Remembering Tom Groff and the Choo Choo Barn

Bob, you should search for his name here in the forum: "Tom Groff" just like that.  I know there were plenty of people here who commented on Tom at the time of his passing, including former OGR Publisher Rich Melvin.  Those comments would be a good start.

I did a phone interview with Bob last night. Based on the questions he asked and other things he said, I think he's starting out on a project that's going to result in a truly great book honoring Tom Groff's legacy.

Ron, your search suggestion is a good one. I'll make sure Bob knows how to do that. I hope we can connect him with many others here that knew Tom.

Choo Choo Barn was a favorite stop on our numerous trips to Hershey, Lancaster, Strasburg. He had an amazing layout in there. The fire house and burning house were my kids favorites.

Sounds like a great book idea. Looking forward to see what you produce Bob.

We only got out to the Choo Choo Barn once, my son was going to football camp at Penn State, and it was on the way home. But it was quite a visit, i probably took 100 photos. 

Also picked up my first O Trolley in the store. Still have it.

In my few meetings with Tom, I found the man to be pleasant and welcoming. I would call him the king of model railroad animations, all of which he designed and built himself on the Choo Choo barn layout. It was an amazing accomplishment for a man without any formal training in design or engineering.

I met Tom a couple of times at the Choo Choo Barn.  One day he was feeling very talkative and was showing me all the automation stuff he had done, it was an entertaining afternoon.  I can't say I knew him well, but he was a very personable fellow, at least what I saw of him.

I got to know Tom from his first and only open house showing all the ins and outs of how the choo choo barn worked. Every time we made it to Lancaster county for vacation or a York trip I would drop in and talk to Tom or have lunch with him. His abilities as a modeler and animation builder were nothing less than amazing! On one occasion Tom made me some custom choo choo barn decals for a galloping goose I painted up in yellow and red which I still have today.   Tom told me a story of when his dad got pulled over by the police for riding his ride on lawn mower down the street!  After that story I made him a diorama of a man getting pulled over on his mower with a police car behind.    Tom put it in his office right above his desk.  One of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. That was Tom Groff. 

Lucky that I live only one hour from Strasburg. My kids have made many visits to the Choo-Choo Barn since 1974, and each of my 10 grand kids have each been there at least 3 times. I'll certainly buy this book when it comes out.

Glad to hear that the story of the Choo Choo Barn will be put into print - looking forward to seeing it.  I never met Tom Groff, but have enjoyed his work every time I go to York.  Let's hope that the layout survives his passing and the current public health crisis and continues for many years to come.