Miss those OGR Weaver Tours

@Mike D posted:

Yes. Good quality, affordable products that were made in the USA. Nice layout. I am surprised I haven't come across any pictures of it before.

In going through - and discarding - most of my old OGR issues this year, I ran across an article on/interview with Bob Weaver and his layout. Don't remember the date; 30 years ago? I am not sure how much of this old layout has to do with the factory layout shown above, if any. He was a 2-railer anyway, and I seem to recall that that layout was 2RO, but I couldn't swear to it. 3RO was where the market was, he realized. That magazine is in a landfill now.

I have heard Bob Weaver described as "the Irv Athearn of O-scale"; I believe that they knew each other - it's a small industry. Both Athearn (HO) and Weaver (O) produced a lot of good "standard" products at decent prices in their respective scales.  Athearn dabbled in O scale long ago.

@D500 posted:

In going through - and discarding - most of my old OGR issues this year, I ran across an article on/interview with Bob Weaver and his layout. Don't remember the date; 30 years ago? I am not sure how much of this old layout has to do with the factory layout shown above, if any. He was a 2-railer anyway, and I seem to recall that that layout was 2RO, but I couldn't swear to it. 3RO was where the market was, he realized. That magazine is in a landfill now.

I have heard Bob Weaver described as "the Irv Athearn of O-scale"; I believe that they knew each other - it's a small industry. Both Athearn (HO) and Weaver (O) produced a lot of good "standard" products at decent prices in their respective scales.  Athearn dabbled in O scale long ago.

Back in the eighties when I was into HO, Athearn was my favorite company. Good quality and reasonably priced products. I think MicroTrains is the N scale equivalent and they're still around today. They don't make locomotives unlike Weaver and Athearn.

@Putnam Division posted:

I would love to see that Weaver light 2-8-0 consolidation made again.....I wonder who has the molds....

Peter

Peter,

Atlas.

Lou N

@NJCJOE posted:

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.

Oh man! Did you miss out on that Tony Lash layout!

@D500 posted:

In going through - and discarding - most of my old OGR issues this year, I ran across an article on/interview with Bob Weaver and his layout. Don't remember the date; 30 years ago? I am not sure how much of this old layout has to do with the factory layout shown above, if any. He was a 2-railer anyway, and I seem to recall that that layout was 2RO, but I couldn't swear to it. 3RO was where the market was, he realized. That magazine is in a landfill now.

I have heard Bob Weaver described as "the Irv Athearn of O-scale"; I believe that they knew each other - it's a small industry. Both Athearn (HO) and Weaver (O) produced a lot of good "standard" products at decent prices in their respective scales.  Athearn dabbled in O scale long ago.

He originally had 2 rail and converted to 3 rail   The layout wasnt at the factory  It was in the basement of his wifes business

@prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Oh man! Did you miss out on that Tony Lash layout!

https://ogrforum.com/...ing-tony-lash-layout

I miss both those layouts!

-Greg

@bluelinec4 posted:

He originally had 2 rail and converted to 3 rail   The layout wasnt at the factory  It was in the basement of his wifes business

Bob Weaver's 2 rail layout was in the basement of his home.  All UP.  The 3 rail layout was at his wife's business.  

And yes, Bob knew everybody.  Mike Reagan and I spent an evening after dinner with Bob as he told tales about Irv Athearn and Gordon Varney.  Also about how he got into the paint business.

Lou N

I never made it to Bob Weaver's home, but I did have the opportunity to go to Weaver a few times. Gary (I forget his last name) was a super guy to deal with on any repair and Joe was always very nice. I have a bunch of the Weaver art deco steamers from the late 1990's. Great engines. I did go on a couple of the MTH/Tony Lash tours. They were great experiences.

I always appreciated the fact that OGR tried to do something special at York, including these tours, some sponsorship of the DCS dinner, and Thursday at Fridays (or wherever it happened to be in whatever year). I felt that OGR gave something back beyond just what you bought from them, and that's important to me.

