OGR used to have tours of the now closed Weaver plant from York. It was a lot of fun and got to meet some great people on them One of the true highlights was seeing Bob Weavers layout Here are some pics from it
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Again a great modeler and am glad I got to see it a few times and yes I miss the OGR tours too they were great!
I didn't go on that tour, Ben. Thanks for those photos. I did do several of the earliest ones & got the commorative boxcars for each. Good times. OGR did a couple visits to the MTH headquarters in Maryland. I missed going on them. Perhaps another crack at one of those tours this October OGR guys? 
How does the "Quality Tanning" store figure into the photos, Ben?
Bob Weaver had the rr in the basement of his family store in Northumberland.
A lot of reminiscing today Ben. Unfortunately I never made it on this tour or to see Tony Lashes layout. Thank you for the virtual tours.
I REALLY miss the products, especially the trucks and couplers.
Again, Thanks' Ben. Another missed opportunity on my part, but with your effort I am able to share in the good times along with many others.
Some of the nicest and most helpful and kind people that I ever dealt with are in the above picture taken at Weaver's.
I miss those folks at weaver was nice and great to deal with and very helpful.
The tours to the Weaver and MTH facilities, Mr. Weaver's and Mr. Lash's layouts were a real treat and extra special events added to the York Meet experience. Some great memories.
I'd love to see and attend trips like these again!
What is the continuing story of Bob Weaver and his layout in the basement of the family business? What is Joe Hayter (sp?) doing these days?
That was a great layout. I heard that it was taken down. As for Weaver product, I believe they lingered on O scale too much and were too slow in responding to the O gauge market. Not many of their engines ran on anything less than O72 curves. Weaver made some really fine engines and rolling stock but in the end they were a day too late and a dollar short. It may be sad but the industry is contracting a bit.
I also enjoyed the OGR tours. Sometimes they had substantial, unexpected bonuses. One of the Weaver products I was very grateful for were the Reading G1 and G2sa Pacific steam locomotives because they were used on PRSL. I bought a few with different road numbers at regular retail prices. For the OGR tour, Weaver made available their remaining inventory at incredibly low prices. The prices were just too good not to take advantage of. I think I doubled the number of those locomotives I owned on that tour.
I found it interesting that Bob Weaver went from 2-rail to 3-rail O scale. I regret that I did not go on the tour with his layout included.
I really liked all the Weaver products. Their PRR baggage cars were especially nice, everything done right. I always looked forward to talking to Joe and Gary at York.
@Dennis LaGrua posted:That was a great layout. I heard that it was taken down. As for Weaver product, I believe they lingered on O scale too much and were too slow in responding to the O gauge market. Not many of their engines ran on anything less than O72 curves. Weaver made some really fine engines and rolling stock but in the end they were a day too late and a dollar short. It may be sad but the industry is contracting a bit.
Thats too bad Was a great layout I disagree about Weaver products Hardly any of them required O72 They were quick to respond to customer requests Joe brought the Lackawanna Pocono and the cabooses to market in one year He made models that nobody else would. The only thing they missed was to update the detailing on their cars Joe Hayter was and still is a great guy
@Dennis LaGrua posted:That was a great layout. I heard that it was taken down. As for Weaver product, I believe they lingered on O scale too much and were too slow in responding to the O gauge market. Not many of their engines ran on anything less than O72 curves. Weaver made some really fine engines and rolling stock but in the end they were a day too late and a dollar short. It may be sad but the industry is contracting a bit.
As an O scaler, I appreciate that they were singularly focused on O scale. I don't think they were "slow in responding to the O gauge market" at all. They had a very diverse product line and most of their products seemed to sell well. They were the first manufacturer I'm aware of who routinely offered multiple road numbers on both locomotives and rolling stock. They combined domestic production with imports. They had quite a number of diesel locomotives that ran on curves tighter than 072. Their brass steam locomotives had close (if not the same) curve requirements as comparable competitive products. I don't think it was a matter of being a day late and a dollar short as much as the fact the owner just wanted to retire.
I think PGentieu got it right with Joe wanting to move on with retirement. I'm sure he exhausted every effort trying to sell the business as a whole.
I still miss Weaver, not only for the product, but for the service too. I'm a big Milwaukee Road fan and they were very generous with their offerings in that regard, especially brass.
Thanks again Joe and crew. 
Those trips were fun and informative.
I enjoyed all three destinations.
