Well Known 2-Rail O Scale Modeler Bob Jakl Passed Away November 15, 2021

So sorry to hear that, I was fortunate to have visited his layout twice and shot video of it.  We then shared videos and communicated briefly.  He and his family were delightfully friendly hosts.  Agreed, that is was the finest layout I have ever visited, scale or tinplate

I feel priviliged to have Seen Bobs Layout two times, he and his Family were very welcoming.

Mikey

I was privileged to visit Bob's layout twice.  The first time was during O Scale West in about 2010 and the last was in September 2019 when the G&O crew took a field trip to visit the layout.  Bob and Elizabeth were gracious and welcoming hosts both times.  Here are a few of the photos that I took of the layout during the September 2019 trip.  NH Joe

The layout is housed in this 35 X 80 foot building built behind the Jakl home.  Bob, Elizabeth and family built the building themselves from lumber salvaged from construction site dumpsters.  The building has two levels.  The layout is on the upper level and the work shop is on the lower level.

This photo shows about half of the layout.  The layout was not only large but the detail throughout was incredible.  The layout was built before DCC was available and therefore it had conventional DC block control.  All the trains ran smoothly.  The track and switches are hand laid.  The layout is truly a model railroad masterpiece.  

Bob told me that he arrived at the layout one morning to discover that aliens had landed.  They are trying to steal his cows.  

I am an old sailor and I really appreciate ship and port models.  The ship and dock area are scratch built.  

The detail is awesome.  

The layout boasts a huge passenger station.  Many of the background buildings were rescued from Lorell Joiner's Great Southern layout.  

All the buildings have lights.  

Note the lights on the station platform and in the buildings.  This is modeling at its best.

I love this scratch built station.  I believe that the prototype is in Illinois.  

Bob liked big trains and big power.

Bob and Elizabeth's layout is truly out of this world.  It is among the best of the best that has ever been my privilege to visit.  I am grateful that I was able to visit and photograph this masterpiece.  Thank you Bob and Elizabeth for the joy of the hobby that you shared with so many people.  

RIP Bob

Thank you Joe for sharing these pictures.   The best part of this layout is EVERYTHING

Amazing layout, thanks for sharing. My condolences to his family.

I just found this in the O Scale Resource, a very nice write up on  Mr. Jakl by his son.

It starts on page 13.

Ray

https://magazine.oscaleresource.com/books/fsco/#p=1

Thanks for sharing the pictures of his impressive layout.  My condolences to his family and friends.

-Greg

Joe , thank you for posting about Bob and his layout.  I was lucky to be able to see it for the 30+1 anniversary on Oct. 15. He was a wonderful guy.

Wow, beautiful layout.

Until now, I wasn't aware of Bob Jaki or his incredible train layout. I just read the article from Ray's link above in O Scale Resource magazine.  The article reveals that Bob lead a full and wonderful life as a veteran, a father, a husband, a family man, a hobbyist, and a man of faith, all while achieving success in his working profession.

It's gratifying to read that his sons will carry on his tradition of running and sharing his incredible layout with others young and old!  Here's to Bob and a life full of contributions and accomplishments!

WOW!!!! 

Sincere condolences to family and friends. 

Bummer to loose another o scaler. I hope the layout will survive. Great pictures and thanks for sharing.

Hey, enjoy your trains guys! No guarantees about being here in 10 years much less 20. Don’t wait until you retire. Get those trains out and start building time is wasting.

Again thanks for sharing your pictures!

Wow! What a masterpiece! As all the others have said, my condolences to to his wife and family.

Was pleased to see that Bob Jakl was a native son of my hometown, Hinsdale, IL.  And of Hinsdale High School - - - a school that produced a fair number of railroad fans. He was an enthusiast of the Burlington, quite naturally, which ran right through the center of Hinsdale, and of the Santa Fe. One might think the Santa Fe would have been a bit far-a-field from Hinsdale to have captured his attention, but one need only drive a few miles south on County Line Road in Hinsdale, and one would encounter Santa Fe park and the Santa Fe mainline. So both favorite roads were the product of youthful exposure, no doubt.

I was able to visit the layout a couple of times many years back. Stunning detail and everything worked extremely well. Fun to see the new addition of the Menards UFO. Good that Bob and Elizabeth were able to share his layout even last fall with many others. It was a featured hit on the O Scale West and other conventions. Condolences to the family.

Thanks for the photos brings back some good memories from past visits.

Sorry to hear, and a really amazing layout. Yes the prototype of the stone station is in La Grange, Illinois. https://www.lagrangehistory.or...venue-train-station/

I was impressed with his integration of the Great Southern city buildings, I was a fan of Joiner's when I saw the article about his layout in MR many years back. I am happy to see O scalers recycling great modeling where they can, preserving great work for the hobby.

My condolences to his family, and hope they find a way to preserve the layout.

R.

Outstanding craftsmanship. Impressive layout. Talented man.

Fantastic! It looks like he had a great run.

Sincere condolences to all the family and many friends. It always hurts to see a quality man and train lover leave us.

Jim K

Only had the opportunity to see the layout on YouTube. Watched few of them several times. I have not yet seen the layout in person but because his son's will continue showing I still may be able to. Condolences to his family and friends. Another great railroad brother now in a better place.

Dave

Great guy blessed with a really great family too. My short experience with him was as as an excellent and helpful builder that could win the model contest at will, clearly one of those multi-talented "swiss army knife" O-Scalers that cannot be replaced.          Sic Transit Gloria

Also Kudos to NH Joe for the great photos of Bob's amazing layout, got to  love it!

Thank you all for your very kind comments.  My mom, brothers and sister really appreciate them.  The layout was truly a family activity and we actually ran some trains today!  The plan right now is to be open before or after O Scale West in May.  We haven't decided on which days yet.  Ed