Joe Foehrkolb

[R.K. Maroon]

I got word this afternoon that Joe Foehrkolb has passed. He was an icon in O-scale for a long time. As I recall, he two-railed over 1000 O-scale locomotives. Two of those were doorstops that I sent him. He seemed to like doing those -- something other than China-drives. I only met him once, at the Chicago meet -- What a nice guy, what a class act.

Jim

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Joe was someone that I was missing seeing and talking to for too long; he'd been absent from Strasburg for a while.

Now I will miss him forever.

[E7]

Absolutely TERRIBLE news! One of the really GOOD people in the hobby! RIP Joe!

[up148]

Yep, he'll be missed and no one to take his place. He two railed an ABA set of "scale" Lionel F3's for me back in early 2000's. I still have them as the detail and paint is so nice I just can't let them go. They stand up well to even KEY and 3rd Rail locos.

[De Bruin]

Joe was a great talent and nice guy, fascinating to chat with him about his processes and his various activities around machining components and parts etc.

[bob turner]

Joe did very nice work, and was always willing to share techniques. He practically gave his time away, to aid his fellow hobbyists. Yes, he will be missed.

[86TA355SR]

Very saddened to hear this. A true master of his skill & a fantastic guy.

Just finished reading a few of his machining/3 to 2 R articles. Anyone have the quartering article he wrote ?

God bless, Joe. You are missed and we’ll be thinking of you until reunited.

[J. S. Bach]

Joe will be missed. I first met him at the Baltimore Society of Model Engineers back in the mid-70s when he joined and was later elected president. He did a great job with two-railing the O outside third-rail layout without neglecting the needs of the HO side. I later left the BSME a I was also a member of the WB&A Tractioneers and (at that time) could only afford the membership cost of one club so lost contact with Joe for quite a while as I later moved to Florida. Sometime later (mid-90s?, time dimmeth the memories) I ran into Jose at one of the Strasburg meets and renewed our acquaintance. Sometime later, I dredged a "Lobaugh" challenger out of the 'bay and at the next Strasburg asked Joe if he could tune it up. He later told me that the only thing Lobaugh about that challenger was maybe the cab roof or the steam dome! I later had him two-rail an MTH Liberty Liner. His workmanship was top-notch and, unlike others in the field, quite reasonably priced.

[ScaleCraft]

J I dredged a "Lobaugh" challenger out of the 'bay and at the next Strasburg asked Joe if he could tune it up. He later told me that the only thing Lobaugh about that challenger was maybe the cab roof or the steam dome!

What!?!?

A misrepresented evilbait sale?
Oh, dear, that has NEVER happened before!

[J. S. Bach]

What!?!?

A misrepresented evilbait sale?
Oh, dear, that has NEVER happened before!

Actually the price that I paid (including Joe's work) made the total deal very satisfactory. Almost I say, almost down to Mr. Turner's level of approval.

[Wolf]

I first met Joe through friends at the Strasburg O Scale show. He was always interested in my
projects and readily offered advice on how to accomplish my goals better and more easily.
That Lobaugh Cab Forward that he tuned up and tweaked for me was "a bit of an adventure",
to put it mildly. We never did get together on the second (and even less-assembled) "kit".
And he did not hesitate to tell me that sometimes what I want to accomplish was not
feasible (usually for financial reasons, but sometime just mechanically impossible)!
His work was always accurate, well-done, and reasonably priced (almost too reasonable?).
I will miss him immensely as I am sure others here will as well.