Jim FitzGerald of NTRAK passes

[nstars]

This is sad news to hear. We've had the opportunity to meet him several times and he has always been a wonderful friendly person. In my opinion he has been very important for the development of US N scale and he will be missed. May he rest in peace.

Marc (also on behave of my brother Hans)

[seusscaboose]

That is quite sad news. I've known Jim for years, and his wife Lee for even longer. He was an incredibly nice guy and a true N scale pioneer.

People may have their opinions on the current state of NTRAK and it's influence, but without it, N Scale would still be a joke, and without Jim, there would've been no NTRAK. So, by association, without Jim, there would be no modern N Scale.

+1...

and when you visit any trainshow... and you see other scales doing modular set-up's...  ask yourself, "where did they get their inspiration"....

[Denver Road Doug]

without Jim, there would be no modern N Scale.

I never met him, but I do appreciate his legacy and I believe this quote says it all.

Rest in peace, Mr. Fitzgerald.

[Big Train]

My heartfelt condolences to the Fitzgerald family at this time. We will never forget him and his contribution to the N Scale community.

No denying he was the prime mover in making N Scale what it is today. And NTRAK is what got me (and a lot of us, I suppose) really hooked on N Scale in a big way. But's not only his impact on NTRAK, but all the other modular formats we have today were somehow a result of exposure to NTRAK.

Living in Canada, N Scale back in the early 80's involved a very small group of enthusiasts, even within large cities. The NTRAK newsletter allowed us to participate with other NTRAKer's from all over Southern Ontario and New York state. That's the other thing Jim should be remembered for also was his ability to communicate, through the NTRAK letter, with all N Scale enthusiasts anywhere in the world. And this was before the internet!

When I was in another NTRAK club in the 80's, we arranged for Jim to participate with our group at a large train show in Toronto. I had the privilege of spending a very pleasant day driving him around the city on a tour of the CN and CP rail facilities in the area. And I remember him as a humble, charming and intelligent man with an unwavering passion for all things N Scale.

We should all strive to maintain Jim's enthusiasm and passion for our great hobby.

[Lemosteam]

So sad I simply do not know what to say beyond what already has been.  I hope your legacy lives on forever.  There is no emoticon with tears.

[Puddington]

Every time I go to a train show and see a modular set up I will now think of Jim and say a silent word of thanks for his efforts.... A legacy of achievement for all n scalers to be thankful for.

[Nato]

              Jim, will truly be missed. If it was not for him and a couple of other California N Gauge (now Scale) pioneers N would not be where it is today. I had the pleasure of meeting Jim at one of the first N Scale Conventions and at the National N.M.R.A. show in Eugene, Oregon. My condolences to his family. Nate Goodman (Nato).

[VirginaCSX]

I never met him but could tell he was someone special based on his dedication to the N Trak organization.  His, will be mighty hard shoes to fill.

[Kentuckian]

N trak is a big reason I am into N scale.  I got an article published I the newsletter several years ago, and I got to talk to Jim on the phone.  A class act indeed.

[highway70]

While Jim did not "invent" NTrak, he was definitely its chief and best known promoter.  I have known some people who complained about the "rigidity" of the standards an reluctance to change them.  I believe Jim's position was correct.  He did not want changes to make older modules obsolete.  However, Jim was not against innovation, the standards did evolve and also inspired other standards, which Jim also promoted in the newsletter.  There are links to them on the website.

Jim was also quite flexible in what he allowed to remain in the setups , where he was in charge or had a major influence. He worked very hard with module owners to make them work (including some that violated the standards).

He was set high standards for his own work, but realized that others might not have the ability to meet his standards.  He didn't condemn others work, he assisted them, encouraged them and taught them to do better .

I have no doubt that his interaction with the manufactures and promotion of their products was largely responsible for the rapid improvement is the quality of N Scale.

[Zox]

There's an ancient saying that, if you turn your back on Rome and walk away, you're still on the road to Rome.

NTrak is very much that way in the modular world. Even for those of us who chose to do something other than NTrak, it was almost always defined in terms of "what do I want to do that's different from NTrak?"

Mr. FitzGerald, thank you for showing us a way, and thus inspiring us all to find our own.

[up1950s]

Merged from a separate thread -gfh

Got this from NTRAK

Dear RICHARD  DOST ,

It is with great sadness that we must announce the passing of Jim
FitzGerald,  an early pioneer, President and newsletter editor of NTRAK.

For 40 years, Jim FitzGerald ensured that every other month, NTRAK
members received their newsletter with updates on Ntrak standards,
activities, events and organizational notices as well as news and
information about N scale in general.  For many years, Jim FitzGerald
was a coordinator for the NTRAK layout at the National Train Show, the
public event of the NMRA national convention and that is how many people
had a chance to meet him, face-to-face.  Jim worked with his wife Lee to
help get T-Trak going as an alternative modular standard and today
T-Trak continues to grow and thrive as it is used at shows as well as
for home layouts.

When Jim first started with NTRAK, N scale was in its infancy and a very
small part of model railroading.  It was through NTRAK layouts that
model railroading and specifically N scale was introduced to the public
at shopping malls, hospital and museum shows as well as at train shows.
It was NTRAK that took model railroading from the private basement to
the pubic venue and it was Jim FitzGerald who helped guide, organize,
publicize and encourage the NTRAK clubs that sprung up across the
country.

The history of NTRAK takes up the entire July/August 2013 issue and
includes a brief history of Jim's life before NTRAK.  A copy of the
issue can be found at:

http://ntrak.org/Newsletter/NL-13-JAbw.pdf

Jim will be sorely missed by all.

Respectfully submitted,

Bruce Alcock
David Porter
Ed Schultz
Inge Trost

[up1950s]

He had just moved into a smaller place a month ago or so in Tenn I think . All the heads of NTRAK are so nice . I hope it was a painless passing . I wonder what the future of NTRAK as an org will be now . Craig , if your reading , sorry for your loss of such a close friend .

[peteski]

He had just moved into a smaller place a month ago or so in Tenn I think . All the heads of NTRAK are so nice . I hope it was a painless passing . I wonder what the future of NTRAK as an org will be now . Craig , if your reading , sorry for your loss of such a close friend .

Yes Richie, that is very sad news.  I mentioned this yesterday in https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31043.0  Jim will be sorely missed.  I also hope that the N-Trak remains a strong organization for many years to come.

[WVa. Paul]

I first met Jim at Dayton in the summer of 1975.  Over the years we saw each other at many of the national shows.  Without a doubt he was one of the icons of n-scale and N-Trak in particular.  He was very intelligent and unflappable in the heat of a hot topic.   All N-Scalers owe him so much for his 40 years of service to such a wonderful hobby.  God bless you Jim and thank you for all your contributions.  Paul Fulks