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Received late word today from some close friends that Richard Kughn passed away today. He was a giant in our hobby, whom many consider to be the savior of Lionel. I could write pages on what he accomplished, but for me personally he allowed me the honor of telling the story of Madison Hardware. He was incredibly kind and gracious to me over the years and showed me things that I never thought I would see. 

Beyond all of that one of the most special memories I have with him is kneeling next to him while he sat in his office chair back in 2016 and paged through the new Lionel catalog. We ooohed and ahhhed together over the new products and talked about what our favorite items were. Even 21 years removed from owning Lionel he still loved the company to his very core. 

He will be sorely missed and I will miss our visits.

Last edited by Allan Miller
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Sad to hear, thanks for posting. He truly did 'save' Lionel when the company was floundering and on the ropes. He had the passion and the vision to bring it back and helped preserve it. Some complained that he ruined the hobby for small business that had used the Lionel name over the years, but in retrospect, he actually brought the company back to a cohesive operation that enabled it to flourish and prosper. He had the ability to make it work again and by forming a business partnership with Mike Wolf, they brought Lionel into the modern age of train manufacturing and brought in newer prototypes as ell as reviving the 'Lionel Classics' in standard gauge.

Last edited by c.sam

I was not prepared for this, but to say I'm sad would be an understatement.

I'm very disappointed I never got to meet and thank Richard for everything he did for Lionel during his ownership. It was part of my childhood, and Lionel probably would not become the success that it was throughout the 90's without him. So many great trains like the new scale Hudson were built and so many great innovations like TMCC and RailSounds were born.

I'm incredibly grateful to Richard Kughn and his team at Lionel Trains, Inc. for all their hard work and just being an icon and inspiration to everyone in the hobby.

Words cannot adequately express how sad I was to awake this morning to this distressing news.

I knew Richard fairly well and met and spoke with him on a number of occasions back when he headed Lionel, as well as in the years thereafter. He truly saved Lionel Trains at the right time in its long, illustrious, and sometimes turbulent history, and I honestly feel that by doing so he saved the O gauge hobby in a very direct and enduring way. Chances are good that we would not be enjoying this forum today, along with the bounty of O gauge products produced in this century and in the closing decades of the previous century, had it not been for the dedication of this one individual and his vision for what Lionel was as an American icon and what it could become for future generations.

Sincere condolences from all on the OGR staff to Richard's family, friends, and many associates in the toy train world and beyond. A true gentleman has departed our ranks, but he will not be forgotten.

Last edited by OGR CEO-PUBLISHER

To say Richard was a GIANT in this hobby is an understatement....  He arrived on the scene for Lionel and the O gauge hobby as we know it today just at the right time with the right approach and the right product.  His vision and enthusiasm was legendary and inspired a whole new generation of hobbyists.  Richard's contributions to the hobby will always be remembered as well as his wonderful,  bigger than life personality and we will miss him very much indeed!  Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends...RIP.....

I met Richerd one time in the parking lot of his car rail facility .  It was a great honer and one i will never forget.  His contribution to Lionel in the entire O gauge Hobby is unmeasurable.  Thank you Mr. Kughn and Godspeed on your  Journey .  My  condolences for your loved ones that remain.

God bless you Mr. Kughn

Bill Rennolds

Very sorry to hear of Richard Kughn's passing. 

I recall seeing him and his wife somewhat regularly years ago visiting York and the TCA Museum.  He always seemed to be enjoying the event just like the rest of us, many years after his formal ownership of Lionel was concluded.

As many others have said, the overall impact of the drive he had for new developments in the Lionel product line while he owned the company are immeasurable, and many of the actual products are still sought today.

Rest in Peace.

-Dave

As with what Allan Miller and Alan Arnold wrote, I agree that Richard Kughn's name is as important in the history of Lionel as is the founder's name. I do wonder how many other CEO's would have been open enough to take a phone call from a long-haired rock and roller, listen to his idea and then start a partnership with him?

Richard Kughn will certainly be forever remembered by the train community for the electronic and digital advancements in the hobby. But he wasn't a one-sided person with a one-sided vision. Often forgotten or overlooked, he put a great deal of emphasis into the traditional product line of Lionel also.

I reentered the hobby by purchasing a Kughn-era Lionel 4-4-2 steam engine set at K-Mart. That locomotive is still running on my layout today after 30 years.  I hadn't seen Lionel product in a mass-market retailer in years. Richard Kughn himself said the Lionel 4-4-2 starter set was the single best selling item in the Lionel catalog.

