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Sorry to hear of Jim's passing and my warm best wishes and condolences to his family.  He was a very informative resource for all us would be train fixer uppers.  I still remember him writing about having built his layout with toy train curves only to decide that he wanted to run the new semi scale engines and having to tear up a perfectly good model railroad to make changes.  I followed all of his "In the Backshop" articles in the videos and in the OGR mag.  His absence in the hobby has and will be missed but his presence will still be felt by those us who have learned from his work.   His article on how to tune up the 342 Culvert Loader stands out in my memory and it's helped keep my favorite working for years.  Thank you Jim..

Last edited by tontee

It is so sad to hear about this. I have known Jim from long before this web site. I have most of his tapes and never missed saying  hello to him at York. I will always remember  him as an icon of our hobby. Please extend my deep felt condolences and prayers to his family and loved ones.

I first met Jim what seems like eons ago when I was in Cincinnati on business and stopped by Davis Electronics in Milford.  I bought a number of items including a replacement set of milk cans for my 3472 that Jim recommended.

Jim was a true ambassador for the hobby.  His untimely passing leaves a huge void.

My deepest sympathy to Jim’s family and to his friends, business partners and co-workers at OGR.

Curt

Very sorry to hear of Jim's passing.  I did not know him, but I learned so much from his video's and magazine articles.  It was his inspiration, knowledge and practical teaching spirit that encouraged me as I got back into the hobby in the last 2 years.  He will be deeply missed.  My deepest condolences and prayers are with his family, friends, co-workers and associates!

Very, very sad news.

I first "met" Jim via his quarterly VHS tape OGR "Backshop" series a long time ago in the very early '90s.  Before the Internet, the information in his series was, simply, gold.

Each distribution of his VHS "Backshop" arrived Spring-Summer-Fall-Winter for several years ... and I wasted no time in getting that VCR fired up, my notebook and pencil in hand watching Jim display the breadth and depth of  his  knowledge of toy train repair and improvement.

I met Jim sometime not long after at one of the toy train club's conventions in the '90s -- not to mention many times at York for a quick "hello".

A real loss of a good guy and a trove of toy-train information.

I have fond memories of hanging out with Jim and Rich Melvin when they shot a video of my layout back in 2011. We had two fun days together and Jim spent a lot of time teasing Rich about his treasured old tripod. I captured some footage of my own and the fun with Jim and Rich start at about 2:30 into the video.

Here is a photo when the session drew to an end. We are standing at the rear of Jim's Mercury which might be the same speedy one that Alan Arnold was telling about in an earlier post!

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Rest in peace Jim.

TJ

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So sorry to hear about Jim's passing. He surely will be missed by all!

I remember the first time I met him and the OGR gang, about 15 years ago, was when they came to Trainfest in West Allis and set up their booth. Saturday night a bunch of us got togather with them and had some pizza and acourse talked trains!

Rest in peace my friend.

I too met Jim at Davis Electronics in Milford, Oho when I stopped there to drop off my ZW for refurbishing.  He was so nice and made me feel so welcome.  Later Jim and and Allan Miller sponsored me to become a member of the TCA when I found out you had to be a member to attend the York meet.  He has made such a contribution to this hobby he truly will be missed.

Dennis

Like most forum members I first had the opportunity to "meet" Jim through his Q & A column in OGR magazine.  His "Back Shop" layout articles also embellished his reputation and my respect for his expertise and communication skills.  My first face-to-face meeting occurred at the 2006 L.O.T.S. Convention in Saratoga Springs, New York where Jim staffed the OGR booth in the convention hall as well as was the main speaker during one of the evening programs  when he shared some of his technical knowledge with us.  

Another Giant in the Train World has gone to his last resting place. I was honored to be able to speak with Jim about my train problems, and always a cheerful answer and a laugh or two.

He joins Barry and Marty and knowing the three of them, they are creating a most beautiful and amazing layout that I hope, when my time comes, to see the same and run trains on it as well.

To Jim's family, I offer my most sincere sympathy in this time, as he was always so friendly and willing to share his knowledge with all of us.

Rest In Peace, Jim Barrett.

Last edited by Santa Fe Mike

This is terrible news.  My sincere condolences to Jim's family, friends and co-workers.

I always enjoyed seeing Jim at the York Meets.  You could spend five minutes around him and you'd know and feel his love for this hobby.  On a few York Meets on a  Thursday, when I would see him at some point in the Orange Hall, he would ask me if I would be at Friday's (or wherever the OGR gathering would be) that night.  He really enjoyed being around train people.

Rest well, Jim.  You will be missed.

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