Miniature railroad world in Frazier Thomas' former Wilmette basement

[mopinko]

Years of dust cover the vista of train tracks, railroad stations, village stores and tiny figures peopling the miniature landscape. Multiple control boards, which at one time could order five trains at once through that landscape, are similarly shrouded.

Still, the extent of Frazier Thomas’ model rail creation, which the children’s television icon and onetime Wilmette resident built in the basement of his Greenwood Avenue home, clearly encompasses an entire tiny world within 30 feet.

Terrie Briggs, the home’s owner, hopes someone cares enough about the set and its history to give it a new home.

“If I have to move, I don’t want someone to come in and tear this down,” she said. “I’m afraid to touch anything, because I don’t want to break it, but it’s so amazing that it should be saved somehow.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/wilmette/news/ct-wml-frazier-thomas-train-tl-0517-story,amp.html


if you grew up in chicago, i dont need to tell you who this is.
i sure hope someone steps up. it is pretty amazing.

[Glamrock]

1. How awesome!

Grew up with him on Bozo and that Sunday afternoon classic movie thing he did.....

[dhill926]

11. Family Classics...

must have seen Captain Blood 50 times haha....

[Glamrock]

13. That's it!

It was Errol Flynn's Robin Hood for me.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Believe someone is making a bunch of calls

on this. Sent a e-mail to a fellow Hobbyist last night after reading this story. He said members of his club are trying to see if they can find a home. Hopefully Chicagoland Railroaders find a home.

[mopinko]

4. that's awesome.

i am sure someone will want it. the question is, who has the room for it?

[kysrsoze]

5. I had suggested museums, but this is a better idea.

Best of luck to you all on it.

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Hope so,

sad to say,there are several of these layouts that will need TLC in a few years. Knowing several of these Railroaders in Chi Town,hey,they are crowding ancient History.

[kysrsoze]

3. Wow. Very cool. I would think one of the local

museums, particularly MSI or the Chicago Broadcast Museum would snatch this up and give it a new home. Who knew Frazier Thomas had such additional talent.

[mopinko]

6. yeah, i was thinking about cbm.

i dont think msi would be able to find a place for it. but cbm would be great. dont know if they have space, either, but i bet they are looking around for it.

[mia]

8. Thank you. I love this.

My grandfather had an amazing miniature train village that he used to put under the family Christmas tree. He kept adding houses and other things over the years. As a child and teenager I looked forward to visiting them and seeing each year's new additions. Eventually, as my grandparents grew older, their Christmas tree got smaller, but the miniature town kept expanding. The last time I saw it, a new miniature Christmas tree was the latest addition to the village square.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

9. Thank god for model trains!

[snowybirdie]

10. We met him

When my son played Bozos Bucket challenge. And he won! Great memories

[mopinko]

12. i had a friend whose family appeared on bozo several times.

a family gymnastic act called 'the toddling todds'.
he had great memories of the show and frazier.

[lunasun]

14. Garfield's bud and family classics . No not the lazy cat ...Garfield Goose!

Beauregard Burnside III ,Chris Goose , Romberg Rabbit, Garfield Goose, Mackintosh Mouse and Frazier Thomas on Garfield Goose and Friends.

[mopinko]

15. i loved not far from the puppeteers who made all those guys.

it was a very fun house, always w lots of decorations for all holidays.