And the new product tooling was not limited to the high end only. Before I had to downsize my own collection, I had every single traditionally sized waffle box car Lionel made. Then there was the traditionally sized spine car. There were the many reissues of popular postwar items such as the aquarium car and the toxic waste flat car and many others. Many others.

It should also be considered that although Lionel did have a US manufacturing plant during the Kughn years, Lionel was even at that time, doing overseas contracting for parts and components of Lionel products. That first set I bought at K-Mart said "Made in America" on the box, but on the inside of the engine shell, it was engraved "Made in Macau." I don't say that at all as criticism of Mr. Kughn, but rather in defense of subsequent Lionel CEO's, who have come under more scorn for overseas production. It's much easier to be the consumer of a product than it is the person responsible for and thus running the company.

While the newer more recent Lionel catalogs are much bigger with much more product, my favorite catalogs to browse through are the ones from the Kughn-era of Lionel. If he didn't "save" Lionel, he certainly had the vision to take the company forward into the future, while having a firm eye on the glories of the past that made Lionel Trains so important to so many of us.

Last edited by brianel_k-lineguy

A video from the LCCA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMpMd_elwFo

LCCA met with Dick and Linda Kughn at their home in Dearborn, MI, prior to the 41st annual convention (July 2011) and presented to them the first LCCA commemorative "Dick Kughn Box Car". This very limited car features the artwork of LCCA member Angela Trotta Thomas and depicts a painting of Dick Kughn as an eight-year-old boy finding his first Lionel train set in a trash can. Also featured on the car is a portrait of Dick Kughn while he was the CEO and owner of Lionel Trains Inc. The text on the car reads: "Richard Kughn, Owner Lionel Trains Inc 1986-1995" and "This Young Boy's Dream Taught Us, The Things You Want Are Always Possible".


Gary

A few stories from a while ago about a true gentleman......

Years ago eating at Tiffany's Restaurant on Roosevelt Avenue in York was the thing to do.  Dick and his group arrived at the same time that the Right of Way gang did.  We all knew Dick loved rare steak and I had just developed the digital sound boards for cattle cars, one of which was cow sounds (and I brought a sample with me).  When Dick received his steak we waited for him to cut into it at which time I turned on the moo cow sound.  Everybody had a good laugh.  Linda told me some years later that she delighted in telling that story many times over.

On a more serious note I had gotten word Dick had a serious respiratory ailment.  I gave him a call and he told me about having to get around in a wheel chair and using oxygen.  There was a pause in the conversation and then Dick said, "Lou, pray for me."

RIP my friend.

Lou N

 

 

I am shocked and saddened to hear of Mr. Kughn's passing.  I certainly never met the man but I have to say that for me his presence in the hobby was nothing short of monumental.  He obviously meant a lot to Lionel and Lionel lovers and I think we all are experiencing and sensing a very great void right now.   He will definitely be missed.  

I am truly  sadden to read that Richard past away. He is the savior of Lionel and probably our hobby in general. I had the honor of meeting Richard at his hobby building during the LCCA's century party for Lionel.

Many will remember how he graciously hosted buss lodes of club members to see his antique car and toy train collection. I was lucky enough to spend some time with him on his control platform running the layout. His love for the hobby and the people who shared it with him was obvious because you could feel he truly enjoyed hearing my stories of how I acquired a few of the same items he had on his shelves.

Those fifteen minutes I shared with him remain one of the highlights of my life.

What really stands out in my mind and heart is how he would say high to me when ever our paths crossed at York or other conventions.

Rest in peace old train buddy and may your memory live on forever in the hearts of all who share the blessing of knowing Richard Kughn.

May God forever bless your warm spirit and those who love you.

Mario Evangelista

(GG1MAN)

 

Last edited by gg1man

Richard was one of a kind. I was lucky enough to film a Christmas story for TV with him at the Lionel factory. They had just brought back much of their assembly to the USA. The ladies making track often said they knew they would have their jobs back, and they did. Richard was so excited just to show us around. A room full of old classic display layouts, racks of engine molds and selves of very collectable trains. He was as excited as a kid to run the new factory layout for us. We filmed them making Irvington cars, American Flyer New Haven electrics and more. He gave us each new G scale train sets and even signed my copy of CTT issue #1. I saved most of that BetaCam tape expect of one reel that I loaned someone and never got back. Don

Indeed we lost an Icon today and he will be sorely missed.

I met Mr. Kughn at CarRail with my family and have a great shot of him with my small children.

Mr. Kughn took us around that facility and pointed out the various vehicles he had on display and noted the unique features of each.   Then we went for a tour of the back room where he kept several vehicles.   I pointed out to him that one of the vehicles had a flat that should be addressed.  Man, he jumped right on it and had one of his employees check it out and had it repaired on the spot!

