John Woods (center) welcomes Tom O'Connor (left) and his brother Jim to the ATT&NW Fall Gathering.  John welcomed us and shared his trains as if we were family. Photo taken on October 4, 2008.   Incredibly, only 12 days later, John Woods was killed as a result of a motorcycle accident.
 

A link to a video tribute to John is located at the bottom of this page

Our passion for trains binds us together as a family and sadly,
today we’ve lost one of our own.

There are two types of people in the world...    So starts the beginning line of countless jokes of comparison.  But indeed the people of the world can be divided into two groups when it comes to trains.  There are those who can take or leave trains or may say… "aren’t they cute", and then there are those of us who have IT.   IT is hard to describe, and at the same time un-necessary to describe for those of us who have IT.

The IT I refer to is a true passion for trains.  And I mean...  train anything!   Train rides, model trains of any scale or gage, full size trains, large scale trains, train stories, train books, train photos and paintings, etc. 

I've often pondered where my spirit essence is within my own body.  Is it someplace behind my eyes in my brain?  Is it somewhere within the depth of my chest?  Wherever it may be is where I instinctively know that my love and passion for trains is as well. I somehow feel it deep in my soul!

Within minutes of meeting John Woods, he asked me how I came to love trains.  I told him that it was when my father gave me my first Lionel train when I was five years old.  John said he had loved trains since he was a child as well.  I told him that I've always loved trains and that while driving my car, I slow down (instead of speeding up) to purposely get railroaded at a crossing.  I also explained that when in my business travels that I take Amtrak whenever possible.  John laughed and said "well, you've got IT too", and we both instantly understood what IT was!

It is with disbelief that I write this follow-up to our recent visit to the Arborway T.T. & Northwestern Rail Road and the honor of meeting the man behind the vision. I speak of our new but truly short lived friend John Woods. Although we had only met John twelve days before his death, we felt like he was a member of our family, and we a member of his.

I had the great fortune to ride along side of John on several train rides that day of the "Arborway T.T. & Northwestern Grand Scale Trains Fall Gathering"… October 4^th, 2008. And John graciously explained not only about his railroad, but many of the features along the ride. He told me how he would bring his family out on picnics and would fish with his grandchildren on the lakes of his railroad. He told me how he would take them out on the 36 Volt Trolley Cars (three cars, four passengers each) and they’d enjoy a family style picnic. I can’t explain what an instant bond I felt with John, but I can tell you I felt it.

I was amazed at a simple and yet profound thing that John said to me… let me explain. Like John, I was excited about the prospect of sharing the joy of his incredible railroad with my three grandsons. But I was a bit timid about asking John because I didn’t want to exploit his gracious nature in any way. Finally I asked him if at some time I could bring my family out to visit his train setup. John smiled and simply said… "You’d better". It was such an unexpected response or way of stating it that I said … "excuse me?" John said again… "You’d better". I grinned and told him thanks in advance for his hospitality.

John (orange shirt and red hat) sharing his railroad with his friends.

In the terrible shock of John’s passing, I think back on that simple "You’d better" and reflect at how profound a phrase that was and is. I think John was saying far more than simply… "yes" to my request. I strongly feel that John was saying to not let my so called "adult world" interfere with such an important date. In other words, "You’d better set up such a trip for your family". And now with John being gone, I think how profound that statement is! At wakes we all seem to say.. "oh, we should get together" and yet we seldom do. I think that there can be a Life Message in John’s short phrase, and that we should not allow that message to slip past us because of our busy schedules.

We’d all "BETTER" take the time we have left. No matter if it be twelve more days (as in John’s case) or if it be years away. We’d all better make sure that we make each day count and not put off the important things that some others may view as simply fantasy playtime, for it is these times that make up the fabric of life times.

To John (if you can hear this). I consider myself richer because of our single day meeting, and will miss the opportunity for a continued friendship with you. Goodbye buddy!

Tom O’Connor
Grand Scale Railroader
Illinois

Our Friend John Woods

It is hard to believe that John Woods, owner of the fabulous 15" ATT&NW and sincere friend to everyone he met in Grand Scale railroading, died Thursday in an accident while riding his motorcycle near Eminence, Missouri.

His love for trains and railroading may have been what attracted us to him first, but anyone who was ever lucky enough to meet and get to know John learned he was a gentleman in every sense of the word. His deep sincerity, his willingness to share everything and anything with his friends while being one of the most humble and personable men I ever met, and doing everything in a first-class manner separated him from most of the people we run into in life. He inspired me and members of our railroad group in Greenville to follow him in "dreaming life large." As we build our railroad, John Woods will always be a part of it in our hearts. His wonderful wife Judy and his family lost their husband and father today...and we all lost a true friend.

Paul Schmidt
American Heritage Railroad
Illinois

The following comments have been sent in via web post.

As a lifelong railfan, professional video cameraman, and friend of the Woods family for almost 40 years, I have just spent the last 14 hours with a colleague editing a six-minute video about John and the ATT&NW, to be shown at the memorial service in St. Louis.

I certainly hope we captured the essence of one of the most fascinating people I have ever known.

John was very proud of the ATT&NW "Friends" group, and I truly believe the Woods family and the railroad group are about to redefine the whole meaning of "friends."

David R. Busse, Diamond Bar, California

I am so sorry John, I never got the chance of meeting you. God Bless your family and enjoy your train ride through the heavens.

 Love Chris Myers.

I first met John on the phone a few days before the convention. I remember addressing him as Mr. Woods. He immediately corrected me by saying no, just John. Every time we met during the convention he was always that friendly, kind, gentleman that everybody loved. His passing was a real shock to me. We have corresponded numerous times since then and I have always hoped he would some day come to visit us to see our railroad here at Camp Sunrise. I trust that some day we will see each other in heaven and while here I will always be grateful for his kindness.

Jack Wagner

A Friend across the Miles

My husband and I are terrible sad to know of John’s sudden passing. We met John at the Grand Scales Convention in September 2007. He took it upon himself to answer the unending amount of questions that my husband Boyd had regarding the construction of his railroad. He let Boyd explored every single spot without reservations always making sure we all had a good time.

Once the Convention was over, he told us that we were welcome anytime we were back in Missouri. His hospitality will never be forgotten.

He share with us his dream railroad and the history behind it, but most of all he shared with us the importance of family and friendships. Even after the Convention he took it upon himself to send us letters and emails of the happening of the ATT & NW RR and the continuing construction.

Our prayers go out to Judy and the rest of the family.

Heaven has gained a great railroad guy! And we will never forget our friend across the miles.

To John: Thanks for being yourself, you will always be missed.
 

Boyd & Ana Svoboda
Roatan Island, The Bay Islands
Honduras, Central America

I just meet John Woods once but he was one of the nicest people you could have ever met. I’m just glad I had that chance. I wish that everybody would have been able to meet him just once. His railroad inspired me to work on ours just that much harder and I wish he was still with us but I rather meet him just once than have one big star from Hollywood as a friend for life.

Jordan Willeford

We wanted to offer our deepest condolences to the Woods family due to the recent death of John. My wife Mary and I had the distinct pleasure of meeting John during the Grand Scale Railroading Convention that was held at the ATT&NW last year. We had recently suffered the loss of my mother and Mary’s father so we made an almost immediate connection to John as he discussed his mother, Tee Tee, and the major influence she had on his life both before and after she passed away in June of 2007.

With just his presence and down to earth way of looking at things, John became an inspiration in our lives. We both thank God for the opportunity to have gotten just a little glimpse of the man and his way of living, sharing, and encouraging us all to pursue life to the fullest.

With Deepest Respect,

Bill and Mary Harden
New Castle County, Delaware

Our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to Judy and the entire Woods family. John was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. He treated everyone like they were family. I remember many times after a fun day of railroading John would invite everyone over for dinner. I am honored to have known such a terrific person. John you will be deeply missed.

Dan Crean
Clint County RR.

I had the great privilege of working with John these past couple of years on his railroad. Before that he had shared his property with my family to hunt on for many years. In some way, I've been around him almost my whole life. However, until our mutual passion in railroading crossed about five years ago, I had never met him in person. There isn't much more I can say any better than you can see in the great video tribute that Dave and Martin put together and is on the Arborway Railroad website now.

I will add that mutual respect and trust were something else John gave and expected from his friends. He exemplified the simple Golden Rule of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and "your word is your bond". He was incredibly humble, and sometimes uncomfortable, when discussing his life because he wanted people to treat him no differently than they would if he were a "normal" person. However, he was far from normal! He did extraordinary things and accomplished more than most of us could even dream.

For those wondering, John was prepared for this eventuality and the ATT&NW will go on. Judy and his children are committed to continuing operating the railroad in the same spirit that John created and used it. He was a force in this world and my life that will be missed. I am so grateful to have known him.

Steve Haack
"Friend" of the ATT&NW
St. Louis, MO.

My family was invited as well on October 4th to ride the trains. It was an amazing day for all of us and all our children, ranging from newborn to 5 years old.  John was a wonderful, gentle man that was so kind to all of us.  It was heartbreaking to hear of his passing.

Lori P.

I met John at the Grand Scale convention at Hillcrest in Reedly Ca. He was just an all round friendly guy. He had just purchased two tank cars built by Hillcrest for his Railroad. He told me of his plans for his Railroad. What a Grand Scale vision he had and I pray his Railroad will live on in memory of him for years to come.   

Art Ingwerson

In the year are so I have known John, he had become a big part in my life to the point of being a DAD I never had. He and his moms dream was a work of art. There will not be a day go by I will not think of him and his wonderful love of people and railroads.. He was a great man...I am so very greatful to have known him...My thoughts and prayers goes out to Judy and the Woods family......

Don "Tennessee" Angles
ATT&NW Railroad

Although I have never met John, my son and I have enjoyed hours of exploring his RR via his website. I can tell he was a great person and passionate about trains. It is my dream to build a RR for my son and I to enjoy one day, But nothing is more exciting than knowing that one day we will all get to have fun and share our joy in heaven with god by our side. I know that john was a lucky man to see all the smiles that he brought to faces riding his RR, because nothing warms heart more than the smile of a child.

Erik Christenbury
Liberty, NC.