Fellow Model Railroaders,
It is with deep sorrow and regret that I must inform you all of the passing of Melvin "RR_Mel" Perry in June of this year. I just spoke with his wife as Mel & I go back a long way and she told me of his passing. She seems to be doing well under the circumstances and realizes that he is no longer suffering and is in a much better place today.
In a May, 2022, post, many of you shared that Mel was one of the "good guys" here on this forum and I was glad that I could share some of your positive comments with her during our conversation. Mel was very quick to reply to posts here as well as private emails and was never unwilling to share his vast knowledge of model trains and electronics with most anyone who asked. He will most certainly be missed by those of us who had the privilege of calling him a friend.
A long time ago, another long-time and well known member of this forum passed away and someone wrote the following that is so appropriate for Mel as well... "Mel yarded his train, took his power to the house then went Home."
Rest in peace, my friend...
dlm
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I'm very sad to hear this. Mel was very helpful to me. I think I would still be trying to figure out the wiring of my blocks had he not offered help.
-Matt
Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.
Mel was truly a legend.
My condolences to his family and friends —
Regards, Ed
Thank you for posting the news...
Mel helped me with a variety of projects over the years and was always willing to take the time to provide useful, sound, and thorough information. I would have loved to have spent a weekend observing his model railroad and admiring all of his creative endeavors. He did such fantastic work with lighting his layout. Night-time scenes on his RR were fantastic! He was my go-to guy for Arduino information.
We lost a good friend and a fantastic contributor to the forum, truly one of the good guys!
RIP my friend! Condolences to his family and friends.
Rick
Sorry to hear this. He was a special person.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
Very sorry to hear the news about Mel. I enjoyed his posts on the forum and his willingness to share his electronics knowledge. Condolences to his family and friends.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
A good guy on to his next great adventure without the pain he endured from his bad Arthritis.
Condolences to his family and friends, he is missed.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
There were many things that Mel and I discussed about trains and life in mainly PM's, back when they were working properly....One thing We agreed on 100% was ''Growing Old is Not for Wimps". Sharing knowledge/truth keeps Your Heart and Soul Happy to endure the Pain of age.
Rest in Peace, My Friend!
Take Care, All!
Frank
I was afraid this had happened when I read the recent thread that noted he hadn't posted recently.
He was one of the senior figures, if not the most, among the august crew of real model railroaders.
Has adequate care been taken to keep his equipment and tools intact, or donated to a sensible organization? Many of the passenger cars he detailed should be kept in museums for people to appreciate 'how it was done'.
Very sorry to read of his passing. He was very helpful with his pictures and advice. The suggestions he gave made anyone feel more confident in his/her abilities.
My sincere condolences to RR_Mel's family & friends. Mel was one of the first forum members to make me feel welcome. I imagine he was like that with everyone. He will be missed.
Mike
Saddens my heart. Mel was a great guy.
Pete.
Clear tracks ahead, Mel. I hope to see you in the big roundhouse in the sky.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Some people you don't have to meet in person to get a proper view of their nature and character. Mel was a real "keeper". With his wife, we are all saddened that we were unable to keep him longer. What a standard for both grace and helpfulness to so many whose faces he never saw.
Rest in peace, friend.
John
Sad news indeed. The recent thread lead me to visiting his blog to see if there was any news there. Through his forum posts I knew he was a great modeler, and his blog exemplified that. Among other things he was a master of little figures. He will be missed.
Ray
Condolences to Mel's family, and his friends.
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.
So sorry to hear of Mel's passing. Thoughts and prayers to his family.
I was always inspired by Mel because he was always working with new ideas and technologies. Never too old to learn new stuff.
Vaya con Dios Mel!!
Scott Sonntag
Going to miss him and his posts.
Here is a link to Mel's blog.
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
I am a Retired Radio Communications Manager having worked for 50 years in designing and maintaining Public Safety Communication Systems. I have been an avid HO Model Railroader since 1951. I got my inspiration from John Allen's Gorre and Daphetid Railroad. John was a professional photographer and his hobby was building and taking pictures of his HO railroad. John Allen was my hero, when I was 14 years old I went to the store with my Mother and found an issue of Model Railroad Handbook and she bought it for me. It's a Fawcett Book Number 133, it cost 45¢ in 1951. That was a lot of money in 1951, a 24 bottle case of Cokes was 65¢ back then. There is an article starting on page 28 on John Allen's railroad, there is only 4 pages on his layout but I was hooked on HO scale from that day on.
