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I always enjoyed his video's at the barn and also with Bill at the store. I had the greatest opportunity to meet him and bill in the store and you couldn't help but love Harry. He just made you feel comfortable and he knew so much. My prayers are with the family.

Harry YOU WILL BE MISSED! I hope you are Running the Lords trains and having fun and NO PROBLEMS!

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This little caboose is a very special caboose. It started out as a new old stock Lionel Lines red animated caboose. The brakeman slides out off the rear platform as his lantern illuminates. Five years ago or so, I was just starting in 3-rail trains. Everyday I learned something new, for me it was exciting. For others in the hobby I was a pest. I probably posted five or more questions everyday. I don’t know how many people blocked me.   



After about a month, I started noticing that one person was always willing to answer my questions with what I found to be accurate information. This person seemed to know everything about trains. I honestly thought I struck gold finding this person to help me. His name was Harry.



We had similar tastes in railroads. Being from Pittsburgh, raised in a millworker’s household, I was mainly interested in the Pennsylvania Railroad and, as many know Harry was THE authority on that “Standard of the World” line.



Back to this little caboose. I really only wanted Pennsy stuff (it’s still my main interest). So after finding this caboose on Craigslist ( of all places) I asked if it was possible to change my little red Lionel Lines caboose to Pennsylvania. Harry answered with an enthusiastic yes and I was introduced to Henning’s train store. I sent my caboose in and Harry repainted and renamed it. He charged a modest fee and now it’s almost always tiding the rails on my layout.



In this hobby, one can find many participants but few with the enthusiasm, experience and expertise of Harry Henning III. He was accessible, skilled, knowledgeable, gracious, and above all helpful. Harry’s passing leaves a hole, no, an abyss in this hobby that may never be filled.



Thank you Harry. See you at the portal on the other side of the mountain.

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First I am so sorry for the Henning family. He fought hard and will be missed by many, including me. I met Harry A Henning III at York when JimmyTrains had its first York booth in April 2023. I met both Bill and Harry that day.

Harry immediately embraced what I was doing and even posted about it on his youtube channel. He became my mentor and was always encouraging me to continue making cool stuff. He became a close friend in the short time I have known him. I would often text him, a lot, for advice as well as design ideas. He was always patient with me and he gave me so much advice.

I last saw him at October 2024 York where he brought by one of my animators that he wanted me to upgrade for the fireworks animation he was creating. I am honored that even till the end he was working on ideas for me.

As you all know Harry is an institution in the train community. He started the popular tips and trick channel on youtube, can fix anything, knows practically every part that existed. Restores tinplate trains to their original glory. Has a paint line, spare parts line, along with John an electronics line, active with the boy scouts, host clubs at the train farm every week.

The third in a Legacy of Harry Hennings who have had a train shop since the 20s. So much knowledge has been lost. Even though I wrote a lot of words here I am still at loss of words at the same time. RIP Harry! I will certainly miss you.

Last edited by jimmysb

As many have already noted first my condolences to the Henning family but not only to Harry's immediate family but all of his families he has contributed to over the years. I truly regret not spending more time with Harry these last few months. I guess I hoped this very strong and optimistic person would be around for just a little longer. And in many ways he will be for me through the custom trains he made for me. Every time I see them I hear his voice of wisdom. Harry struck me as  proud and generous. He was proud to be a member of the Henning family which has been synonymous with model trains for generations. I remember him showing me a postwar FM that belonged to his grandfather and how excited he was to show off a 700E he recently serviced. He was also proud of the people he worked with at Hatfield meats and the muscle car they contributed to on his retirement. And he was certainly proud to hold those North Penn O Gaugers "Runs for Fun" in his basement. And he was always proud to show off his latest projects in his workshop, being the talented craftsman he was.

But as others have noted, what stands out more than his gentile pride was his generosity. He never hesitated to share his knowledge and services with anyone who asked.

I will miss a great friend, who having known, has given me a richer life.

Very sorry for your loss.  I met Harry for the first time about a year ago.  I'd purchased a Lionel Diesel set from you folks, and the light in the caboose wouldn't stay lit.  It was also tripping the circuit breaker on my Powerhouse every time it ran over an operating track.  Harry spent no less than 30 minutes, first diagnosing the lighting issue, then repeatedly running the caboose over turnouts and an operating track in your store, adjusting the roller bracket until it didn't trip.  When my order for what I purchased that day was rung up, I asked the cashier to be sure to add the time Harry spent repairing my caboose.  He refused to let her do that, even though he had dropped what he was doing and spent 1/2 hour on the problem so that I wouldn't need to drive back down from State College.  That's the kind of person he was, and because of that experience and the overall satisfaction I've had with your service and quick shipping, I've placed several orders for accessories since then.  He was a class act, and will be missed!

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