Gerry

@gmorlitz posted:

Gary (I forget his last name) was a super guy to deal with on any repair and Joe was always very nice.

Gerry

Gary Hartmann.  I understand he now has his own landscape business.  Quite a ways from the train industry.

Lou N

It may--just MAY--be possible for OGR to arrange something similar to what we used to do for the Oct. 2021 (next year) York Meet. It would not be wise for us to even attempt to plan, organize, and execute something for this year, in light of all the uncertainty, but it is something we can think about for next year.

Of course, the Weaver operation no long exists, nor does Tony's layout, so we would have to come up with some interesting options in the fairly immediate area. MTH might still be a possibility, if they were open to such a thing, and I have no doubt there are some other spectacular O gauge layouts in the area surrounding York. Could even do a special bus-tour day-long event with the Strasburg Railroad, RR. Museum of Pennsylvania, and the Choo-Choo Barn. Just thinking off the top of my head, but there is ample time for planning something if there is sufficient interest.

@Allan Miller posted:

It may--just MAY--be possible for OGR to arrange something similar to what we used to do for the Oct. 2021 (next year) York Meet. It would not be wise for us to even attempt to plan, organize, and execute something for this year, in light of all the uncertainty, but it is something we can think about for next year.

Of course, the Weaver operation no long exists, nor does Tony's layout, so we would have to come up with some interesting options in the fairly immediate area. MTH might still be a possibility, if they were open to such a thing, and I have no doubt there are some other spectacular O gauge layouts in the area surrounding York. Could even do a special bus-tour day-long event with the Strasburg Railroad, RR. Museum of Pennsylvania, and the Choo-Choo Barn. Just thinking off the top of my head, but there is ample time for planning something if there is sufficient interest.

I really like your idea, Mr. Miller. I agree with your belief that OGR can do something similar every York.

However, I do have some minor corrections. The MTH headquarters building in Columbia, MD was sold last April, so MTH is not an option. Also, on the topic of Strasburg, during York Week, the Strasburg Rail Road already operates a free shuttle train for TCA Members between the National Toy Train Museum and the Choo-Choo Barn at the time of the National Toy Train Museum's Open House. The train picks up TCA members from the Choo-Choo Barn and ferries them via the Strasburg Railroad over to the Red Caboose Motel, where they have the option of either walking or riding in the TCA shuttle van from the Red Caboose Motel to the National Toy Train Museum. So, a bus tour covering the Strasburg attractions is also not be an option.

But overall, to be optimistic, I truly believe that OGR can come up with its own special tour similar to what they used to do for MTH and Weaver. We will just have to think it out :-) !

Note that Allan's post was made on 5/16, MTH's closure announcement was not made until 6/8.

So of course, with MTH related events since 6/8, MTH will not be an option, since there is nothing left to see (or soon won't be - major display layout was sold at the first auction).

At the time it was posted, it was (for anyone not within MTH who knew the impending announcement was coming) a viable thought.

-Dave

@Craignor posted:

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.

I was on the same tour.  The factory operation was very interesting but the layout was nothing short of fantastic.  Lunch on the return trip wasn't too shabby either.

It is hard reading these posts, seeing how much has changed and how the current situation hasvtouched each and every one of us. However, I think when all of this is over, and it will be over sometime, there will be a massive explosion of creativity and energy, like what happened with the Roaring 20s after the Spanish flu. Miketg

I miss Weaver in general, especially that early stuff with the Central Locomotive Works style drive system.  I bought my very first "scale" diesel, a LV FA-2 from Bob back in '89.  I still have it and have converted it from 3 to 2 rail in less than an hour using P&D wheelsets. I have never been blessed with lots of space for a "proper" aka HUGE 2 rail pike and the initial Weaver offerings let little guys like me into the realm of 2 rail on a ping pong sized pike.  Bob and Joe were great guys, the factory in Northumberland was fun to visit and I would try to buy something each year from the catalog. Those were definitely the days!

I submit to OGR and Allan Miller that you could consider a sponsored  bus trip to the Harpers Ferry Toy Train Museum!  No affiliation on my part...been there MANY TIMES. They have a great Tin Plate layout; a rideable train....look it up folks. That's Harpers Ferry in West Virginia!

Some of my best memories of my early days attending York meets in the early 2000s was the Weaver Tour and lunch. Heck, that's where I met some of you lugs for the first time.

@bluelinec4 posted:

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

When you have good help in getting all the information asap, good things come from it.

Among some things I liked about Weaver was 1.) the little tools, clock (still hanging in my train room), and shirts they gave as part of their annual club, 2.)  The fresh smell of paint when I received their cars.  That fresh paint smell made it seem like the cars just came out of the oven like a good baked pie or cookies.   

For 13 years, every June I took my kids up to Weaver Models. I would stop in every chance my deliveries got me within 10 miles of Northumberland. I never left empty handed, always left with something. There is not a day that goes by, I still hope that when I wake up Weaver Models is still in business. For those of you that said Weaver was left behind in detailing of there freight cars, Joe said it cost $300,000.00 to $500,000.00 to make one "NEW" freight car from scratch. All of the engineering work, machine shop work to make the die's and molds. Plus all of the "other" surprises that stick out in the process, I was happy and content with the details. I could buy three Weaver freight cars to one Atlas, two Weaver freight cars to one MTH. How many of you on here broke off highly detailed parts trying to get your Atlas cars out of it's box. Joe said he would have to sell 400,000 of the same freight car to pay off the loan just to break even. I bought 93 freight cars, one 2-8-0, one 4-6-2, one RS-3, one GP38-2, two VO1000, one FA2 AB, one brass 4-8-4, two brass caboose's, five buildings, three packs of telegraph poles in 13 years. Yes, I miss Weaver Models like everyone else. I wish I could of bought more of the diecast Pacific's, more of the brass steam engines. (there were some good ones) I was asked by Joe to help him again with another Brass DL&W steam engine. He wanted to make the 1123 Pacific in the Gloss black with the green, red and silver trim that ran from Binghamton to Buffalo. He asked me if it would sell, I said it's never been done in O scale why wouldn't it. I can only dream about "what if" now. We had one of the greatest O scale builders in our backyard, 80% was made in the USA. How many other O scale builders would pull an employee from working to give you a tour just by walking in the front door. These two pictures was from our last June trip, a week before the big sale.

Thanks for your stories DL&W Pete, and others. I kick myself for never taking the Weaver tour....

@redjimmy1955 posted:

I submit to OGR and Allan Miller that you could consider a sponsored  bus trip to the Harpers Ferry Toy Train Museum!  No affiliation on my part...been there MANY TIMES. They have a great Tin Plate layout; a rideable train....look it up folks. That's Harpers Ferry in West Virginia!

NOT AT ALL!! That is a really tiny museum with a rideable train. Rideable trains are primarily kid-oriented, and the museum is very small. OGR will not be willing to do a tour to such a museum. It's primarily a local attraction.

NOT AT ALL!! Said Debbie Downer! RFLMAO!!!  I still enjoy rideable trains and so do the adults who either bring their kids AND RIDE; or the adults who by themselves come enjoy the rideable train and Tin Plate train layout...complete with that rare glass canopy Ives (IIRC) station and other accessories. Let others make up their own minds...its a fun museum! And the little Brunswick RR Museum is nearby, and also a small active CSX railyard. My thoughts were offered so that Forumites could find enjoyment and camaraderie...not to be narrowmindedly castigated!!

