Model Train Journal

Ron Keiser passed away according to this thread on the NGDF.

I know he was a member of the Denver club, but I seem to remember that he may have also been a manufacturer of (or helped produce?) O scale kits. Am I misremembering?

Yes, Ron was a close friend of my family. Good guy. He joined the DSMR at age 16, youngest member at the time in 1959!

He passed away now 2 weeks ago. I just spoke with him on the phone; he sounded great, like he always has. It was sudden, not expected.

I will see if I can add some treasure here about Ron. His musical heritage was as beautiful as his modeling. He was on horns with the CC Riders back in the super 70s. He was so cool. Public School Music teacher in Lakewood, then retired and spenr on season with the Durango and Silverton as a conductor and also, he spent many years working at Caboose Hobbies, where of course we all got to know Ron! The voice or Caboose. Born and raised Coloradoan.

God Rest is special Soul. We will miss him.

Erik

I produced this movie of Ron's Fn3 railroad in his basement in Arvada.

https://youtu.be/Y_cJWjc0EQY?is=DO5aqzMVkmH9FPGd

Some of Ron's amazing journey through life. Playing horns with Talvin Wayne Cochran and the C C Riders in the 70s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Cochran

Ron Kieser by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

Ron Kieser by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr
Ron at work on the DSNGRR as a senior conductor

Ron Kieser by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr
Ron's vanity plates!

Ron Kieser by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr
At the helm of his Fn3 railroad

Ron Kieser by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr
Playing with the Riders!

Ron Kieser by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr
Ron loved sharing his autograph collection at Caboose with friends.

Ron Kieser by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

Ron Kieser by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

Ron Kieser by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

Ron Kieser by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

Here is a thread I built on OGR about the DSMR. I will make one here soon.

https://www.ogrforum.com/topic/colorado ... 0292258370

I seem to recall the owner asked me if it was my photography gearing up to delete it. Yes dear, it is my photography.

Well, that's a suitable epitaph.
I bought my first doorstop from Ron - a badly proportioned but great running F7 cast by Baldwin.
He took over Ed Alexander's extruded Budd line - Midland Reproductions. Correct me if I got that wrong.

Not Alexander but Don Elliot and Hans Neirman founded Midland Reproductions that made the California Zephyr cars among other interests.

Ron took over Midland in 1984, I think, there again correct me if I am wrong.

I think Alexander was involved as well but it was Don Elliot's baby.

But yes, thanks for reminding me Ron was involved highly with Midland Reproductions. A lot of these guys at the DSMR were. Ron's biggest involvement were those brass cars that Russ Briggs did for him that were done really well, Budd Slumber Coach, Budd Big Dome in the late 1980s. He also worked out some details with Don and Roger Lewis over 41ND trucks, plated for the CZ by OCS Microcast, early 90s.

I will see if I can find some artifacts. A lot of this stuff has been lost to time. I seem to remember some other DSMR members were critical of Ron's administration of Midland Reproductions. "Running it into the ground", blah blah back in 2000. I think they were just envious they didnt get to ride that wave in the 80s and play train manufacturer. These same naysayers ended up a party in the eventual demise of the DSMR itself, including yours truly. Mean people suck.

Some images of Ron at the DSMR

1959 as a youth with some longtime members such as Gordon Callahan, Don Elliot, and others.
Ron Kieser by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

Ron at work on the layout about 25 feet from the photo above in the 2010’s
Ron Kieser by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr