Michael Primack ctt magazine june 1990

His layout is featured on the "Great Toy Train Layouts of America" DVDs from TM Books and Video. Can't remember which part it is on, but the 6-part box set is very inexpensive. Definitely worth the 10-20 dollars it probably costs. Lots of good layouts. Look for it at tmbv.com.

It was actually Model Railroader. His layout was also featured in TM Books and Videos Great Layouts Part1 and the Book.

 

I love his layout as well. Its one of my all time favorites.  I asked OGR to do an article on him, because I hear he is still into trains. His was the first Toy/Hi-Rail Layout. All Gargraves Track with Lionel Postwar and MPC Trains.

I watched that video not too long ago. great layout.

True to form... I knew when I went to look for the book upstairs that a few posts would magically appear with some info.    ALWAYS happens that way here.

 

In any event, back in 1987 TM Books, Inc. (Tom McComas & James Tuohy) published a hardback book entitled, Great Toy Train Layouts of America.  And Michael Primack's layout was featured with lots of pictures in pages 98-109.  I'm pretty sure the book is long since out of print, but the ISBN is 0-937-522-04-X and the Library of Congress catalog number is 87-050508.

 

You'll probably have better luck finding the series of DVD videos by the same name... volumes 1-6.  But the book is great walk down memory lane to a time when hi-rail was in its infancy, and going to regional train shows was actual a worthwhile use of one's time. 

 

David

Dr. Michael Primack (he (is/was a dentist) was the topic of discussion here, I think, a year or so ago.  There seemed to be no definitive answer whether he still has his layout running.  I recall that in the TM video, he is seen operating it with his then- young son, who must be close to 30 now!  He is located in the Chicago area 

Time is definitely marching on for all of us!!!  I was in my mid-20's when I purchased that book!!! 

If I remember correctly, he used relays from old pinball machines for train control.

You might be thinking of Stan Roy?  His layout featured record-achieving, automatic train control using hundreds of relays and was also highlighted in the book and videos.  As I recall, Primack's layout was more hi-rail and oriented toward reproducing "real" RR operations.

 

David

Ah yes!!! Thanks! Was in the same book I think.

Yes it was the same book, I was just looking at it the other day.

From my understanding Michael is still into trains and still has a layout.

 

As for Stan Roy, I heard he took down his layout and started selling his collection.

Thanks for taking us down memory lane with the reminder of this awesome layout! I'll have to stop by my parents' house and look for that book. I remember buying the book from TM with my dad at the monthly train show at the DuPage County Fairgrounds outside Chicago way back when!