I don't know if this has been posted on the forum or not, but I read elsewhere that Jim Sacco, the owner of City Classics, passed away suddenly last week.
From Keystone Division NMRAWe will miss you JimJim Sacco, owner of City Classics, on a stormy Monday in March, departed on the train to a better place, he will always be in our hearts. His contributions to the hobby and to the NMRA have been immeasurable. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California Turned 84 in July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
From a post on MRH, per an employee: AT THIS TIME THERE ARE NO PLANS TO CLOSE THE BUSINESS OR TO DISCONTINUE SELLING KITS.
Jim and I have been casual friends for years, meeting over threads on this forum, through E-mail exchanges, and occasionally meeting in person at train shows.
See you in the Big Roundhouse in the Sky, my friend.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Aww, geez, I am so sad to read this news.
I do seem to recall that Jim had some recent health issues.
A few years ago, I ordered a bunch of parts from City Classics to build a relatively huge version of Smallman Street Warehouse to represent a cold storage warehouse. Jim emailed me and asked what I was going to use so many parts for and when I told him, he graciously sent me a whole bunch of extra parts without any charge so that I could build a couple more smaller buildings.
Jim was a great guy, and he will be missed on this forum. Hopefully, his name will be added to the RIP Track in the Diner.
Rich
Alton Junction
Does anyone know what Jim's forum name was? I would like to add him to the RIP track.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I believe it is ctyclsscs
maxman I believe it is ctyclsscs
Jim's handle here was ctyclsscs:https://cs.trains.com/members/ctyclsscs/default.aspx
I knew Jim from way back when on the newsgroup (remember them?) rec.models.railroad. I would meet him every year at the Springfield Show and we always had a nice talk. He would also contact me directly from time to time to talk about this forum or other forums we were both on; we would share a laugh at some of the absurd online situations and discussions that would crop up from time to time. I always found him to be a reasonable, rational person that was very knowledgeable about this hobby, and I'm going to miss him.Jim had 471 posts here in almost 20 years; he signed up on this (new) forum about the same time I did. Hard to believe it's been that long.
Found this message on City Classics website:
More medical issues coupled with several days in the hospital has prohibited us from filling any orders. Hopefully by the end of the week we should be able to start working again.
Thanks for your patience
2/28/22
maxmanI believe it is ctyclsscs
Thanks maxman and everyone who responded.
Dang, he responded to a couple posts of mine about his kits recently. I didn't realize he was ill.
RIP Jim.
Rick
My condolences to his family. The funny thing about this all is we are kind of like one big family. It's kind of a small interest group, so many of us know each other. So when one of us passes, it affects a large number of us.
I didn't personally know Jim, but I know I loved the kits. I was just working with one this past week.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
So sorry to hear. Met him here, then introduced myself to him at the Springfield show a number of years ago. Each year he remembered me by my forum name. The last show I went to he'd been sick and saw his post this year that he was to sick to go. Sure seemed to be a great guy.
Rest im peace Jim.
Sincerely,
Richard
Condolences to Jim's close friends and family.
I knew Jim from off forum, he will be missed.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Very saddened to hear this. His products were great. I had read on the website over the last year or two that there were some health challenges. His legacy will continue in many of our layouts. City classics models comprise a few of my downtown blocks.
A man's worth lies in how he is remembered by his friends. Our hobby provides all of us with so many opportunities which so often come by way of our friends.
I offer my condolences to his family and to those who simply loved him and his works.
-Crandell
Met him a few times, nice guy.
As a fellow Pittsburgher, I always had an affinity for his products.
The news of Jim's passing hit hard. My wife and I knew him through our shared interest in 1960s British Invasion music; I'm not sure whether I met him first at an NMRA event in the 1990s or on the Kinks Preservation Society email list. I'd say that about 50% of our conversations at the Amherst show over the past decade were related to the antics of the brothers Davies.
Jim was a pretty regular clinician at North Central Region conventions, making the trip over to Michigan frequently. He was well-known and well-respected throughout our Region. We'll miss him up here.
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org
I never knew the guy but his City Classics company is an excellent source for quality structures and details at a modest price.
I'll opffer my condolences to his family and friends here, too, after noting there are two threads that go in somewhat different diorections about Jim's passing. So sad to hear of this.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I had much the same philosophy of model building as Jim. Years ago, an inexperienced member was upset at how some kits had many more components than others, but I replied that the essence of model railroading is to take a simple product like a four-walls-and-a-roof kit and add to it until it becomes your own. Jim joined in on that thread.
Some time later, I met him in person at the Springfield Show, and he knew me by my screen name. We talked for quite a while that day, and I had made a new friend.
Division 2 Mid Central Region is already feeling this loss deeply. We've lost a few iconic names in the last four years, but Jim sticks out especially in my opinion. I met him a few times at Division Meetings, and he was a nice guy who knew his trade and hobby.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Anybody know what the future is for City Classics?
There was a piece on the website about kitbashing several kits together to form a larger building. I went to see it to refresh my memory and the site is now just one page showing Jim's obituary.
Sorry if this has already been discussed.
Like all small businesses where the owner dies without a succession plan in place, chances are that the business will not last long before it folds.
Six months ago, I saw talk that one of Mr Sacco's colleagues said that there was a plan to keep the products on the market. I suspect that it is not an overnight process.
It's been 14 months since the hobby lost Jim, but the company website hasn't been updated. I see that the major online retailers still list City Classics kits as in stock. Anyone know about the companys future?
I don't know -- but a pretty good barometer is the Walthers online catalog. And for the most part City Classics stuff is marked as "in stock" which is a good sign that they are shipping regularly and fulfilling orders. Yes some things are marked out of stock but that is common with Walthers for just about any line of good, including their own, as their new philosophy is to keep shelf inventory constant but low. There are many good things in the City Classics line that it would be a pity to lose.
Dave Nelson
As far as the status of the company is concerned, the last I talked with those involved in the business side of things, they had a plan to keep producing the City Classics line, and I haven't heard of that changing.