Tony Lash

Enjoying life and a new business in Florida.

Thanks for this info....I just wondered what he was up to now. Does anyone know if he is planning a new layout ?

I believe the last time I saw him was in the Fall of 2008 in the Orange Hall at York. He said that he would be using both MTH DCS and Lionel Legacy for a new layout, but he didn't say when he would start it, and that was almost 6 years ago...

I think it was October 2012 in the Orange hall, Tony was with his sons and grandsons. He was picking up some things from JD's Trains, and one of his grandsons wandered off toward the doorway. I called to one of tony's sons and alerted him. Things can happen in the blink of an eye.

Don

"Pay da money" 

Back around 2000, I was living in Elkridge, Maryland which is just a hop, skip and jump away from MTH in Columbia. There came an occasion that a Rail King trolley I bought needed some attention, so I took it to MTH. While waiting for a diagnostic opinion from an MTH tech, a big man walked in with scale size diesels, one under each arm. He was anxious to talk to the lady who was usually at the service window, but she was busy so paced around for a few minutes.

Then he came over to me, a total stranger. He handed me the two diesels and asked that I give them to the gal when she returns to the window. "Tell her Tony left these for service." He left and there I sat, all alone with perhaps $2000 worth of diesel locomotives.

Some time went buy and the lady came to the window. I gave her the diesels and said, "Tony left these for you to service." She said, "Tony who?" I said, "He is one of the biggest men I have ever seen with a booming voice and personality to match." She said, "That's Tony Lash." I had no idea who Tony Lash was back then, and to this day I am flabbergasted that he trusted me with his trains, a total stranger.

Sounds like something Tony would do.  He's a great guy…in more ways than one!  

I hope he gets back in model railroading soon.  He is a real credit to our hobby.

Art

I had the pleasure of  meeting him and seeing his layout and taking a bunch of pictures. It was really something and what a guy. Where in Florida is he?

I also saw a video he made for T&M or somebody in which he made a statement I will never forget. Video was made at time MTH PS-1 was all there was. I will paraphrase....

-Buying MTH trains on preorder is better than putting money in the bank. They just grow in value every day-

Even I did some of that back then but that sure turned around quickly on PS-1 and maybe on all pre-order stuff made even today. Stroll the halls at YORK and see what I am saying.

I also look forward to his new layout. I miss his insider comments as well.

It reminds me of a older commercial from Merril Linch. Something like when he speaks.....everyone goes silent!

(and listens)

Many years ago when I was there shooting the video on Tony's layout, he took a few moments to show me his collection. He had a collection of MTH products that was worth almost a million dollars! As we walked through another smaller room, I saw dozens of entry level train sets neatly stacked on shelves. I said, "Tony, do you collect train sets, too?"

He replied, "No, those sets are for the kids. I give 'em away at Christmas."

Yes...he is a BIG man, in many, many ways.

A couple of sections of Tony's huge former layout.

Rich, Tony would buy all those sets and give them out to kids who have improved in school work.  Not to top mark kids but to those who tried and did improve.  I have known Tony for several years and he is a great man.  Tony is a big train guy but a bigger family man. 

I wish Tony well and hope he stays with the trains.

Old Wilton does indeed have a huge heart and a great spirit.

Back in the early days of the purple v orange wars he would post some way out

comments to get a rise out of the Lionel crowd. Then he'd e mail me to tell me "watch the boards light up with this one"!

He was like a huge kid with a stick poking the bees nest..

Heh-heh, I recall those days on the AOL board.   

I remember those days well!  He was a master at "stimulating" some heated discussions…all in good fun, of course.  

Here is ole Tony next to son Duke , Steve M and myself at Toogs barbecue  at Fairgrounds a number of years ago ,, Tony hosted this out of the camper he bought just for this… Frank Razz cooked up a storm,,,

file://localhost/Users/joeguida/Desktop/bbq.jpg~original.jpeg

I understand that Mike Wolf is also moving to Florida. MTH will be staying in Maryland. Will we ever see Tony's layout rebuilt?? I hope so.

...keep the rails polished...

Mike is not moving to Florida-he already lives there, a good part of the year. He works from there and from his office in Columbia, MD. He also spends a large amount of time in China for obvious reasons.

Scott Smith

He must have a good relationship with MTH.  While at York yesterday a vendor in the Orange hall had MTH Waste and Disposal Hoppers from Tony Lash's company.  I did not know they made these.  Were these uncataloged items?

Ron

Tony had 4 cars made up, 3 with 2 numbers and the high cube boxcar with 6 numbers.

I was supposed to build a transfer station structure for him. He gave me the track machine with the grappel on it for the model. I am waiting for that phone call again one of these days. When I built the refinery for him, that is the way it happened. He just called me and said "I want a refinery. I am sending you a paper template for the area. Just build it " The paper template was four feet wide by sixteen feet long. It was the largest model that I have ever created. I put my sole into that model for Tony and he really appreciated it.It took three months to construct and after it was completed, I had to take a rest for a few weeks.

Alan Graziano

Alan Graziano

Scott, thanks for the clarification on that. Any idea who bought the layout?

...keep the rails polished...

Tony's layout is in storage.

I'm hoping he'll have new batch of cars for the Lucky Dog Express?

Joe

s

Good to know there is a 2nd number for the first car.  I think that's the last one I need to complete my train.

On the garbage flats, there were actually 2 different style cars.  The second one said "CWIX" instead of "HTTX", and there were probably a few other differences in the decoration.  The garbage containers also were slightly different, and were all numbered differently.  (so there are 4 #'s for flats, and 12 different numbered containers, the containers are numbered 20 through 31)

There was also the CWI boxcar within the Katrina Relief set MTH did.

-Dave

Tony's layout was awesome   I had pictures posted on the wall at the club and told everybody I want ours to look like that.  I met some shady characters there though

This is something I still want Alan G to build for us

And he had good taste in beer

May I ask, Ben, when the photos of George, Roger, & Hank were taken?

FrankM

(so there are 4 #'s for flats, and 12 different numbered containers, the containers are numbered 20 through 31)

I will have to check my flats and garbage containers, got a bunch, did not realize that there were 4 numbers. Here is the Katrina / CWI and the MTH-OGR Tour / CWI.

WOW!!The man is big because he has a big heart.I hope he gets to make another layout someday.I would have like to have meet him.He seems to be a very nice guy.