@redjimmy1955 posted:

NOT AT ALL!! Said Debbie Downer! RFLMAO!!!  I still enjoy rideable trains and so do the adults who either bring their kids AND RIDE; or the adults who by themselves come enjoy the rideable train and Tin Plate train layout...complete with that rare glass canopy Ives (IIRC) station and other accessories. Let others make up their own minds...its a fun museum! And the little Brunswick RR Museum is nearby, and also a small active CSX railyard. My thoughts were offered so that Forumites could find enjoyment and camaraderie...not to be narrowmindedly castigated!!

That's funny, I have the same goal - finding enjoyment and camaraderie for all of us "Forumites!" But we have to do something that will be extremely popular among OGR Forum members as well as TCA members...

I've got an idea - what about a bus tour to Roadside America - the World's Greatest Indoor Miniature Village?

Or how about a bus trip to the NJ Hi-Railers?

I think the problem with any of the three suggestions (Harper’s, Roadside America, NJ Hi-Railers) is that most of the train folks in the area surrounding York have already been there. What made the Weaver/MTH Tour special was you got to go behind the scenes and see places that normally were not open to the public. I understand that Pete said Weaver let people in who showed up for other reasons see the factory. I wish I would have known that I really would have liked to see it.

So my second suggestion would be this: Some kind of tour of a prototype railroad shop. Something where one could not normally visit. I would say the GE shops in Erie where they built locomotives but I assume they are closed. How about a tour of the shops in Juniata? Or (probably too far away) but how about the Age of Steam Museum and Roundhouse? I am sure there are others. I would consider such a tour.

@Hudson J1e posted:

Or how about a bus trip to the NJ Hi-Railers?

I think the problem with any of the three suggestions (Harper’s, Roadside America, NJ Hi-Railers) is that most of the train folks in the area surrounding York have already been there. .....................

Not to be too much of a downer here, but the NJ Hi-Railers is also probably a three to four hour bus ride (depending on how clear traffic is) from York one way.

That's maybe a bit much.

And not to speak for the High-Railers of course, but a LOT of those guys are normally at York.

The event the High-Railers hosted last October for OGR the day after York was a good match up to the York meet without conflicting at all, it seemed.  Maybe not for those who fly in and didn't know about it long enough in advance to plan for a side trip, but for anyone going back home anywhere from PA towards the northeast, it seemed like a popular "on the way home" stop. And it was a lot of fun!

-Dave

@DL&W Pete posted:

For 13 years, every June I took my kids up to Weaver Models. I would stop in every chance my deliveries got me within 10 miles of Northumberland. I never left empty handed, always left with something. There is not a day that goes by, I still hope that when I wake up Weaver Models is still in business. For those of you that said Weaver was left behind in detailing of there freight cars, Joe said it cost $300,000.00 to $500,000.00 to make one "NEW" freight car from scratch. All of the engineering work, machine shop work to make the die's and molds. Plus all of the "other" surprises that stick out in the process, I was happy and content with the details. I could buy three Weaver freight cars to one Atlas, two Weaver freight cars to one MTH. How many of you on here broke off highly detailed parts trying to get your Atlas cars out of it's box. Joe said he would have to sell 400,000 of the same freight car to pay off the loan just to break even. I bought 93 freight cars, one 2-8-0, one 4-6-2, one RS-3, one GP38-2, two VO1000, one FA2 AB, one brass 4-8-4, two brass caboose's, five buildings, three packs of telegraph poles in 13 years. Yes, I miss Weaver Models like everyone else. I wish I could of bought more of the diecast Pacific's, more of the brass steam engines. (there were some good ones) I was asked by Joe to help him again with another Brass DL&W steam engine. He wanted to make the 1123 Pacific in the Gloss black with the green, red and silver trim that ran from Binghamton to Buffalo. He asked me if it would sell, I said it's never been done in O scale why wouldn't it. I can only dream about "what if" now. We had one of the greatest O scale builders in our backyard, 80% was made in the USA. How many other O scale builders would pull an employee from working to give you a tour just by walking in the front door. These two pictures was from our last June trip, a week before the big sale.

Nice Pics. Here is what I got on the Last sale day: