I never met Tom but know what he and his family are going through. My prayers are with Tom and his entire family, may you all be comforted by the arms of the Lord in this time and forevermore.
A great public loss!. I have been selling parts to the Choo Choo Barn for years. Just received a check signed by Tom for the last order yesterday in the mail. My sympathy goes out to the family, Eric and the rest of the crew. Harry 
Thank you so much to Tom and all the Groff family who's hard work and dedication has brought to the world this wonderful display of toy train dreams. Starting with Grand-Pop George I cannot hope to express the joy you have brought to my family and countless others who where fortunate enough to visit the Choo-Choo Barn.
Of course my prayers go out to the whole Groff family but for some reason that seems to be a shallow expression as compared to all the good you have brought to this world through your expression of the toy train art.
Suffice to say the love Tom and George with their tradition has shown the world should come back to the Groff family a thousand times over.
God Bless to you all.
So sorry to hear of this. Tom is a genius at making this hobby "come to life". I was fortunate enough to meet him once. A friend of mine owns the HO scale Strasburg Model Railroad Club of South Jersey. After displaying his layout at the Strasburg Museum in 2017, we went to the Choo Choo Barn. When Tom heard we were there, he came down to greet us. He gave us the "grand tour", including behind the scenes and answered numerous questions. His ingenuity is surpassed only by his good will.
May God bless Tom and his family
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Prayers for Tom and his family.
Tom Groff has now passed away. Rest in peace Mr. Choo Choo Barn.
Stu
My prayers are with Toms family during this time of grief.
Rest in peace, Tom. You generated much happiness while you were with us.
May Tom's friends and family take consolation during this time that although his journey here on Earth is completed he's begun a new and glorious one that is pain free with memories that will never be diminished or forgotten of all those whose lives he enriched while here. God bless.
We are saddened to hear of the loss of Tom Groff who owned the Choo Choo barn in Strasberg, PA. I believe Tom was 77. While only meeting Tom a couple of times, I found him to come off as a good and decent man. He regularly gave to charities and helped the least among us. Surely he has earned a place with our Lord and savior in heaven. Our prayers to the Groff family in their time of grief. Tom will be missed.
The hand built model railroad exhibit was originally built by George Groff, Toms father. Tom continued the work by adding many animations to the layout that he designed and built himself. Today the third generation of the Groff family continues it's operation and the exhibit is not only great to see but remains as a Legacy to Thomas and George Groff.
Rest in Peace, Tom.
You put a lot of smiles on the faces of kids of all ages.
From the email I received today from his daughter Kristi: "...My dad passed yesterday afternoon. It was peaceful and he is no longer suffering..."
The hobby and the world has lost a truly GOOD man. May he rest in peace.
OMG! May God Bless him and his family! He will sorely be missed! I hope the Choo choo Barn will go on in his memory! God Speed and High ball all the way!
Rest In Peace Tom. Prayers for the family.
Today is a sad day for sure. Tom and his layout brought much happiness to the train lovers of all ages, and his creation will go on to do the same for years to come. May he rest in peace.
The Family at Corner Field Model Railroad Museum & Hobby Shop, we are all very sadden to hear of his loss. We pray the family will come through this and stick together and overcome this sadness. Tom Sr, Tom Jr., Vicki & Ashley.
May he rest in peace!
God bless him. I'm very sorry to hear and never got the chance to meet him.
I may have met Tom when I went with my wife and young children 25 years ago to the Choo Choo Barn. What a fabulous LHS and splendid l as yout there!
I also bought one of my favorite train related items during my visit to the Choo Choo Barn: my Kramer Products metal O Scale baseball figures. Here are some of them:
I am just one of perhaps millions of people that has experienced joy and happiness thanks to Tom and the Choo Choo Barn. Arnold
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Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
My sincere condolences to his family, may he Rest In Peace
Alex
Toms' legacy of inspiring others is a special achievement. Wanting to put a smile on faces and getting same, I'm sure was a great vibe. May he rest in peace. May his family be looked after by the Almighty.
Rest in peace Tom. God bless your spirit and your family and friends.
Thank you for your wonderful contribution to our hobby and lives in general.
I just hope and pray that another conservator can be found so your talents and memory can live on in perpetuity.
His work has delighted me, my children, and now my grand children...all 10 of of them.
Rest in peace Tom. I first met Tom 38 years ago and he was always a valued friend and a great source of information. Tom will be missed in the hobby. Tom did a lot for his community and his passing will touch a large number of people. We all will suffer a great loss with his passing.
Rest In Peace Tom. Our deepest sympathy to Toms family.
Sincere condolences to the Groff family. Tom's talents certainly entertained and educated generations throughout the years.
Condolences to Tom’s family and friends. His creativity provided much enjoyment and entertainment to me and my three boys over the years.
Curt
What a Blessing it has been having Tom part of our OGauge lives all these years. Condolences to his family.
The world is a darker place today....
My deepest sympathy to the Groff family. Tom's work has been a part of my life and the boys' lives over the years. May he rest in peace.
George
Very sad. Condolences to Tom’s family. Thank you Tom for being a true ambassador to our hobby and an incredibly talented man. It was an honor knowing you and sharing this wonderful hobby.
Meet Tom working on his canvas......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KbrleCVzQ8
I have always enjoyed watching his videos, he will be with us for a long time in his videos.
Gary
My wife, Kathie, and I just visited the Choo Choo Barn the day before the fall York Meet; it's always a wonderful visit. We especially enjoy seeing other visitors' kids' reactions as they make their way around the layout. It always reminds us of how much our daughter enjoyed it when she was a kid.
Our condolences to Tom's family. Hopefully, they'll be able to continue to operate and maintain the Choo Choo Barn as his legacy.
Chris
May God bring peace and comfort to the entire family
Tom will be greatly missed
Thank you for decades of dedication to the hobby and the smiles you put on countless visitors faces. Strasburg will miss you. My condolences to all of Tom's friends and family. BigRail
Sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family.
I remember as a young boy seeing Choo Choo barn every summer for at least ten years in a row from when I was 6 to 16 yeas old. I always wanted a layout like Choo Choo barn's, but, of course, I was not allowed the space in the house as the layout was bigger than the basement. Years later and after joining TCA I made it a stop every six months to see the improvements/modifications that Mr. Tom would make on the layout.
And now, Mr. Tom has passed on from this Earthly Terminal to the Next. I am sure that all who saw this layout, or even had a chance to talk to Mr. Tom will never forget his kindness and his ideas that he showed all of us.
Mr. Tom, I pray that you have Eternal Peace, Now and for all Eternity.
Very sad to hear about this. My wife and I and our three girls visited the Choo Choo Barn and the Strasburg Train Shop many times over the years as they were growing up. Tom was a great man and his legacy will live on. Like many others, I hope the family will be able to continue to keep both open. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tom's family.
Pat