I can honestly say that if it hadn't been for Mr. Kughn resurrecting the company when he did and bringing back the 700e, I would not be on this forum today.   He was truly a remarkable gentleman.

On another occasion, I was at York visiting the Lionel booth.  This event was well after Mr. Kughn had sold the company.   While at the booth Mr. Kughn approached the booth, looked it over and then took out his camera to take a photo of the display. 

Then out of nowhere a large TCA thug appeared and very rudely told Mr. Kughn he couldn't take any photographs.   Mr. Kughn could have used his influence to do otherwise, but instead he very graciously apologized and put his camera away.  To this day I'm still amazed how rude the TCA representative was and how inversely gracious Mr. Kughn's actions were in contrast.   The man had CLASS.

On a separate occasion, myself and a few others were "temporally" employed by Mr. Kughn during his massive auction several years ago.  He was a great employer as we got to keep the Auction Tee Shirts and were able to see the items for sale prior to the general public.    If I'm not mistaken I did make a purchase that day but it wasn't for anything of great significance. 

Mr. Kughn did save Lionel from oblivion as it had been run into the ground by General Mills. He had vision and determination.  The little bit of cash he had helped as well I suppose. 

He will truly be missed. 

May God rest his soul in eternal light.

Last edited by Allegheny

Richard Kughn was exactly what the O gauge hobby needed when it needed him. He saved Lionel, and, by extension, the whole O gauge hobby through his dedication and his willingness to try all new products. I remember when Lionel  brought out the covered hopper car, the KCS GP-38 and TMCC under his leadership. They had never moved that boldly to introduce new products since the fifties. These actions meant that Lionel was moving forward to build new products rather than just re-issuing old standards. Lionel had modern products for today's generation and the older re-issues for those that wanted them. I fell into both camps, buying some of each.

Allegheny posted:

I met Mr. Kughn at CarRail with my family and have a great shot of him with my small children.

If you care to, send that photo of Dick with your kids to me as an email attachment. I might be able to include it in the brief tribute I am putting together for our August issue, which is already in the proofing stage. The Dick Kughn tribute will take the place of my regular Editor's Corner column in that issue simply because I do not want to delay in getting the word out to some of our readers who are not participants online.

Last edited by Allan Miller

Very saddened to hear this, I have no doubt that he saved Lionel and helped create the industry we have today, but my admiration goes beyond that. I think I appreciated his enthusiasm for trains (and cars, and other things), it very much was the enthusiasm of an eager child and it is very rare people keep that to adulthood IME and I got the impression that to him it was a lot more than about just making a profit from everything I have heard.  My wish for him is may the winds be fair, the beer cold, and there always be a star to steer by (my poor version of an old sailor's send off for a lost colleague)

I look forward to the tribute mentioned above by OGR!  I trust it will be substantial.   In reading the many posts here of how Richard Kughn was the key turning point for O scale, it really demonstrates his importance.  I always liked the post war trains, but I really wanted modern trains I saw up the street from my apartment on the Norfolk Southern mainline.  I couldnt get that NS Dash-8 quick enough when Lionel offered it!   The miles on the Susquehanna and NS Dash-8s were many!  Running many hours on my apartment floor pulling eagerly awaited scale hoppers and boxcars and tank cars by the new Lionel under Mr. Kughn.  Those first attempts to produce modern equipment have now been distanced by unimaginable realism of today.  And while the Dash-8's get much deserved rest these days, they never leave my collection, and occasionally come out to recall those first fun years of something new and different in O scale.  The Kughn era rolling stock still runs often in my freight consists.  I recall the feeling back then of these cars filling a huge gap in the hobby.  Each new prototypical car was like a cool drink of water in a dry desert of modern O scale trains.  

OGR, please give Mr. Kughn the greatest of tribute articles.  I see that it is common opinion that this man changed course for the O Gauge hobby.  He certainly did for me, putting away the HO forever.  He sparked untold developments that exceeded our imaginations back in those early years of this new era of O gauge. 

Others like Mike Wolf, Atlas O, Williams, took the ball and ran with it in different directions.  Williams created the first Amtrak Genesis locos which are still a favorite of mine.  MTH went into production of amazing products as if a buffet of nearly anything we could want, and Atlas O created detailed models and products not offered by others.  I believe, Mr. Kughn was the spark that set all of this in motion.

Last edited by VistaDomeScott

Dick made this world a better place.   I am grateful for having know him and Linda.   Linda and I while hosting a LCCA Soecial Event pulled off a surprise 85th BD party for Dick.   We also honored him later at an event at the NJ Hi trailers club in Paterson NJ.   He was truly touched.  

I was fortunate to spend the day with him this past February and took him to a WGHOT train show in Novi MI.  He had a blast meeting with people at the LCCA table within the Lionel display and running Lionchief Lionel trains.  

We lost a great friend and ambassador of our hobby.   We love you and will miss you.  We offer our sincere condolences to his family and his staff at Kughn Enterprise 11372B2B-E4E9-4AFB-AA38-F5441322B7C9380F4E25-6B7A-4D79-BA38-D7A1B3160C2AEEA1FA7F-2F77-417B-9673-1DB649A7606FBC5D20D8-AB64-4254-97F2-16AAB15A3E8F28499D1A-F151-440A-B212-8704AEC700285CCF4D94-E11D-4696-8212-B74A2E81318FD3F3FB6B-36B4-4C98-A895-10EE98446E32D23AB861-3D98-43B7-B2D1-35973220DD2B9F6B1393-2838-4053-9604-46A79954774CE96E07EE-5DDB-4100-8070-8F2347016015EB23843D-8A6B-48BE-8599-12ABCA6F6A04885E2C03-4EBA-4A84-B540-DBA2ECEC9DF96467983A-A676-49CC-BE51-A24C6D31E70092A2A5F9-BA99-43A5-9FD7-1E9A2D9B49FD37AE6495-B9B0-48E5-AD0F-04E1BBCD1A25B992ECB6-5C84-4DEE-9DCC-8196DDEBBCA492B84A01-BDEE-47C9-86EE-CAA698771D0FC1FA8FAC-4634-4B47-BC86-F779FAA8CFA22B83D062-7A44-4680-8BE8-E439852BAD6339A4A736-4613-4FD0-A1AF-3BAF1EE964C1419FBA1E-1159-478A-87DC-A9C2C1DA9AD79650B6AF-1F79-4627-879D-7290E336776BA902B819-E9F1-4280-B908-CC4C5EF60B13A87AA7C8-F305-4572-8AAD-5C3D08EB553CAA54EF82-39CD-42E4-8B8E-B9D1A06E6DCE03183C77-0C8C-456F-B16D-79C8BD7BBB0A344320E6-5F41-4204-8B37-19A41B0EEAE6D9FA994D-840F-4DB2-8FA4-7C9478DF95C5

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Last edited by Al K.

Not only was Richard an essential part of the O-Gauge hobby and Lionel in particular, he also played an instrumental role in the story of a REAL steam locomotive! With help from Bill Benson and Ross Rowland, he was able to buy Reading 4-8-4 no. 2100 and spend $1 million of his own money to restore the locomotive and put it back in service. The locomotive had previously been used as a parts donor for sister no. 2101, used in the Chessie Steam Special and American Freedom Train. As seen in the video below, the locomotive had some break-in runs, but following these there was nowhere to run the engine, and the idea of returning her to the high iron was scratched. The locomotive's ownership ended up changing hands about a half-dozen times, and is now in the hands of the American Steam Railroad, where her long unusual journey looks a lot brighter.

Richard's contributions to the world of railroading will never be forgotten, and he will be missed.

WOW: How do you say "Thank You Mr Richard Kughn".  I was privileged to meet him at the 1993 LCCA Convention in Michigan.  He autographed my Lionel Visitor Center Boxcar.  When Richard took over Lionel, things happened--for the best.  The very first thing he did was listen to us and act on many of the things we told him.  One of the major changes was the Symmington Wayne Plastic Roller Truck which was changed to a very realistic  Roller Bearing Truck with fantastic memory plastic.  Infact, today his truck is still used on introductory set cars and still work perfectly.  And then there was the fantastic Steam Locomotives that he brought to us--The Reading T-1, Chessie  Steam Special,  The Frisco and Southern Mikado, etc.  Those engines were brought out by Kughn and Wolf working together--but time changed and both men went on there own ways.  RIP Mr Richard Kughn, you are a true Icon of Lionel Trains.     railbear601

Last edited by railbear601
Al K. posted:

Dick made this world a better place.   I am grateful for having know him and Linda.   Linda and I while hosting a LCCA Soecial Event pulled off a surprise 85th BD party for Dick.   We also honored him later at an event at the NJ Hi trailers club in Paterson NJ.   He was truly touched.  

I was fortunate to spend the day with him this past February and took him to a WGHOT train show in Novi MI.  He had a blast meeting with people at the LCCA table within the Lionel display and running Lionchief Lionel trains.  

