Dave
Tough news. I didn’t know Elliot personally, but I read each of his monthly updates religiously. His skill and dedication were matched only by his wit and humor. I’m sorry to hear of his passing.
Wow just seen this. Loved seeing his post on the forum so we were in MN and We had stopped by to check out his layout in 2017 and we had a nice visit so sad to hear he has passed eh. I even brought him a gift RR crossing sing I had made for his train room door.
Wow. Just saw this. My condolences to Elliott's family.
Thank you for the news and our prayers go to his friends and family. His layout updates were always fun to review.
My condolences to his family and friends. I absolutely loved his layout thread and his impressive technical skills. He was a great inspiration to a lot us and he will be missed. God speed Elliot.
link to obituary
I sincerely hope his layout will not be dismantled and sold off as pieces. RIP Elliot. j
Wow, just seeing this. I was lucky to call him friend and be a "helper".. now and again.
sad face
@JohnActon posted:I sincerely hope his layout will not be dismantled and sold off as pieces. RIP Elliot. j
There’s no way that layout can be disassembled and reassembled elsewhere. It’s custom-designed for his basement and very complex.
Much depends on the estate. I assume Tammy was set up to live there. If she decides to sell the home, I can’t imagine a real estate agent not insisting that the layout be removed before the property is listed.
Even marketing the property with the layout in place would be problematic. The layout is far from finished and would require years of work and a lot of money, meaning it would appeal to even fewer hobbyists.
Elliot mentioned several years ago that his son’s interest in the layout had faded. Unless Matthew wants it preserved in place, it will likely be dismantled.
Elliot was building something unique. I’m still sad he isn’t around, and sadder that his masterpiece never reached the stage in which it could have been heralded in our hobby lore. It would have brimmed with Elliot’s passion.
Very sad to hear, RIP Big Guy
Elliot's posts revealed his good nature and tremendous energy and commitment to his hobby. I enjoyed his progress and problem solving posts. Prayers for him.
Prayers for Elliott and those who mourn him. His monthly layout updates were appointment reading for anyone familiar with his project. And there was no contributor here more generous or good-spirited.
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