I have more Weaver now then when they were in business. Thanks for posting the pics
@Traindiesel posted:The tours to the Weaver and MTH facilities, Mr. Weaver's and Mr. Lash's layouts were a real treat and extra special events added to the York Meet experience.
I agree 100%! Great times with a lot of great folks
@milwrd posted:I think PGentieu got it right with Joe wanting to move on with retirement. I'm sure he exhausted every effort trying to sell the business as a whole.
I still miss Weaver, not only for the product, but for the service too. I'm a big Milwaukee Road fan and they were very generous with their offerings in that regard, especially brass.
Thanks again Joe and crew.
Paul Fischer, ( who was a member here), was a big influence with the Milwaukee Road offerings by Weaver. Yes, Joe did try to find a buyer, and he was anxious to retire. He told me he and his wife hadn't had a vacation in years due to the business.
@dk122trains posted:Again a great modeler and am glad I got to see it a few times and yes I miss the OGR tours too they were great!
Don. You are in the first photo.
I went on the tour with the visit to Bob’s layout.
Spectacular!
What a nice day it was. Thanks for posting all the pictures.
@PGentieu posted:As an O scaler, I appreciate that they were singularly focused on O scale. I don't think they were "slow in responding to the O gauge market" at all. They had a very diverse product line and most of their products seemed to sell well. They were the first manufacturer I'm aware of who routinely offered multiple road numbers on both locomotives and rolling stock. They combined domestic production with imports. They had quite a number of diesel locomotives that ran on curves tighter than 072. Their brass steam locomotives had close (if not the same) curve requirements as comparable competitive products. I don't think it was a matter of being a day late and a dollar short as much as the fact the owner just wanted to retire.
Well said. Totally agree.
Pat
@jim sutter posted:Some of the nicest and most helpful and kind people that I ever dealt with are in the above picture taken at Weaver's.
Jim:
Totally agree. It was very sad that Joe was unable to sell the business as a going entity, although I'm sure he made the effort. He is a great guy and had terrific employees. Weaver also made excellent products.
Pat
Me too, I miss those tours. I attended the Tony Lash Tour but never got to see the Weaver Tour. I would love to do another tour.
Weaver had made some good looking freight cars.They had made their own cut in the market.Mr Weaver had one heck of a lay out.
Thanks Ben! Looks like it was a nice layout.
There was a picture posted on one of those tours of a Conrail SD80MAC? engine that grabbed my attention. I still look for that pic. I like modern diesels shown at work!
En Route to the last day of Weaver Models:
The Factory "Test Track"
The PArts Dept Open for Buyers....
Extra Shells for sale.
Yep, fun times at Weaver, MTH, and Tony's layout tours.
Was able to make one Layout tour and I think it was the final tour taking us to the Tony Lash layout and then onto MTH.
Why not try your own personal tour? Three years back, with some fellow club members, we made the trip to see Horseshoe curve and Glitzen Tunnel on the day before York. We left Long Island early saw both and made it to our York hotel by 7pm. It was a good day of rail-fanning.
@L.I.TRAIN posted:Was able to make one Layout tour and I think it was the final tour taking us to the Tony Lash layout and then onto MTH.
Why not try your own personal tour? Three years back, with some fellow club members, we made the trip to see Horseshoe curve and Glitzen Tunnel on the day before York. We left Long Island early saw both and made it to our York hotel by 7pm. It was a good day of rail-fanning.
Interesting you mention that. My wife and I had planned a trip to the Horseshoe Curve and Steamtown after the April York Meet. With the cancellation of that Meet, we pushed it back to after the October York Meet, although we will also consider deferring it to the LCCA 50th Anniversary Convention next Summer in Scranton.
Pat
Heck - I just miss Weaver.
I agree with you D500. It was a sad day when Weaver closed its doors for good. Never had a chance to do any of those tours. Paul 2
@D500 posted:Heck - I just miss Weaver.
PERIOD! Made very nice mail storage boxcars. I could not have a whole C&O yellow or blue passenger train. Or GN orange and green. But I could and did have one storage mail boxcar for my M&E train.
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I was cleaning out a desk drawer in our home office and found these!
Some memories:
Never did one of the OGR tours but stopped at Weaver a number of times on our way to York. Twice we dropped off engines for repair on a Tuesday before York and they would have them for us by Friday at York to pick up. Totally agree, very nice people and I miss them and their product.
Pete
I would love to see that Weaver light 2-8-0 consolidation made again.....I wonder who has the molds....
Peter
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