Many years ago I wrote a posting here about the closing of Almosta Junction, my LHS in Utah, due to the illness of it's owner, Ben Graham. I reminisced about how I rediscovered a childhood love of trains while walking through the narrow aisles of his packed, small shop. I went in there just hoping to get my childhood train running around the Christmas tree for my young son (now almost 25) and left here with a new love of trains and what has turned into a life long term hobby.
At the time the store closed, Ben was literally on death's doorstep. We all thought it was going to be just a short time before he left for the big roundhouse in the sky. Well due to a lot of hope, prayers, and modern medical science, our dear friend Ben decided it wasn't time to go quite yet. He stayed with us and defied all odds. While no longer running the store, he still was a guy to call and talk about trains or any other things in life that needed discussing. While the cancer still took it's toll on his body, it never took his spirit.
This morning I got a text message from a friend to let me know that Ben decided to make that last run. He is gone, and I and many other will miss him. Ben you (re)-opened a new hobby to me and allowed me to make many new friends and visit many places that I never would have if I had never visited your store.
Take care my friend. We will meet again
-Chris
An older article about the shop
