RIP 3rdrail

[Chulvis]

It is with great sadness that I must report the passing of our dear friend Gregg Mahlkov, affectionately known to all of us here as 3rdrail.

Gregg had not been on line for over a week so I called his home this morning and spoke to his wife who informed me Gregg had passed on June 24th after having a number of health issues for the past several months.

Anyone that ever read a post from Gregg knows that he was easily one of the most knowledgeable people to grace our forums. He enjoyed helping others with information and lord knows was steadfast in his opinions.  ;D

I will miss Gregg. We spoke often and I was able to meet him in Louisville last year. I'm glad for that.

Please feel free to share your feelings and let's give Gregg a rousing Railwire send off. I think he'd like that.

Chuck

[71jeep]

Sorry to here this being a big PRR fan I will miss his great knowledge of this railroad and all his great pictures of all the railroads that he had seen in his lifetime  :'(

Hope he is riding that big train in the sky enjoying every minute of it RIP.





Allen....

[Mark5]

Gregg's riding the rails in the sky now ...

[asarge]

Oh man! I'm sorry to hear that. Godspeed and RIP Gregg.

[wm3798]

I always enjoyed engaging Gregg in a joust.  I feel a special affinity for him, because he worked in Baltimore during the days when my Dad was a transportation guy for Martin Marietta...  I'm not sure that their paths ever crossed, but I'd like to think they must have at some point.  He also knew some of the same railroad men I grew up around, and it was fun exchanging pleasantries via pm's and e-mail.

I recall that his attic layout included vignettes reminiscent of Delmarva, where I have lived for 15 years.  The few photos he was able to post really captured the look of the marshes and farm towns.

I especially enjoyed that he took the time to share so much of his vintage photography with us during the weekly proto posts.  I hope that there is a way that this massive collection can be archived and published for his family's, and the hobby's benefit.

God rest ye, Gregg.  I trust the Broadway Limited will carry you to your destination on time.  (Although if they're shipping your carcass in a box car, they better use the Alphabet Route... you'll get there three days faster! ;D)

Lee

[Atlanticflier]

   Sad news to hear, indeed. I'll keep his family in my prayers.

Gregg was always willing to share his knowledge about the AN, and I will miss that source, and his input that made him a part of the fabric of our modeling community...

Steven

[John]

Gregg Hubert Mahlkov Obituary
July 2, 2009 - 9:26 AM

Mr. Gregg Hubert Mahlkov, 68, of St. Joe Beach died Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at Bay Medical Center.

He was born March 27, 1941 to the late Hubert and Ena Mahlkov in Queens, New York.  Mr. Mahlkov was the director of sales and marketing for the Apalachicola Northern Railroad for eighteen years.  He was an avid model railroader and was a member of the Pennsylvania Railroad Historical Society, the Gulf County Chamber of Commerce, friends of Gulf County Public Library and the Humane Society.

He is survived by his wife, Sheila Mahlkov of St. Joe Beach; a son, Marc Mahlkov of Montgomery, AL; a daughter, Lisa Sonietz and her husband, John of Leesburg, FL.

Memorialization was by cremation.

[lock4244]

Sad news. He leaves some pretty big shoes to fill on this and other forums... very prolific poster and his inside info on real railroad operations / foibles was always an eye opener.

[up1950s]

This hurts too much to recompose another heartfelt post about him , so this is what I posted on Atlas .

Wow , I was wondering just yesterday why no posts lately . I didn't want to post about it because people take vacations and don't want the world to know they are away from home . Gregg was an asset the this and all forums that were blessed to have him and the wealth of knowledge he shared to all so freely . He was involved with shows and spreading the fun of model railroading . He was a tireless giver to this hobby . We all have benefited from that well of knowledge he had acquired while working for the real railroads and shared  . I am glad to have known him over the years and will miss his posts . This hobby and these forums are not as good as they were , without him . Another important person in this hobby goes , and still not one sticky to memorialize for posterity the special persons that made foundations for us to stand upon . Bye Gregg (3rdrail) , and thank you Sir .

[Caleb Austin]

Sad news, he will be missed. 

I was just wondering why there hasn't been a Thursday proto topic when I saw this.

Rest in peace Gregg.

[NorfolkSouthern9708]

I haven't ever really talked to 3rdrail. But, I belive he probably was a great modeler. I make sure to keep him in my prayers. May he be operating the big model railroad in the sky.  :'(

[davefoxx]

My condolences to Gregg's family.  This is tragic news.  :'(  On a positive note, the fact that his presence has been missed in the forums and that so many people are touched by his passing says something about the type of person Gregg was.  I can only hope that my passing would be so noticed.

Dave Foxx

[womblenz]

Very sad news

[Dave V]

Oh, no...!  I'm very, very saddened to hear this.  A wealth of railroad and modeling knowledge has passed along with a very good and decent man.

I had the good fortune to meet Gregg at a prototype meet in Florida some years ago.  I was amazed at his pioneering N scale modeling.  His 1970s article on building a Pennsy H-class in N as well as seeing the little gem in person was my inspiration for doing N scale Pennsy steam.

He was the wise old sage, never lacking in knowledge and advice.  He will be very sorely missed.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

[John]

Please post your condolences in this thread. I will print it out and mail it to Gregg's widow in a couple of weeks.