Alfred Holck's O scale layout?

Santiago,

I have met Al many times over the years and have visited his home in Northern California. He was part of a group of BRHS members that lived in the San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area. Bill Glick, author of several books on the Burlington, and I hosted several meetings at our homes. We were known as the "Everywhere West Group". Al was a regular attendee.

Al was in a nursing home in Northern Ca where Bill and I would visit with him and take him out to lunch.  Later on, as his health was failing, Al moved to Colorado in his later years living close to one of his kids. I understand that Hol Wagner would visit with Al frequently.

As for his collection, not certain where it all went. His step son, who we met with several times, was in charge of disposing of his home in CA. We tried to buy some of his models and memorabilia but he was relucted to make any decision. Both Bill and I speculate that either a local collector was interested in buying it all, or that other arrangements were being made.

I had a chance to see the early stages of the last book Al was working on. It was almost complete. It is my understanding that another BRHS member was going to finish the book for publication. But I don't have any update on the status as of today.

I only wish I took photos of his layout and models. He kit-bashed a 4-4-0 from a kit that was offered back in the 1970's. He also had a brass 2-6-6-2. Al was a stickler for accurate detail. Even his building were Burlington specific. I do have all of Al's books, and as you know, these are outstanding.

Ray

Ray,

Thanks for the generous reply. The Everywhere West meetings sound legendary. Too bad there isn’t any documentation of Al’s models and layout that is easily available.  Maybe they’ll surface at some point.