Thought I would share this...
Thanks for posting this Aaron, and for referring me to this forum.
I typed up a long reply, then the page said I wasn't logged in and I lost it all! Argh, I'll try to summarize this time LOL
This photo was about 30 years ago, and you can see by the mantle how big into trains my grandfather was:
Dick Carter was always a huge hobby train collector and had a garage or basement dedicated to HO scale realistic worlds that he built. This setup he has been working on since moving to PA about 10 years ago. He also has a couple smaller mobile N gauge setups that he took to local museums and town fairs to show off.
He was big into HAM radio and usd to drive a converted mini school bus filled with radio equipment for the local police and the Red Cross. The HAM guys back in CA have been doing a silent callout every night for 30 days in his honor.
He also used to be the train robber at Knotts Berry Farm and loved that job. The water tower you see in one of the overhead photos was a replica that he built himself from that amusement park. He had to most killer Koi pond and waterfalls, and a mini Hawaii in his backyard along with a huge deck and gazebo that he had built by hand for my mom as a child.
Dick was battling lung cancer for some time now, and the last trip to the hospital was scary enough for my mom to fly out right away. She spent a good few days with him there before seeing him come home on hospice care and passing the same night. He was very happy and loved, and died in peace with his only daughter and wife at his side. I flew out with my brother a few days later for the funeral. His wife loved him very much and went over the top to honor him. A full solid oak casket was tribute to how passionate he was about woodworking.
My grandfather was an honored war veteran serving the US Air Force in WWII and Korea. The service included a 21 gun salute, military plot, Taps, the whole bit. His pastor gave the eulogy and an officer from the air force gave a nice speech about his service as well. My brother and I got to be pallbearers and carry the casket draped in an American flag to the cemetery plot. It was a powerful experience and my first time stepping foot in a cemetery.
Now what's going on with his hobby... My brother and I always loved the trains since we were kids, so he is taking some of the HO stuff that's been around forever, and I'm taking some N gauge to setup our own tracks soon. I used some wooden bridges and his newer engine that made sound, to make a nice 3 car display for his wife to put on the mantle. I'm looking for places that might be interested in the 2 smaller N gauge setups, since they fit in the bed of a truck. His town museum wanted one, but they dont have the room for it in their small space.
He has a whole collection of older HO engines in a display case along with an entire G gauge set that I will be taking inventory and photographing to try and sell soon. I'm hoping for advice on how to properly take down the layouts, since you can tell they're too large to transport or ship, but I'd hate to just tear it all down. If I can find avid collectors as passionate as he was, I'll have boxes of tools, parts and pieces to go along with the stuff. Judging by EBay and this site, we should be able to sell some of the buildings and cars and engines at least, and all the money is going to his wife to repair the house. Their furnace is busted and needs to be replaced before winter, the AC is shotty, the shower doesn't work, etc etc. I'll be spending some time in PA to help her take care of it all.
I looked up a shop in Sarver, PA and heard about this guy they call the professor. I heard he is the guru in that state to go to for repairs or appraisals, and I'm hoping for helpful advice on how to methodically part out and sell much of his collection. We are only keeping a couple trains and the more sentimental parts and buildings that he built by hand, to carry the tradition in the family. He also has boxes of MR magazines, if you guys think those are worth a nickel or what I should do with them as well. It will take me some time as there is literally a ton of stuff to go through and document and photograph.
Thanks again for all the kind words and comments on his setups, on behalf of the whole family we appreciate everyone's reply and advice from here out.
cheers!
but,I suspect that's more a forum and magazine thing then what you will find in most basements or spare bedrooms.In fact I highly suspect you see more layouts like this gentleman had then those "supped up" layouts you see in magazines.
