Remembering Tony Lash layout

From: Tracks Ahead: Great Train Journeys

Published on Nov 17, 2015  •  Play Time 4:44 minutes. On Youtube

The Tony Lash layout’s impact goes well beyond size. It’s as finely detailed as any scale layout you’ll see.

Gary

It's good to know that Tony "Pay da Money!" Lash is still kickin' and enjoying life. He was a very interesting person within the hobby.

Wow, what a great work of Art! Dreams do come true!

Alan Graziano posted:

The first time I met Tony Lash was at York. Someone was negotiating with me for some of my models and as I was telling them I do not discount the prices, Tony stepped in and said he would take all my models at full price.

After that, I constructed the diesel service facility, power plant and refinery.

Tony gave me theopportunity to create some great structures and gave me all the creative license to build things however I saw them.

I owe him forever.

Alan Graziano

Hi Alan, As I watched the videos and looked at the photos, I was certain I was seeing your work among the various vignettes. The quality and skill of your craftwork is unmistakable, so I am glad to have read this reply from you that verifies my conclusions. It's good you mentioned which specific works on Mr. Lash's layout were due to the skill of your hands and imagination!

Have the best of health and continue to prosper with your business of making such wonderful structures..

FrankM

I remember seeing his layout when I was around 10 years old. It inspired me and the coolest think was him letting me run some of the trains. An amazing layout I will never forget.

It was a awesome display, myself I would have liked to seen more Atlas but the end effect was cool 

Being a kid from Maryland it was cool that someone so close by had such an amazing layout. It was a cool layout to see and I will never forget it.

Amazing!

One of the hobby's truly good guys! A big fellow with a big heart and a hearty handshake, and always full of enthusiasm combined with a willingness to share

How long ago did he dismantle his layout?

It was dismantled?? What a shame!!

Joe Gozzo

bluelinec4 posted:

After seeing Tony at York I thought I would bring this thread back to the top for those that have never seen it

Ben, I thought we should bring this forward again for those who didn't get to see this layout.

i’ve seen some tremendous modeling and layouts over the years but, the two that had the most influence on my participation in the hobby have been tony lash’s layout (influenced my decision to be in realistic o scale) and george sellios’ franklin & south manchester (despite being in ho, the most impact on my modeling techniques). recently saw miniatur wonderland and marveled at its sheer size and craftsmanship in modeling iconic buildings and scenes from around the world (as the largest tourist attraction in germany, rumored to be 90mm visitors and counting, it’s also a testament to the broad appeal of model trains to all ages). 

I saw a YouTube video about Tony Lash.  I am wondering what is Tony doing in 2022?

@PRRMP54 posted:

Does anyone have any more views/angles/close-ups on this scene? I am very interested in what Tony used for the chemical processing structures. TIA

Yes, a very impressive layout,I wish that I could have visited it.

Tony didnt use anything  It was built by Alan Graziano   You can see more of his work in the scenery section of the forum   Look at the Scenic showcases

this is one

https://ogrforum.com/...owcase-april-10-2022

OGR did a video on Tony's layout back in its heyday. Digital Subscribers can see it HERE.

If you are not an OGR Digital Subscriber, but would like to be, CLICK HERE!

When I was shooting Tony's layout, he took me on a tour of his office basement, where he kept his massive collection of MTH equipment. He had at least one of every locomotive MTH made back in the day. As we were walking through the basement, we passed through a room that had several hundred entry level train sets, all neatly stacked in their boxes. I asked Tony if he also collected train sets. His answer was typical Tony Lash. He said, "Naw, I don't collect 'em. Those are for the kids at Christmas."

Like the title of the video says, "Big Layout, Big Heart."

@PRRMP54 posted:

Does anyone have any more views/angles/close-ups on this scene? I am very interested in what Tony used for the chemical processing structures. TIA

Yes, a very impressive layout,I wish that I could have visited it.

Dave

Unfortunately Rich's video was done before Tony added the scene you are looking for  He took out a few passenger tracks to fit that refinery scene

Thanks for posting. Saw Tony several times at York and enjoyed speaking to him. Always wondered what happened to the layout. I did not get to view his layout. Missed once when I went to a High School Reunion. Hope he is doing well and enjoying his earned retirement. A great inspiration to many train folks.

I remember seeing Tony's layout in OGR and was very impressed!

I may have missed it in an earlier post, but what did become of the layout itself is it in storage, sold off or waiting to be setup again in another venue like a club or museum?   

What was the reason that he took it down after spending so much time and effort building it?

It must have hurt him greatly to take the layout down as it brought back for him so many memories of his youth and family.

From what I've read and seen in the video, he is a very sensitive, kind, sentimental and pragmatic gentleman who loves to make others happy.   

Since I haven't heard anyone speak to his present health.

I just hope he's in good health and still maintaining his high spirts for life and everything around him.