We lost a great friend and ambassador of our hobby.   We love you and will miss you.  We offer our sincere condolences to his family and his staff at Kughn Enterprise 11372B2B-E4E9-4AFB-AA38-F5441322B7C9380F4E25-6B7A-4D79-BA38-D7A1B3160C2AEEA1FA7F-2F77-417B-9673-1DB649A7606FBC5D20D8-AB64-4254-97F2-16AAB15A3E8F28499D1A-F151-440A-B212-8704AEC700285CCF4D94-E11D-4696-8212-B74A2E81318FD3F3FB6B-36B4-4C98-A895-10EE98446E32D23AB861-3D98-43B7-B2D1-35973220DD2B9F6B1393-2838-4053-9604-46A79954774CE96E07EE-5DDB-4100-8070-8F2347016015EB23843D-8A6B-48BE-8599-12ABCA6F6A04885E2C03-4EBA-4A84-B540-DBA2ECEC9DF96467983A-A676-49CC-BE51-A24C6D31E70092A2A5F9-BA99-43A5-9FD7-1E9A2D9B49FD37AE6495-B9B0-48E5-AD0F-04E1BBCD1A25B992ECB6-5C84-4DEE-9DCC-8196DDEBBCA492B84A01-BDEE-47C9-86EE-CAA698771D0FC1FA8FAC-4634-4B47-BC86-F779FAA8CFA22B83D062-7A44-4680-8BE8-E439852BAD6339A4A736-4613-4FD0-A1AF-3BAF1EE964C1419FBA1E-1159-478A-87DC-A9C2C1DA9AD79650B6AF-1F79-4627-879D-7290E336776BA902B819-E9F1-4280-B908-CC4C5EF60B13A87AA7C8-F305-4572-8AAD-5C3D08EB553CAA54EF82-39CD-42E4-8B8E-B9D1A06E6DCE03183C77-0C8C-456F-B16D-79C8BD7BBB0A344320E6-5F41-4204-8B37-19A41B0EEAE6D9FA994D-840F-4DB2-8FA4-7C9478DF95C5

Wonderful photos capturing great memories. Glad I had a chance to meet Dick many years ago. Thanks for posting these!

Some  may not know that Mr. Kughn  was an amateur magician in his youth and enjoyed the hobby of magic for a lifetime.  I remember the thrill of meeting and talking with him at CarRail during an LCCA

convention some years ago - and talked with him again several years  later  at a magician's

convention in Michigan.  We enjoyed visiting about our 3 shared interests - Lionel trains, magic,

and antique cars.  A wonderful, classy gentleman !

Dick Kughn was a strong supporter of the LCCA.  The LCCA has met with Dick Kughn numerous times and produced exclusive videos with him and Linda.   If interested in viewing some of these videos, please visit the following page on our website. 

 
 
I hope you find these videos as fascinating as I do.   Please enjoy!   
 
Rest In Peace Dick!   We miss you already.
 
Sincerely 
 
Al Kolis 
Immediate Past President 
Lionel Collectors Club of America 
248 709-4137
Akolis619@gmail.com 
 
 
Rick Bednar posted:

Some  may not know that Mr. Kughn  was an amateur magician in his youth and enjoyed the hobby of magic for a lifetime.  I remember the thrill of meeting and talking with him at CarRail during an LCCA

convention some years ago - and talked with him again several years  later  at a magician's

convention in Michigan.  We enjoyed visiting about our 3 shared interests - Lionel trains, magic,

and antique cars.  A wonderful, classy gentleman !

I didn’t know about his magic interest. Was he at the convention held by Abbott’s?

Richard Kughn Free Press

Richard P. Kughn once said fine vintage cars were works of art, "like a Picasso or a Rembrandt." 

He often treated them as such, doting over their curves and chrome and even opening a museum that displayed some of the most elegant specimens in his vast collection.

The Detroit businessman also loved trains. He ran toy train manufacturer Lionel for about a decade, breathing life into the company and helping introduce a new generation of kids to the hobby he fell in love with as a boy.

Kughn, 89, of Dearborn died Saturday. Funeral arrangements are pending. 

Kughn was born in Detroit and raised in Bay Village, Ohio. By age 18, he was back in Detroit working various construction jobs, according to his son, Gary Kughn. He joined the Taubman Co. as an estimator in 1955.

Carail Museum Richard Kughn

Richard Kughn in 2003 in his Carail Museum on Grand River in Detroit. (Photo: RICHARD LEE, DETROIT FREE PRESS)

To read the article: Click here

Gary

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