A moving story of life after death

[FJ and G]

After you die and are buried, what happens with your trains and layout? Oftentimes they are sold by the widow or go to the kids or grandkids. Right?

Well, I was pretty shocked and moved when I picked up the June MR and read an article about one layout--the West Virginia Northern (freelance)--that took on a new life after the owner (who wrote the story just before dying) died.

First off, although the layout is HO, it is very very well done and a work of art. The builders were a husband-wife team. He started out with Lionel as a kid. She was given dolls as a child but used to sneak into the basement to play with her dad and brother's trains!

Well, they met and married in 1971 and worked about 25 years or so to complete this layout, handlaying tracks and lovingly scratchbuilding stuff.

In 2002, he died and went to the Big Sky Country where one can have a real RR empire. But she kept the layout and actually operates the trains and, get this, is an NMRA master modeler as well.

Two years later, the wife remarried--another train buff. THey are moving to Florida, with the layout, and are even getting an extended room, to house the WVN RR and are even building an extension onto it, with nifty features like daylight flourescent that dims to make dawn/dusk scenes.

What an inspiring story of a railroad that keeps going after death and the great times and people who shared and helped to build it!

[brianel027]

That is very cool Dave. Perfect post for a Sunday morning.

This topic of "you can't take 'em with you" comes up from time to time, especially in light of how costly the hobby can be. I've read and heard many comments from guys who have layouts or trains on the layout in tribute to their dad or grandfather... the person that got them into trains. They say it keeps the memories alive of the fun they once had. Could be why (at least for me) why I get such a profound kick out of seeing kids today get excited about trains... it still happens! And when I hear them get so excited, I think maybe that's how I was when I was a lot younger.

Anyways Dave, thanks for posting that one. It's nice to hear a story about a layout that becomes sort of a living memorial while taking on new life and still bringing enjoyment to people. I'll have to check out MR for that one.

[Anonymous]

I agree, that is a very excellent story! Thanks for sharing it with us!

I know that many times after a layout owner passes on, their trains are not so appreciated. I once bought a really good lot of quality HO trains that consisted of 10 engines, 40 cars and a pile of other stuff from an antique dealer for just $50 (Canadian money). He said that he bought them from some people whose grandfather owned them and passed away. No one else in the family was interested in them, so they just wanted to get rid of them. The dealer sold it all for $50, so imagine how little he gave the people he bought it from. I suppose that the grandfather can rest assured, though, as his trains are now owned by someone who appreciates them.

I'm 18 and so don't have to worry about dying any time soon (I hope). However, I think that I probably might arrange for my collection to go to a railroad museum where it will be appreciated and displayed properly. The recent CTT article on the Thomas W. Sefton collection got me thinking about this.