I still have that book and it is still my greatest railroad treasure because of the article about John Allen. The book also gave me all the information I needed to get started on building my first layout. The handbook is a little worn but still in very good condition. That trip to the grocery store set my model railroad life in motion. I have loved model trains since 1945 when my dad gave me a 2-6-2 three rail O-27 gauge Lionel train set for Christmas but that issue of Model Railroad Handbook locked me in to HO gauge for life. There is an article starting on page 36 on hand laying track and I did that for years. I made my turnouts and laid track by hand with the help of that book and the H&H Hobby Shop on Pershing Drive in El Paso, Texas.
I grew up in El Paso, our next door neighbor worked for the Southern Pacific. He arranged for me to ride in the cab of a Cab Forward from El Paso to Alamogordo New Mexico for my 14th birthday present, on the return trip I rode in the cab of an AC-9 back to El Paso. That day is still my greatest railroad moment.
I now reside in Bakersfield California so I have lived on both ends of the Southern Pacific's Cab Forward Southern Route. I model the Southern Pacific Railroad of the mid 1950s Steam Era. I have a fleet of 13 Cab Forwards, 3 AC-9 Yellowstones (all 3 are kitbashed Cab Forwards), 3 GS-4 Daylights and 3 GS-4 War Babies, 5 three truck Shays, one 2-6-0 Mother Hubbard Camelback and one 2-6-6-2 articulated logger. And of course my very first HO locomotive an MDC 0-6-0 slope back tender from 1951. I have total of 39 steam locomotives and 30 diesels from the 1950s era.
Terrible news. I know some on here were noting that they have not seen him post much lately. I guess we found out the unfortunate reason.
Condolences to his family.
- Douglas
So sorry to hear. He was very helpful to me and his patience showed through my thick head.
RIP Mel,
Richard
Mel was a large contributer in helping answer my constant questions on this forum. He has inspired me greatly with his creative solution and work. I will miss him a lot...may his family finds peace.
Regards,
Charles
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Modeling the Santa Fe & Pennsylvania in HO
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLb3FRqukolAtnD1khrb6lQ
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
I was very saddened to hear of Mel's passing, an accomplished modeller and one willing to share his knowledge with all of us.
May he rest in peace, and my condolences to his wife and family.
Wayne
I shared emails back and forth with Mel almost from the time that I first joined this forum. He was remarkable with his talents for tiny details, and his pure love of model railroading.
In 2019 I made a trip to California, and I spent two days in Bakersfield. I was supposed to visit Mel, but he became very ill, and I was not able to meet up with him. That was a missed opportunity that I will always be sad about.
Mel was suffering a lot more than he let on when he posted in here. He always tried to be upbeat and positive with the people here, but in real life he was very frustrated with how he was deteriorating.
He valued his relationships with the people here, and loved this forum.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Sorry to hear of his passing, the physical journey is over, Rest in Peace. Thanks to the OP for sharing this with the railroad modeling forum.
To his family and friends, my sincere condolences.
Inspired by Addiction
See more on my YouTube Channel
dlm, Thanks for posting this sad news. They don't make em' like Melvin anymore. I'll never forget his kind words and the wonderful way he made me feel good about myself. Miss you Mel. My sincere condolences to his family. Respectfully, Peter
Dan,
Thank you for passing on the sad news. Please express my condolences to his family.
Every time I saw a post from Mel I knew it would be interesting and informative. His posts were something to look forward to.
He was a creative modeler. I loved the way he powered his illuminated vehicles so that they could be easily moved around the layout. He was a master at creating figures and interiors, and at the use of Arduino technology.
He will be missed. Like others have said, he was one of the good guys!
Kevin, can you add him to the RIP track please?
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
hon30critterKevin, can you add him to the RIP track please?
Of course.
Thanks Kevin.