Today I got Scale Rails, the magazine of the NMRA, and it carries the announcement of the death in early December of Lorell Joiner. Many of you might remember his magnificent (and big) O scale Great Southern Railroad, and his Kalmbach tape on laying track. He was also featured in at least one Allen Keller video and TV’s “Tracks Ahead.” The article said that diabetes, failing eyesight and other health ailments caused him to abandon the hobby. He was only 62. Ordinarily you’d hope for 20 more years of productive and instructive modeling from someone that age.
In some ways what he did for O scale resembles what the Reid Brothers have done for N - and that is, they demolished alot of convenient excuses that had been built up. Guys in O had become complacent – just as guys in N had become complacent – with a “well it just can’t be done in this scale” attitude.
I was just looking today at an old MR with the update on the Great Southern when Mr. Joiner added the cityscape behind his rail yard. The issue was from the early '80s.
As I was looking at it, I wondered what its status was.
It’s stories like this that make me glad I’m enjoying the hobby as much as I can today, rather than waiting until I retire as several well-intentioned friends have suggested. With the rainbow of pills my doctor currently has me taking, I don’t have any idea at all what my health will be like when I’m in my 60’s and beyond.[:O]
We just have to thank the Lord everyday for the time He gives us to enjoy our hobby & more important things. I have a short line on my HO layout named The Wood, Hay & Stubble Line. Everytime I see those words, altho I enjoy the hobby, I realize how temporary things are here on earth. I also mourn the passing of another great pioneer of our hobby. Jerry L
I had the pleasure of visiting Lorell Joiner’s layout (just north of San Antonio) several times in the mid-80’s. It was a wonderful thing to behold. I understand that most of his layout and stock is (or has been) auctioned off.
Ah, the good ole’ days of the Monday Night Mafia. I do not feel it is appropriate to get into the specifics of his death here, but it was truly a tragic event. Some of the tank and ship models he did were donated to the Texas Transportation Museum in San Antonio. A good friend of mine, who is also the curator of the museum did custom painting for Lorell.
I am also very sad to hear of this premature passing of a hobby great. David Haines was another fantastic modeler who passed in the last few years at 'way too young an age.
I had not heard this either. His Great Southern was one of the layouts that always inspired me, I have read the MR articles many times, How sad goodbye Lorell
Aint it the truth, as to the temporary nature of things – I like your Biblical reference to the Wood, Hay & Stubble line. My wife and I have a private joke we make about my HO Siskiyou Line that’s in a similar vein – it’s all just kindling! [swg]
When people ask what would happen if we needed to move or other circumstances caused the end of the HO Siskiyou Line – I say, “Aw well, it was fun while it lasted!”
I just read his obit in the Jan/Feb Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette. I read his series entitled Opus In O in the NMRA Bulletins in the 80s. He had a very positive influence on O Scale and through his articles made me see the advantages of modeling in a larger scale. He was one of my idols. We need more people like him in this hobby.