That's too bad. I well remember him too. He was always really helpful when my mother would go in there to ask about a book that was on my Christmas list.

I was just in the Train Shop last weekend while visiting San Jose and was also there the previous summer. It seems like the book quality, and certainly the friendliness, has gone downhill since Vern's son took over. I came away last week feeling like I never need to go in there again. The guys working there had no clue where to even find books in the back room; the Brodart book covers were put on sloppy on many books; and their Morning Sun books seeemed more banged up than I recall from past years.