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The one person I miss the most is my younger brother Ron, I got into trains during the mpc era and Ron did not till the 90's but it mattered not. He always helped build my layout, wired it, designed it and kept me from hacking things up. We attended every York from the mid 80's till 2016. Once he got into trains it was the modern standard gauge that caught his eye. We both built a layout in a basement of a house we both owned. We spent many hours building and running trains. 

Ron died December 26th, 2016, he was not only my brother but my best friend. I loved him and I miss him like no other. RIP Ron

Dave

Mikey, how could you forget Fred. Once a month Jim Madden would pick Fred Hines and I up in that old Pontiac he owned and go to the local (Oakland) TCA meet. It was a really big meet in those days. Fred's duck under layout was something. I had never seen so many operating prewar trains before. His Buddy L set was in like new condition. Those indeed were great times. Fred still played tennis into his 80's. Don

When I was a lad of about 6 (1952), we were at Buffum's Department Store in Long Beach, California, and I was glued to the Lionel/American Flyer Christmas layout.  One of the clerks wrote down the name of a Mr. Thompkins, who lived in Long Beach, and had a Lionel layout in his garage workshop.  That was the first layout with scenery that I had ever seen.  He had open house every Sunday, and I believe he had an authorized Lionel Repair Station.  He even had some of the rare Nacionales de Mexico F-units.  He had a Santa Fe AMT passenger train that made my eyes wide.  That is what initially started me into O gauge railroading.  

I'm sure Mr. Thompkins went to his eternal reward long ago.  But, there was another fellow, still living and very active, who revived my interest.  Around 1980, Larry Poland lived a block or so from my house, and had a very fine Lionel layout in his garage.  One day, as I was walking past, he had the door open and was running trains.  I talked with him, and that re-ignited my interest.

gmorlitz posted:

Probably just me, but I find this post depressing.

Gerry

Gerry,

I understand how you feel, it is a bummer in one way but I choose to see it as evidence of all of the high quality people this hobby attracts. Look at all of the lifetime friendships that started over toy trains, that is pretty cool. 

We are blessed to be part of this group, this post reaffirms it.

Gerry, I don't find it depressing at all. If anything it's a celebration of all the people that helped us along the way. For me it brings back fond memories of dozens of folks that were willing to spend time and teach me things about modeling I didn't know. Gunning's Hobbies in San Anselmo, Mrs. Gunning spent endless hours just talking trains and became a wonderful friend. Bill's Trains, Mail Ways Trains both in San Francisco. My first local TCA meet with Jim and Fred. It was held in Oakland on Hegenberger Road in a large hotel meeting room. I never saw so many trains and grown up men that really loved to talk electric trains. I soon had a group of train people I could call anytime for help. Jim would not think of taking money to fix my trains. Just thinking of his old work bench and the happy hours we sent there, nothing can replace those times. No, I don't find that depressing at all. It brings a warm smile to my face. DonDSC_2770

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There was a great model train repairman by the name of Pete, who worked for Westchester Hobbies in White Plains, NY in the 1970s and 1980s, and back then he was already up in years.

Pete could fix anything. He did so while smoking cigarettes incessantly. The cloud of smoke around him was bigger than any steam locomotive could produce. He fixed all my trains that needed repairs quickly and economically, and after Pete was finished with them, they ran better than when they were brand new. 

I think good toy train repairman like Pete are very smart and good people.

Arnold

 

Three from Houston area:

Gus, the once owner of G&G Hobby Shop.  Could fix non electronic Lionels.  Stote is still running.  Not at 2522 Times Blvd in Rice Village.  But at S Shepherd and I69.

After a while, Gus stopped fixing Lionels.  He sent me to JR's, on Kirkwood between Bellaire Blvd and Beechnut.  Last time I saw him alive was next to UP 844 the last timeshe was here.  His shop is now closed.

Papa Ben, of the store of the same name, is no longer with us.  However, the store is, on Bellaire Blvd and Stella Link.

I don't find this thread morbid at all. I've read with interest the posts here of OGR members reminiscing of dear friends and family, that have made them who they are today as a person, and in the hobby.

Reading this thread reminded me of an old African proverb "A man is not truly dead until he is forgotten".

So, speak, and think of those we love and have lost, often, for they live on within us.

Rusty

Last edited by Diverging Clear

Scale Rail Don,

Thank you so much for posting the photos of Jim Madden's layout. I figured it would have been dismantled and only exist in memories. I remember Jim at the Montera Middle School Monthly TCA meets with His Trademark Train Signal Sweater.

Here's two pics I found (dated 1977) of a TTOS event hosted by my Dad.

From left to right: Fred Hines (I think?), Jim Locke Brown (spelling?), George DeLucas, Dennis Mutulo.

img264eTTOS_1977

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That's not Fred on the left. I can't remember his name but he was a very nice guy. He was into prewar stuff. He lived in Larkspur I think and was the train repairman for years at Berkeley Hardware. That place was great in those days. They had a huge Lionel parts dept. in the basement. You could get any part for the original 50's price. I took a 736 Berkshire in there once that was missing all it's side rods, bell and whistle. Paid less than five dollars for all of them. I have some pictures from Jim Locke Browns meet I will try to find. Don

colorado hirailer posted:

The guy l miss is the Marx collector, Tasker Brush.  Met him at the Wheaton train show when l never missed a month.  Really nice guy and my go-to guy for Marx questions.  We independently showed up at auctions, shows and conventions from York to Santa Clara.  He chaired the York Marx meet with John Fox, which continues.  He was a tremendous wealth of Marx knowledge that is a loss to this hobby.  

Tasker and John also hosted the West Coast Marx Show and Tell. I learned a lot from him.

Steve

My father in-law got me into O gauge trains back in the 90’s . He had a nice collection he would go to garage sales and find treasure and take home and fix .Unfortunately this collection no longer is together. But many old pics we have .There was one time he was driving down the road and seen a train in the garbage took it home fixed it and me and wife still have it.He passed away in 2006 I really miss him He was my mentor in trains and was teaching me how to fix when he passed on to greater life.The plus side is I have 2 new friends in trains from him 

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Dominic Mazoch posted:

Three from Houston area:

Gus, the once owner of G&G Hobby Shop.  Could fix non electronic Lionels.  Stote is still running.  Not at 2522 Times Blvd in Rice Village.  But at S Shepherd and I69.

After a while, Gus stopped fixing Lionels.  He sent me to JR's, on Kirkwood between Bellaire Blvd and Beechnut.  Last time I saw him alive was next to UP 844 the last timeshe was here.  His shop is now closed.

Papa Ben, of the store of the same name, is no longer with us.  However, the store is, on Bellaire Blvd and Stella Link.

I remember them well! Miss them.

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