Farewell, Brenda

[FJ and G]

Model railroader Brenda Bailey, who was 63, died recently. I never knew her but I always admired her work, especially the fine locomotives she scratchbuilt and which were regular features in The Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society's "Warbonnet" magazine. She modeled in HO, G, Sn3, and 3-rail O, the latter featured in the latest CTT of the San Diego Club layout.

Brenda breaks the stereotype that women and trains don't mix. She not only built fine locomotives, she also was a railfan, taking long drives to photograph the Illinois Central, Santa Fe and Rock Island and getting them published.

A CPA by trade, she had her own accounting firm, and volunteered to help modelers do their income tax returns. Perhaps her greatest legacy in addition to her fine craftsmanship is her eagerness to share and help others.

My mom has a saying, "Give me flowers while I'm still alive," and I wish I had expressed my appreciation of her work sooner rather than later, but now it is too late for that.

Dave Vergun

[lionelsoni]

See
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16301

[daan]

May she rest in peace and have the oppurtunity to still enjoy modelling somehow..
(at least I hope that I would have some modelling chance when I'm gone oneday)
My thoughts are with her family and friends, wi***hem strength in this hard time.

[FJ and G]

daan,

I have to believe that one day after we are laid to rest, we each will get a pristine wilderness planet, where we can build our own real railroads from scratch, stretching from sea to shining sea.