I don’t know if this has been posted on the forum or not, but I read elsewhere that Jim Sacco, the owner of City Classics, passed away suddenly last week.
From Keystone Division NMRA
We will miss you Jim
Jim Sacco, owner of City Classics, on a stormy Monday in March, departed on the train to a better place, he will always be in our hearts. His contributions to the hobby and to the NMRA have been immeasurable.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
Turned 84 in July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
From a post on MRH, per an employee: AT THIS TIME THERE ARE NO PLANS TO CLOSE THE BUSINESS OR TO DISCONTINUE SELLING KITS.
Jim and I have been casual friends for years, meeting over threads on this forum, through E-mail exchanges, and occasionally meeting in person at train shows.
See you in the Big Roundhouse in the Sky, my friend.
Aww, geez, I am so sad to read this news.
I do seem to recall that Jim had some recent health issues.
A few years ago, I ordered a bunch of parts from City Classics to build a relatively huge version of Smallman Street Warehouse to represent a cold storage warehouse. Jim emailed me and asked what I was going to use so many parts for and when I told him, he graciously sent me a whole bunch of extra parts without any charge so that I could build a couple more smaller buildings.
Jim was a great guy, and he will be missed on this forum. Hopefully, his name will be added to the RIP Track in the Diner.
Rich
Does anyone know what Jim’s forum name was? I would like to add him to the RIP track.
Dave
I believe it is ctyclsscs
Jim’s handle here was ctyclsscs:
https://cs.trains.com/members/ctyclsscs/default.aspx
I knew Jim from way back when on the newsgroup (remember them?) rec.models.railroad. I would meet him every year at the Springfield Show and we always had a nice talk. He would also contact me directly from time to time to talk about this forum or other forums we were both on; we would share a laugh at some of the absurd online situations and discussions that would crop up from time to time. I always found him to be a reasonable, rational person that was very knowledgeable about this hobby, and I’m going to miss him.
Jim had 471 posts here in almost 20 years; he signed up on this (new) forum about the same time I did. Hard to believe it’s been that long.
Found this message on City Classics website:
More medical issues coupled with several days in the hospital has prohibited us from filling any orders. Hopefully by the end of the week we should be able to start working again.
Thanks for your patience
2/28/22
Thanks maxman and everyone who responded.
Dave
Dang, he responded to a couple posts of mine about his kits recently. I didn’t realize he was ill.
RIP Jim.
My condolences to his family. The funny thing about this all is we are kind of like one big family. It’s kind of a small interest group, so many of us know each other. So when one of us passes, it affects a large number of us.
I didn’t personally know Jim, but I know I loved the kits. I was just working with one this past week.
So sorry to hear. Met him here, then introduced myself to him at the Springfield show a number of years ago. Each year he remembered me by my forum name. The last show I went to he’d been sick and saw his post this year that he was to sick to go. Sure seemed to be a great guy.
Rest im peace Jim.
Sincerely,
Richard
Condolences to Jim’s close friends and family.
I knew Jim from off forum, he will be missed.
Very saddened to hear this. His products were great. I had read on the website over the last year or two that there were some health challenges. His legacy will continue in many of our layouts. City classics models comprise a few of my downtown blocks.
A man’s worth lies in how he is remembered by his friends. Our hobby provides all of us with so many opportunities which so often come by way of our friends.
I offer my condolences to his family and to those who simply loved him and his works.
-Crandell
Met him a few times, nice guy.
As a fellow Pittsburgher, I always had an affinity for his products.
The news of Jim’s passing hit hard. My wife and I knew him through our shared interest in 1960s British Invasion music; I’m not sure whether I met him first at an NMRA event in the 1990s or on the Kinks Preservation Society email list. I’d say that about 50% of our conversations at the Amherst show over the past decade were related to the antics of the brothers Davies.
Jim was a pretty regular clinician at North Central Region conventions, making the trip over to Michigan frequently. He was well-known and well-respected throughout our Region. We’ll miss him up here.
I never knew the guy but his City Classics company is an excellent source for quality structures and details at a modest price.