the big three

[ranchero]

was just wondering the other day. If someone had to name only 3 people who have made an impact on this hobby, who would you name? heres my 3

Linn Wescott : for his entire body of work, both as editor of MR for so long but for the many innovation he has brought forward

John Armstrong: for his awe inspiring design and for really being the first to push the idea of prototypically running trains

Last one is tough... Id like to say John Allen because of his artistry but part of me wanna say Bill walther from Walthers because they have been the one constant source of material for MRR ( even during the lean war years at the beginning of the hobby) ... another part of me says Athearn should be in there for their quality products...other people i really admire like allen Mcleland & Pelle Soeberg..or maybe malcom fulrow or bob hayden... kinda hard not to mention Tony Koester or bruce chubb for that matter could be in there as well...

so lets see, if you had to name your 3 most important model railroder would would you choose?

[accord1959]

Joe Fugate deserves a spot in my opinion, he has to be considered one of the best all around model railroaders of present times, with all of his free and very generous contributions to this hobby I believe he will be as well known and respected in this hobby as John Anderson is.

[river_eagle]

Joshua Lionel Cowen

Irv Athearn

Bernd Lenz

bonus ;

Yuji Kato

[MisterBeasley]

   J.C. Lionel 

That would be Joshua Lionel Cowen.  He gets my number 1 vote, too.

I know this sounds very Time-Magazine-like, but how about "The American Dad?"  Few did much to deserve individual recognition, but together, they gave most of us our start in this hobby.  How many of us would be doing this now if it hadn't been for their guidance and support?

[Midnight Railroader]

Minton Cronkhite.

• Scratchbuilt locos and rolling stock from shop drawings.
• Had a large home layout with a linear design (not a bowl of spaghetti). 
• Handlaid track in Q-gauge because it was more accurate than standard O-scale track, laid curves with correct spiral easements.
• Complete automated signalling system.
• Operated using timetables and train orders.

And this was in 1936.

Cronkhite co-founded Crovan Railway Models, one of the very first US manufacturers of scale model railroad locomotives and rolling stock.

He also built several display layouts for the ATSF which were exhibited at World's Fairs, and in 1941, his layout at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry opened, bringing model railroading to generations for over 60 years.

[Midnight Railroader]

I believe he will be as well known and respected in this hobby as John Anderson is.

Who's John Anderson? (Didn't he run for President years ago?)

[AntonioFP45]

Guys, let's not forget:  William K. (Bill) Walthers 

IMHO, he was this hobby's version of George Washington.

[dknelson]

If WK Walthers was our George Washington then Irv Athearn was in a sense our Jefferson or Jackson -- a democrat/populist who brought the hobby to the masses with low prices, decent enough quality, and good distribution of product.   Retired Model Railroader staff member Jim Kelly once wrote that one of the biggest impediments to  the growth of N scale was that N lacked an equivalent to Athearn -- that the BEST N ran very well but the average N could not compare to the average HO, which was represented by Athearn.   Perhaps that has changed but my sense is that Athearn blue box quality and prices still do not have a counterpart in N.

Along that line of thinking I'd also nominate Steve Schaffan, the guy behind Atlas track.  Again, not the most accurate scale track but good reliable track within the reach of all, and a complete and logical wiring system to boot.

And along those lines there is an "unknown soldier" and that is whoever it was behind Model Rectifier.  Again they placed a good, practical, attractive, and moderately priced power supply in the hands of all, and had the distribution and resources to last where others (with good products) failed.   I know they recently stumbled a bit with their unfortunate DCC F7 in HO (with truly horrid paint schemes that could only make you shake your head in wonder) but they supplied a basic need that was keeping many out of the hobby.

The common thread here is that the hobby has had many great innovative thinkers and wonderful craftsman, but actually putting the model trains in the customer's hands in large numberrs, at affordable prices, and at levels of quality, is why most of us are here.

Dave Nelson

 

Dave Nelson

[SpaceMouse]

Compared to the rest of you legends, I am relatively new in the hobby. I've been a model railroader for barely two years.  So I can't walk through the Washington's, Jefferson's, etc.

What I can do is tell you who had an impact on me. The fact that I am new and these people had an impact is telling though--that means that they have stood the test of time. Granted there maybe people that have had an impact on me that I don't know about--like the Walther's or the Altherns--but the fact that the two most prominent of the group were dead before I started modeling is telling.

1) John Allen--I saw Linn Westcott's book early on and it inspired me to think beyond mediocrity.

2) John Armstrong--I have read "Track Planning for Realistic Operations" many times and it has really helped my understanding about what model railroading is about.

The third one was a little tougher. I was toying between Linn Westcott and Tony Koester when it hit me. Even now I hesitate because I've gotten to know him a little. 

3) Joe Fugate--His layout that combines operations and incredible scenery is the blueprint for where I see myself 5-10 years from now. And unlike the others, his clinics that get right to the nitty-gritty of how he achieved his creation are right there for anyone to access.  

   

[ranchero]

Cronkhite was amazing in his days and when i saw the san diego club layout he designed and help built, i was in awe. He was a early innovator for sure and way ahead of his time for sure

[jeffrey-wimberly]

John Allen

Lynn Westcott

Wayne Wesolowski

 

[wjstix]

Minton Cronkhite was the Jimmie Rodgers of model railroading!! What I mean is, if you read just about any Country star's bio who came up in the 30's-50's (Roy Acuff, Hank Williams, Jim Reeves, etc.) they all say "I knew I wanted to be a Country singer when I heard "The Singing Brakeman", Jimmie Rodgers, sing." The 1933 Chicago World's Fair layout really kicked off scale model railroading in the US, almost every "pioneer" like Al Kalmbach (who started Model Railroader shortly afterwords), Linn Westcott, Bill Walthers, etc. say that seeing that layout really got them interested in what could be done with scale model trains. 

[R. T. POTEET]

Bill Smith

Ed "Shorty" Brown

Jay Anderson

[BRAKIE]

Well..

Lynn Westcott and MR in general.

 Bill Walthers

Irv Athearn..

Those 3 did more to help advance the hobby then anybody.

Of TODAY'S Modelers.

Tony Koester

and

Allen McClelland

has to be the top contenders.

 

Also the NMRA help get the hobby to where its at today as far as standards and RPs.

 

 

[wm3798]

I'll put a different spin on it...

For me Personally, my big three would be:

#1 - My dad, who worked with and among railroaders for most of his career, and who introduced me to model trains via the big Christmas Garden he'd put up each year in our basement.

#2 - Ted Klein, owner of MB Klein in Baltimore.  I've been a regular customer of his since my 8th birthday.

#3 - George Myers, late member of the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society.  George was a consummate gentleman, and shared his knowledge and love of the WM with me back when I was in my formative years of becoming a "serious" model railroader.

No big names, but no one else had more of an impact on me in regards to my hobby.

Lee 

 

[WCfan]

1) My Father

2)The owner of our LHS

3)My Middle School Band Teacher

Hey you said anyone.

Famos Model railroaders

1) John Armstrong

2) Tony Koester

3) David Popp (I hope I spelled that right)