Ran across this obituary for Wilbur Frey on the B&MRRHS website, who passed away last November:

Wilbur was a general locomotive foreman on the Grand Trunk New England Lines (now St. Lawrence & Atlantic) for many years, and lived in Maine until retirement and a move to Arizona.

His hobby was building locomotive models to about 3/4-inch scale. The models were non-operable and built of the simplest scrap materials (wood, cardboard, tin, etc.), but were well detailed and much sought after. He used no forms of casting; wheels, etc., were painstakingly cut out spoke-by-spoke on a small Dremel jigsaw. He made all detail parts himself, purchasing nothing from suppliers. Most of the models were of GT or CN steam locomotives, but toward the end he did build a Big Boy. Overall, Wilbur built more than 200 locomotives. Two of his models could be seen, last I knew, in the depot at Conway Scenic. I'd be intersted to know if any others are on public display.

http://www.trainweb.org/bmrrhs/fallen_flags.html
ryarger@rypn.org

I am sorry to hear of this sad news.
The Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society recently received similar models from a former, now retired, D&H employee that he made in much the same way. There are of a D&H 2-8-0, a 4-8-4, a GP 39-2, a caboose and a Lackawanna passenger car. Without looking closely you'd swear they were live steam models. Simply amazing models and they will gain a prominent place in our depot museum.

Joshua

joshua@joshuakblay.com