Frank Ellison

Absolutely, he was one of the pioneers! I first came across his articles in TOY TRAINS magazine back in the 50s. 

Glad to hear!  Most of his articles were from that era.  He worked on the Delta Lines between the '30's and 50's and probably did most of his article writing in the time frame you mention.  He was a perfectionist and the level of meticulous detail involved in his construction was amazing!

I've always considered Frank Ellison & John Armstrong as the Babe Ruth & Ty Cobb of 0 scale.

I had a customer that would bring me pictures of his layout and ask me to re-create buildings that Frank had constructed. The pictures were very inspiring.

Alan Graziano

I have read and reread his work extensively.  I used his suggestions when I started my layout in regard to building an operating concept.  He gave a lot to our hobby.

What is your name? Are you an Ellison? Are you into model railroading?

My mother was Frank's daughter, Virginia Ellison.  I love model railroading, but am afraid the creativity and skill of my grandfather was not passed on to me!  He was certainly a perfectionist and his attention to meticulous detail were outstanding.  Glad to see that he is remembered.  The Delta Lines were amazing to see! 

All of us serious "Lionel kids" from the '50s know him from the frequent references to (and pictures of) his work found in Lionel's "Model Railroading" book, which we all read over and over until the cheap paperback pages turned brown and crumbled.

Tell us some stories...

I have read several of Fred Dole's articles on the delta lines items he has purchased and used on his layout.  i enjoy your grandfathers work.

I think I read that little paperback, many years ago...wonder if it is still in print?

I also have read articles on some of his buildings.  I wonder if kits were ever offered

copying some of those?

That's pretty cool. Welcome to the Forum. Many people do indeed remember your grandfather.

To those of us old enough to remember he was an inspiration no matter what scale you worked in.

Jim McC.

Oh yes! I remember a series of Delta Lines articles that ran in Model Railroader, late 1950's or very early 1960's. My uncle had several stacks of old MR's in his basement and as a kid I'd borrow them and daydream about my future model railroad empire. The articles by Ellison were among the most inspirational and I can still recall some of those pictures in my mind's eye more than 50 years later.

This is Amazing, The Delta Lines O Scale Outside 3rd Rail, Frank Ellison, John Armstring, modeler, Author, John Allen, Gorre An Dephetid RR, WERE OUR Heroes...This is nice to know that there are Relatives still living that can relate to our hobby...I can not remember the name of a John Armstrongs RR, However, I believe it to have been an O Scale Outside 3rd Rail layout...I have read All of their books as Linn Wescott, A Kalmbach Editor and Book Writer has mentioned these Distinguished Modelers many many times

Thank You For Coming Forth at this Time...Amazing.. Also, Lorell Joiner, A Texas Modeler, referred to Frank as a roll model of this Fun hobby....I believe He also used Outside 3rd Rail...These fellows tested the waters so that by adding Scenery, Grid Construction, Back Drops, Track Lighting and Valences, WOW....They Paved The Way.... thank you..

Oh my! I most certainly know of him. I'm about to turn 61.....I did not have contemporaneous knowledge of him. I discovered his work in the 1980s when I boughta collection   of Toy Trains Magazines from a train shop in Baltimore. Since then I've discovered his articles in Model Railroader and Model Builder. I have a well-worn copy of the Art of Model Railroading. 

I am building an O Gauge layout in my basement and it has been my intent to call one of the office buildings, the Ellison Building......

Welcome to the Forum! It is a pleasure for all of us to talk to you for sure!

Peter

My grandfather made his first model of the Christ Cathedral (New Orleans) when he attended as a child.  It was incredibly detailed and accurate.  He was also musically talented and was in vaudeville with my grandmother (The Musical Ellisons) and toured with Charlie Chaplin at one time.  He later worked on stage and theater design.  He seemed to approach everything from that perspective.  He did see the Delta Lines as a stage and the trains as actors.  He was a perfectionist and made every small piece of scenery look so real.  The towns are named for streets in his neighborhood, for his children and St. Michael for my older brother. 

I first remember reading some of his stuff in the `50's and then became re-acquainted with his writings and modeling via the work of Fred Dole in the early `90's.

As an aside and by coincidence, my fiance, a director and actress, when fist seeing my model railroad, exclaimed, "it's just like a theater set only in miniature!"

jackson, CEO - Not-So-Great Eastern RR aka the Never Done Lines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...&feature=channel

I too have found memories of reading about your grandfather's layout and his approach to it.  He was the gold standard in his day and was very much looked up to in this hobby.

Art

I grew up in New Orleans and received an American Flyer K5 set for Christmas on 1949 when I was 5 1/2. I remember being glad that Santa also liked the two rail trains!

We lived out near the airport and unfortunately didn't ever learn about Frank until many years later. I figure I was around 12 or so when they took the layout down.

Would loved to have met him.

Please don't let his shadow overwhelm you. Very few of us are capable of achieving 'perfection' but that's not the point. The journey is important and what counts are the friends you meet along the way.

I'm certain that he would have been most pleased to have a grandson follow his dream!

Dennis LaGrua a member of the forum, has been trying to recreate his layout. You should drop him a note

Fred Dole has created the original layout with many of the original pieces.

Wow, very cool that you are here! I became aware of your GF back in the 50s, as I would pick up copies of Model Railroader at Trost Hobbies in Chicago. Then, in the 90s, I bought a collection of Toy Trains magazines, which contained a number of his original articles, all of which are inspirational to this day. I hope you continue to participate here. Thanks for posting!

Your Grandfather was a pillar in our hobby. He most certainly is remembered.

Frank was one of the folks that inspired me through reading about his layout.  It is amazing and wonderful that you have joined us here on the forum!  Frank is one of the most well known modelers even to this day....thanks so much for starting this thread!

WELCOME to the Forum

Alan

Sixty five years ago Frank Ellison's article on the "Donaldson Local Freight" in Model Railroader became the guiding influence in my subsequently building model railroads  featuring prototype operation vice loop running. That perspective was further reinforced after visiting John Armstrong's Canandaigua Southern.  I had the pleasure of model railroading with John Armstrong most Friday nights for 30 years and always enjoyed listening to hear John reminisce about visiting Frank's railroad.  Is it true that in the center of Frank's railroad was one of those large octopus arm furnaces?  I understand when photographing the Delta Lines Frank was careful to keep the furnace arms out of view.   IMO Frank Ellison and John Armstrong did more than any other authors in guiding model railroaders to consider prototype operations when designing their railroads.  

Ed Rappe

we surely do remember your Granfather. He has inspired many of us. Love to hear some stories. Do you have any pics you could share?

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are very few truly legendary figures in this segment of the hobby.  Your grandfather most certainly is one of them.

I'm confident folks here would love to see whatever photos you may care to share.

I consider myself to be the Eddie Gaedel of model railroading...

Jeff C

Do you say that because you are short, or because you only made one appearance?

You'll just have to wonder, but I can assure you that like Gaedel, I have never made an out in Major League Baseball.

Jeff C

I am pleased that you posted here on OGR.  I am a 1958 model, so just like others, my only link with your grandfather's work was through his articles in Model Railroader.  I have read every article he has ever written, and Kalmbach Publishing now has all of Frank's articles available electronically in their past "Model Railroader" issues. 

His layout plan, ideas on operation, and buildings and scenes have all stood the test of time.  Many people who design their railroads for operation have a town named "Ellison", Raymondale etc. on their own railroads. 

Regards,

GNNPNUT

Do we still remember Frank Ellison?  Surely you jest!?  Born in the early 40's, I recall that every publication that featured photos of your grandfather's layout was among the most dog-eared of items in the stack by my bed...more so than any of the Disney/Dell comic books, et al.

If you have any family photos, stories, that might extend our appreciation of your grandfather's contribution to this hobby, I urge you to contact the folks at OGR who sponsor this forum, that they might be able to publish them for all of us.

Thanks for reaching out to us!!

KD

Thank you for your post.  Yes, I remember the photos of Delta Lines as something I was not talented enough to achieve.

OGR:  You ought to consider dkdkrd's suggestion.  If you can get a lot of photos, it might make for a very Special Edition.

Weaver did a run of these a few years back in response to a lot of requests, especially from those of us who post here and belong to the Delta Lines interest group on Yahoo.

Peter

Yes....lots of great ideas and creativity came from Frank Ellison. By all means, post any and all photos you have of The Delta Lines....Tom

This is own humble attempt at re-creating an Ellison box car.