Letter to the editor:
In 1953, I received a Lionel Berkshire from my dad for Christmas. We had many happy hours laying on the floor and watching it, with my dad and uncle Don, come around the Christmas tree. Don, my dad’s younger brother, loved trains as much as I!!! Great memories!
Years passed, and the Air Force, College, marriage and kids kept that Berk’ packed away and ignored. Finally I unpacked it, tested it and found it no longer smoked as I had remembered.
I had since moved to Cincinnati from Dayton and looked for a train shop near me. I found Davis Electronics in Milford, Ohio, and they did repairs, often as you waited! I took my Berk’ to Davis, and they directed me to the 2nd floor where I met a quiet gentleman who saw what I had and said, “Ahhh, a Berkshire! Good puller!”
I asked him if he could convert the smoke unit to liquid and clean and lube it. He replied he could and took it behind a curtain covered door, placed it in a saddle on his work bench and went to work. Eventually he saw me peeking through the curtain and asked if I wanted to watch him do the cleaning, installation and maintenance...I was in there in a heartbeat!!! I wanted to learn all I could about train repair and I was all eyes and concentration.
After 45 minutes he had finished and I asked him how he had learned to do it and asked him how could I learn. He said, “Buy the Lionel train repair book, read it, work on your own trains and you’ll pick it up!”
That kind, gentle repairman was Jim Barrett.
He was so patient with my questions and so generous with his time. That was not my last visit to Jim, there were a few more. He was always patient, fast and gracious, and always willing to teach!
Well I did all of what Jim told me to do, and I learned all about conventional trains was able to rebuild my uncle Don’s late 40’s Pennsy steamer and convert it to liquid smoke. Then I bought a used Rail King diesel, and it had great sound but it would NOT move. Conventional engines I could deal with, but DCS stuff was a mystery to me.
Davis was long gone, so I took it to Dixie Union Station in Mason, Ohio, figuring that Rocky, the owner, could send it to Jim. It was then I learned to my great sorrow that Jim had passed away!
I was heartbroken. He had gotten me into train repair. He unselfishly gave of his time and knowledge to teach me!!! And now he was gone! I was stunned!!!
Rocky told me that the news had been on the front page of the previous issue of “O Gauge Railroading” and I hadn’t had a chance to read that issue.
The model railroad community has lost not just a technical master, but a true kind and caring friend and mentor. RIP Jim, thanks for all you taught me...I will miss you greatly!
Wayne Schwegel
