Join the discussion on the following article:
Publisher, historian John Scala dies at 64
Rest in peace, fellow enthusiast. May the C-Liners carry you home…
I am sorry to hear of the death of John Scala. I contacted him a few years ago to see if he would be interested in using one of my New York Central photos taken in Nitro, WV for his NYC calendars but now I forgot what year that was. I did not know that he did so much to preserve rail history. I know he will be missed.
I am sorry to hear of the death of John Scala. I contacted him a few years ago to see if he would be interested in using one of my New York Central photos taken in Nitro, WV for his NYC calendars but now I forgot what year that was. I did not know that he did so much to preserve rail history. I know he will be missed.
I am sorry to hear of the death of John Scala. I contacted him a few years ago to see if he would be interested in using one of my New York Central photos taken in Nitro, WV for his NYC calendars but now I forgot what year that was. I did not know that he did so much to preserve rail history. I know he will be missed.
I am sorry to hear of the death of John Scala. I contacted him a few years ago to see if he would be interested in using one of my New York Central photos taken in Nitro, WV for his NYC calendars but now I forgot what year that was. I did not know that he did so much to preserve rail history. I know he will be missed.
I also grew up opn LI and knew John from seeoing him in willis hobbies backl ion the 70’s and considered him a friend. I will miss him.
Lovers of rail history have lost a friend - I was privileged to meet him on the railroadiana show circuit - rest in peace, John, until we meet again on the tracks of God’s great rail system.
Sad news to be sure. He actually called me to let me know that I ordered my calendar too late. Great loss for rail history.
The ‘WEEKEND CHIEF’ was a class act. John Scala left a legacy that is hard to match…
I am sorry to read of the death of John Scala. We never met, but we spoke on the telephone once and he used my pictures in an RDC calendar and in his RDC book.
While John loved his LIRR diesels and I was much more partial to Dashing Dan MUs, we had much in common and just about everything I learned about LIRR diesels I learned from John Scala. I will always call his book “Diesels of the Sunrise Trail” the “Bible” of LIRR motive power and while he always said he was going to update it, unfortunately he never did. It’s just as well. There was no way he could top his effort and make his classic any better with an updated version. Even John Scala couldn’t do that. I’ll miss him greatly; there was no bigger LIRR fan when it came to the diesel era. And he liked other aspects of the LIRR, too, even though he didn’t admit to it. Railfanning and the Route of the Dashing Commuter is much poorer and more empty without The Chief. He deserved more time, for more trains, more LIRR and a chance to see his children marry and a chance to be a good grandfather. That he would have been and you just know he would have made them railfans.
RIP, John! We’ll miss you very much.
Sad news indeed, as we’ve lost a great LIRR historian, and a friend of many. I met John in the 1970’s while a member of the Nassau Model RR club, and one night this guy, 10 years my senior, turns to this kid in college and says " Lets drive down to Morris Park and see what’s in the paint shop". And that was at 11pm at night! The things we could get away with in the pre 911 society. John, thank you for the memories…
So sad to hear this news… “Diesels of the Sunrise Trail” was only my second or third purchased railfan book at the time of its release, and I absolutely wore it out. God Bless John and his family for their loss…
So sad to hear this news… “Diesels of the Sunrise Trail” was only my second or third purchased railfan book at the time of its release, and I absolutely wore it out. God Bless John and his family for their loss…
I miss him! My sincerest condolences to the family.
I miss him! My sincerest condolences to the family.
John and I knew each other for 40 years. We had great times together. It was weird how John and I drifted in and out of each others lives. I had always had an interest in trains. It wasn’t until the early nineties that John and I found each other again at the RMLI Railfest. That’s the first time I ever knew that John was a train fan. We went to the same schools, both of us drove buses for Jablonski Bus Company in the 70’s. We even double dated. The subject of his passion for the LIRR never came up. I was so happy to reconnect with him again. The stories we shared about our experiences with the LIRR were wonderful. The man was up on the road. He first told me about his battles with cancer and how he beat it twice already. The last one was a brain tumor. Though it was not good, I held out hope that he would beat it a third time. Not to be. I will miss him like a brother. I will miss Sunday morning Breakfast’s in Hicksville. I miss his humor already and there will always be a special place in my heart for him. RIP John