Shout out to Gunner John

John is one of the most forthright honest persons I have ever dealt with.  He has taken in projects of mine which I thought would be expensive trash and he fixed it with a wink and a nod.  He knew I was ready for any amount of serious expense but he just did what was needed.  Gotta clone that guy!

@Tom Tee posted:

Gotta clone that guy!

If you do, I need three or four of them to come finish wiring my layout!

The Engineer and Fireman on my PRR T1 consider John to be a National Treasure!

Jon

The possibility of cloning GRJ scares me big time.

All kidding aside, John has fixed or upgraded several of my engines  over the last year or so, always done a good job and charged a fair price. He is a stand up/good guy as he  helps many on the forum with their train problems free of charge, and most likely doesn't even know many of them. GRJ and Alex M are  some of the good guys in the hobby, and among the top repair guys in the country, in the tradition of Marty Fitzhenry.

Erol Gurcan   

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

If you do, I need three or four of them to come finish wiring my layout!

John, save your back and find someone with a strong back and knees. The worse part of building a layout is the wiring, OUI~!

@John Pignatelli JR. posted:

The worse part of building a layout is the wiring, OUI~!

You ain't kidding!

We finally have all the track power wiring over to the power panel, and I'm working today on hanging all the remaining CSM2 breakout boards and connecting the DZ-2500 switch machines to them.  Next I'll have to run the 24 CAT5 cables all back to the power panel as well, those will be the switch machine power, data, and status lines.  Finally, I'll be sitting in front of that panel connecting all the switch wiring to finally get the switches powered and controllable by the Legacy system.  I'm using telephone style punch-down blocks for the switch connections.

John,

I just want to add my thanks for fixing my Weaver tender. It was nice seeing your layout. Can't wait for the open house. LOL.

Charlie

I can't wait for the open house either Charlie!

I'll bring the beer! 🍺🍺 😂😂

Who has the hotdog franchise?

John, one of my business partners owns Honolulu Hot Dog.  Does that count? Can I come to the open house?

I will add my two cents into this thread also. GRJ has helped in so many ways and answered all my silly dumb questions like gentleman he is. I have converted about 40 MTH PS2 and a couple of PS1 locomotives to his super easy and inexpensive BCR Clones and it was a piece of cake. I have even help a friend and newcomer to the hobby and forum using GRJ guidance and advice.

John several have said and I will repeat it you are a great person for this hobby and a great friend which I hope to met some day. I still want to make the drive down with my Premier GG1's with the same DCS address and a top speed of about 20 MPH and a U25 with a sound issue for you to do your magic on.

GRJ is a great sample of the help spirt that goes on here.

Equally impressive is the speed he is building his layout.

Thanks

I had my local hobby shop Chicagoland Hobby acquire GRJ's YLB battery replacements for some of my RailSounds locomotives.  So far, only my Atlas-O D&RGW F7 has been converted.  I plan to have the YLB installed in all of my applicable RailSounds Lionel, 3RD Rail, & Atlas-O locos.

After my layout is operational, I also plan to convert many of my passenger cars to GRJ's soft white LED lighting.

Thanks GRJ !!!

Did anyone say "DITTO" yet ?     Wonder how many of our collective butts John has saved.  Mine is certainly one of them.    Thanks John !                                  j

@John Pignatelli JR. posted:

John, save your back and find someone with a strong back and knees. The worse part of building a layout is the wiring, OUI~!

This is the prime reason to use open grid construction. No need to be a contortionist.   Till you add scenery.        j  

@RJT posted:

...answered all my silly dumb questions like gentleman he is....

@KOOLjock1 posted:

The Engineer and Fireman on my PRR T1 consider John to be a National Treasure!

Jon

AGREE!!!  GRJ has helped my so many times.

Once on this forum, replying to me every 10 minutes one night with a tricky PS transplant.  I couldn't have done it without him.

Teaching me how to make BCR's.

Repairing my PS boards.

THANK YOU!!!

Ron

Wow, thanks all!   I don't know what to say, so let's all gather to finish my layout and have a running party!

John,

If you were just a tad bit closer and didn't have that nasty winter weather, a working/party roadtrip would be fun.

Ron

@Ron_S posted:

John,

If you were just a tad bit closer and didn't have that nasty winter weather, a working/party roadtrip would be fun.

Ron

John: I a up for the work day after some of this snow melts here in the State College. Got 3 more inches last night I think where I live somewhere between 35 and 40 inches this winter. Snow on the ground since before Christmas.

This winter we've had snowfalls of 8", 16", and another 8", now we have a new one with around 2" on the ground.  That's 34" of snow, way more than we've had for years in SE-PA!  It's time for spring!!!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

This winter we've had snowfalls of 8", 16", and another 8", now we have a new one with around 2" on the ground.  That's 34" of snow, way more than we've had for years in SE-PA!  It's time for spring!!!

Careful what you wish for... For many, Winter is prime train season.  Nice weather typically brings chores, like mowing.  The older I get, the more I LOVE Winter.  Snow and rain are just the BEST.

I live in a managed community, all the outside maintenance is contracted by the HOA, no mowing, trimming, painting, etc.

@Tom Tee posted:

..... he fixed it with a wink and a nod.

John is practically like Santa. 

Also very generous with text message advice.

@Ron045 posted:

Careful what you wish for... For many, Winter is prime train season.  Nice weather typically brings chores, like mowing.  The older I get, the more I LOVE Winter.  Snow and rain are just the BEST.

I rather be pushing my snow blower then the lawn mower!

I rather be pushing my snow blower then the lawn mower! Much more fun with the snow blower but I ride my lawn mower.

Recently, I experienced some difficulty with a TMCC engine I purchased online. I contacted John for some advice. When I mentioned I was visiting Hennings Trains, he invited me to his house so that he could take a look at the loco. Needless to say, I made him my first stop. What a treat !!! I was able to see his layout in process of construction (he took time away from it to help me). He also took the time to answer my numerous questions about electronics, track layout and provided insights from his many years of model railroading and electrical engineering background. The one unfortunate incident that happened was when taking my engine out of my SUV it fell to the pavement when I opened the door. I had it in a styrofoam container but it flew out and smashed the shell and damaged the front motor. John found a replacement and patiently repaired the motor while we talked about model trains and life in general.

This layout is as good as you will see on the front cover of OGR magazine. John, if you need another set of hands, let me know.

Never did get to Hennings.

Tim

@TK posted:

This layout is as good as you will see on the front cover of OGR magazine. John, if you need another set of hands, let me know.

Be careful with those offers, I just might take you up on it!

I feel I need to pile on here. Several years ago I had three steam locos that had a variety of problems and needed to be upgraded.

Looking around this forum, I found a guy who was freely giving away his time and knowledge. He also added a lot to the hobby with his various inventions. I contacted him and eventually sent the engines to him. Needless to say they came back to me running perfectly. They're my three best runners now.

Thanks GRJ

@scopedope posted:

They're my three best runners now.

Thanks GRJ

Don't you mean, "They're my three best Gunrunners now"?

I know... Groan.  But someone had to say it.

Ron

That's awful Ron, you have to do better puns!