What a wonderful and thoughtful way to remember a friend and colleague. I never met Mike, but wish I had. He seems like the kind of guy you would enjoy hanging out with and talking about trains. So thank you for putting this together for us.
What a lovely tribute. I never met Mike and that was definitely my loss. Best wishes to his friends and family. And to those of you who felt the need to give this video a thumbs down, may your model railroading be filled with coupler failures, mystery shorts and tunnel derailments!
Thanks for your kind words. As for the thumbs downs, you never know what someone else is going through to cause them to react that way. Maybe their new Rapido engine just exploded.... 😉
D-Rail I think the thumbs down is used in a different context sometimes. The thumbs down may be someone upset of Mike’s passing versus the video itself. I’ve come across such instances like this before.
Snif... Where the love is, God blesses the honour... Support and integrity, all this is what Rapido is about. Always... a beauty way to go, (and a beauty way to be!) John, Kamloops.
That 'one big family' image you get from Rapido is something I've always really liked about you folks, while other companies just feel like one big corporation (for lack of better terms), Rapido is down to earth and understand the wants and needs of modelers because you guys ARE modelers. Mike was that same way for the N Scalers, and I can only imagine how proud he would be of how far that scale has come in recent years - especially the models you've made like the C40-8M and the Turbo! I hope Mike is at peace and that the Rapido family and Mike's wife and son can find comfort in the fact he would be so thrilled at how the hobby is progressing and will continue for generations to come.
Jason, You talk easily of 'mensch' while adroitly stepping aside to give the limelight to this most extraordinary individual, and with which we all agree. Ahem! about you and remarkable team you assembled and maintain, like attracts like, this is a universal principle, acknowledged everywhere. I was touched the company (you) kept your promise over the CN Turbo. He was your friend and you supported each other. Take a bow please and be pleased to be remembered as Mike's boss and friend. A rare combination. God bless you both, bless the Company. Kind and respectful regards from Sydney, Australia.
I'd like to remember my father Raymond Jackson. One of the draftsmen who did the blue prints for the APT-E. He loved the Big Boy. Sadly Parkinson's dementia meant he was never aware of UP's restoration or the Rapido APT-E. It would have meant so much to him. RIP Mike, and RIP Ray. I'll bet you're mates now.
I think this was a nice way to commemorate a member of the model railroading community who contributed lots to improving it and who cared about his work and family. There are many wonderful things we take for granted on a daily basis, and not everyone is given credit where credit is due, videos like this help everyone appreciate who they we're and what they did. Rest in peace Mike.
the greatest thing about this hobby is the people and the passion for trains to the point that it brings people together with a common bond and a brotherhood and a willingness to share. Mike, I would say you were successful in making an impact in this hobby and that is quite evident in this video. we all share your spirit. R.I.P.
I met Mike at a trainshow in Calgary about 7 or 8 years ago. We just chatted forever, he was so passionate about the hobby but more importantly just a kind person.
I never knew Mike personally - only through forum posts and interactions. I remember when he passed away, and when Rapido made this tribute video several years later. And here I am coming back to watch this again now. Even in this video, Mike's sincerity and enthusiasm really comes through. It's so sad to see how much he is his same self in the interview, done just a few months before he died. This smart, enthusiastic nice guy trapped in a body. Life is so unfair sometimes.
I went from your most recent video while lying on my bed, to sitting on the floor with my models about to tears. This hobby means the world to me and many others, and to know people like Mike put so much into this hobby just shows that some of us do really care.
Being a modeller for many years now, living in Australia, I had heard of Mike McGrattan through my facebook friends. I am sorry to hear of his passing and this is my wishes to his family. That they remember all that he stood for and the love of everything that he believed in. That means all the modellers around the world and not just in Canada. He will be missed.
Hello from France. I know the train models that you offer and I for my part placed an order for the RTL Turboliner Phases V which will meet your requirements and our wishes. We await it with great pleasure. With regard to this video, I would like to thank you here very warmly for this very vibrant tribute that you are making in honor of one of yours, Mike, it is a wonderful example that you show us and demonstrate if it was necessary the attachment you have for those who are part of your "professional family" and especially the values which are yours with regard to other people in general. It's remarkable and I'm sure Mike would be very proud of your warm and powerful tribute to him. Thanks a lot. François
As a dad, that story of Mike and Sam working on the Kanto Sub layout touched so many feelings. Mike described my own son's desire to start a layout to a tee. My own son (DiamondMaster2.0) is pushing to get his own layout started. Our Rapido N-Scale Draper Taper that's coming shortly is going to be a big part of it. There's never a time to start like right now. R.I.P., Mike. Our condolences to Mike's family at home and at Rapido. This was a beautiful tribute.
Rest in peace mike. When I was in grade 7 for my science fair I did a project on how ac current from the wall gets turned into dc current for model trains. I'm 17 now, anyway I've been involved in model railroading since I was very little. The first memory with model trains was at 3 years old when my dad handed be a mehano steam locomotive to calm me down when we were heading home from vancouver children's hospital when I got my eye surgery because my left eye was pulling to the left. I've been involved with model trains since then and haven't turned back away from it. I now custom paint and detail my own model trains. This hobby is definitely not dying we just need to get more kids into the hobby. I don't have any rapido products at the moment but hopefully will in the neer future
Beautiful video and a very moving tribute. Well done. A nice change of pace from your usual hectic videos, not that those aren't fun, but the contrast is very welcome.
Even I will miss you.heck everyone miss you.even do I don't do N scale.i still think you were a great guy.R.I.P man.R.I.P:(😭😭😭😓😓.hope you had fun in heaven
I met Mike once, we had connected years earlier on line on some N gauge forum. I live in AB - he was in Ont and I doubted we would ever meet in person. I hosted "little Pud" on my layout many many years ago. Then I decided to take in a CARM Event in Hamilton Mike drove down to meet me at that CARM meet. We had a great visit. We keep in contact on line. I know how excited he was to get on the Rapido team. And then learned of his illness. I still think of him when I look at the Puddington line gondolas I bought (I never heard how successful that run was). Thanks for sharing this video.
I sympathize for your loss. I remember Mr. McGrattan was fond of the Turbo Train - one of my first N Gauge trains given to me for Christmas by my parents in beautiful CN white (by Bachman). I am glad he talked you guys into making the Turbo Train in N Gauge and bought the CN and UA sets.
Wonderful tribute with some deep insights into model railroading lasting's appeal and potential for building enduring relationships. Kudos to Rapido for sharing this.
What can I say other than this is what the hobby is all about, passing on from generation to generation the love and passion for building something that is a reflection of something either in our memory or our dreams. Vale Mike and all that have passed before us.
What a wonderful tribute. I feel a lost opportunity to meet a great family man who stuck to his morals and his heart.. and I think that says alot about a job well done making this video. As a tribute to him I pledge to further help spread the word about the best company in the game. While it's not a video about the new rs18, it's far better. All the best boys
We all have a hyphen that space between our birth date and date of death Mike made great use of his hyphen by leaving a legacy that his family and friends can look back on. Nice work on this video keeping one mans legacy alive
Thank you Jason and Rapido for posting this video. I had spoken with Mike numerous times via a popular online model railroad forum (I won't mention any names, but Jason you're also a member of this forum) but never had the pleasure of meeting him in person. He was a great father, great guy and great modeler. Rest in Piece Mike. On a side note, Is there any chance of another run of the Mike McGrattan memorial gondola? Cheers, Rich S.
Hi Jason. Great video to remember a colleague by... When I pass on if the reaction is anything close to the same as your video I know I'll have done something right.
I will never forget this video of Michael McGratton Sam if you’re listening to this please he’s safe in heaven I want to help repeat trains and Jason thank you you made my day I will never forget the day that the last time I saw him at the model train show he will never be forgotten PS I attended his funeral to honour his death PPS nice train sounds in the background I love it he will be missed thank you❤️❤️🇨🇦🫡👍😞
An emotional Video. But what Mike has build and his Modelrailroad looks great! Thanks for sharing this Video! Greetings from Germany Rallis MoBa Brasselbude ✌🏼
Great job,its a shame that sometimes your life maybe cut short,so you should enjoy every day to the fullest,weather its model trains,climbing a mountain,what ever God bless.
Jason you are awesome and thank you for the Pikachu repeater trainz Canadian pacific train shirt I wish we can be together as friends I will never forget this day love you bye
A company who makes a video about an employee who passed away three years ago says allot about the employee and the company. Bravo!
Thanks!
What a wonderful and thoughtful way to remember a friend and colleague. I never met Mike, but wish I had. He seems like the kind of guy you would enjoy hanging out with and talking about trains. So thank you for putting this together for us.
You are most welcome. He was indeed a lot of fun to hang around with.
Thank you Jason for this heart-felt and very moving tribute to Mike - a wonderful human being and just as you said a real Mensch.
You are most welcome.
You guys have always been a classy company and this video made in Mike's memory further solidified that.
Thanks for your very kind words!
What a lovely tribute. I never met Mike and that was definitely my loss. Best wishes to his friends and family.
And to those of you who felt the need to give this video a thumbs down, may your model railroading be filled with coupler failures, mystery shorts and tunnel derailments!
Thanks for your kind words. As for the thumbs downs, you never know what someone else is going through to cause them to react that way. Maybe their new Rapido engine just exploded.... 😉
D-Rail I think the thumbs down is used in a different context sometimes. The thumbs down may be someone upset of Mike’s passing versus the video itself. I’ve come across such instances like this before.
Seeing this video made me appreciate being a model railroader even more. My condolences to you, his family and rapido and may he rest in peace.
Thank you.
Very well done, it’s always tough when you loose a dear friend and colleague.
“RIP Mike “
Thank you.
Thank you Jason and the whole Rapido family. Michael was a dear friend, and this was a very fitting tribute. He would have loved it.
Our pleasure. Though knowing Mike he would have wanted it to be silly.
Snif... Where the love is, God blesses the honour... Support and integrity, all this is what Rapido is about. Always... a beauty way to go, (and a beauty way to be!) John, Kamloops.
Thanks, John.
really makes you sit back. look back on life, and future endeavors. Thank you Jason.
You're most welcome.
How moving. I hope his grandkids do see this and feel his warmth. A lovely tribute!
Thank you.
That 'one big family' image you get from Rapido is something I've always really liked about you folks, while other companies just feel like one big corporation (for lack of better terms), Rapido is down to earth and understand the wants and needs of modelers because you guys ARE modelers. Mike was that same way for the N Scalers, and I can only imagine how proud he would be of how far that scale has come in recent years - especially the models you've made like the C40-8M and the Turbo!
I hope Mike is at peace and that the Rapido family and Mike's wife and son can find comfort in the fact he would be so thrilled at how the hobby is progressing and will continue for generations to come.
Thanks for your kind words!
Jason, You talk easily of 'mensch' while adroitly stepping aside to give the limelight to this most extraordinary individual, and with which we all agree. Ahem! about you and remarkable team you assembled and maintain, like attracts like, this is a universal principle, acknowledged everywhere. I was touched the company (you) kept your promise over the CN Turbo. He was your friend and you supported each other. Take a bow please and be pleased to be remembered as Mike's boss and friend. A rare combination. God bless you both, bless the Company. Kind and respectful regards from Sydney, Australia.
Thank you for your very kind words, Paul. They are appreciated.
I have no words. You did a great job with this video. RIP
Thank you.
I'd like to remember my father Raymond Jackson. One of the draftsmen who did the blue prints for the APT-E. He loved the Big Boy. Sadly Parkinson's dementia meant he was never aware of UP's restoration or the Rapido APT-E. It would have meant so much to him. RIP Mike, and RIP Ray. I'll bet you're mates now.
Thank you for sharing, Andrew. May your dad rest in peace.
RIP Mike. A great modeler and a great humerous friend! I,ll never Forget the times we had on the Forums!
Thanks, Andrew.
I think this was a nice way to commemorate a member of the model railroading community who contributed lots to improving it and who cared about his work and family. There are many wonderful things we take for granted on a daily basis, and not everyone is given credit where credit is due, videos like this help everyone appreciate who they we're and what they did. Rest in peace Mike.
Thank you.
RIP Mike. May God bless you and your family and friends. Thanks for the wonderful tribute Jason and all at Rapido. Cheers, Danny
You're welcome and thank you.
Came across this video just now years later but still wanna say, may Mike rest in piece, wonderful person and video.
Mike certainly was a special guy!
R.I.P Mike McGrattan :, (
He seemed like a really good guy who cared about what he was doing and who it was doing it with. Great video.
He was one of a kind. Thank you.
Rest in peace Mike. You will always be remembered for the things you did for the hobby, and for Rapido. Thank you.
Amen.
May his memory and passion be the spark to inspire new projects , and new modelers to keep his memory alive. RIP Mike.
Well said.
the greatest thing about this hobby is the people and the passion for trains to the point that it brings people together with a common bond and a brotherhood and a willingness to share. Mike, I would say you were successful in making an impact in this hobby and that is quite evident in this video. we all share your spirit. R.I.P.
Thanks for your very kind words about Mike.
I met Mike at a trainshow in Calgary about 7 or 8 years ago. We just chatted forever, he was so passionate about the hobby but more importantly just a kind person.
He was indeed and he is much missed.
I never knew Mike personally - only through forum posts and interactions. I remember when he passed away, and when Rapido made this tribute video several years later. And here I am coming back to watch this again now. Even in this video, Mike's sincerity and enthusiasm really comes through. It's so sad to see how much he is his same self in the interview, done just a few months before he died. This smart, enthusiastic nice guy trapped in a body. Life is so unfair sometimes.
Mike was a treasure. He is missed to this day.
I went from your most recent video while lying on my bed, to sitting on the floor with my models about to tears. This hobby means the world to me and many others, and to know people like Mike put so much into this hobby just shows that some of us do really care.
We are honoured that you were moved so much. Thank you.
WOW!!!!! R.I.P. Mike and God Bless you folks at Rapido. Thank You for posting this video.
Our pleasure. Thanks for watching.
What a magnificent tribute to your friend. It’s obvious how highly you all regarded him. My condolences for your loss.
Thank you.
Being a modeller for many years now, living in Australia, I had heard of Mike McGrattan through my facebook friends. I am sorry to hear of his passing and this is my wishes to his family. That they remember all that he stood for and the love of everything that he believed in. That means all the modellers around the world and not just in Canada. He will be missed.
Thank you for your kind words.
Very moving and fitting tribute to a great Rapido team member and fellow moddler. Thank you Jason and team for this great video.
Thanks, Peter.
Thank you. Mike was a class act, just like everyone/everything else at Rapido.
Thank you very much.
Hello from France. I know the train models that you offer and I for my part placed an order for the RTL Turboliner Phases V which will meet your requirements and our wishes. We await it with great pleasure.
With regard to this video, I would like to thank you here very warmly for this very vibrant tribute that you are making in honor of one of yours, Mike, it is a wonderful example that you show us and demonstrate if it was necessary the attachment you have for those who are part of your "professional family" and especially the values which are yours with regard to other people in general. It's remarkable and I'm sure Mike would be very proud of your warm and powerful tribute to him. Thanks a lot. François
Thank you for your words. We miss Mike every day
It was good to see this video and get to know a bit more about Mikeand his passion for trains and in particular N scale
Thanks, Garth.
A nice tribute to a train fan. Hello from California USA.
Thanks a lot.
Great hobbyist, very moving. Thanks for the introduction and your memories.
Our pleasure. Thanks for watching.
As a dad, that story of Mike and Sam working on the Kanto Sub layout touched so many feelings. Mike described my own son's desire to start a layout to a tee. My own son (DiamondMaster2.0) is pushing to get his own layout started. Our Rapido N-Scale Draper Taper that's coming shortly is going to be a big part of it. There's never a time to start like right now. R.I.P., Mike. Our condolences to Mike's family at home and at Rapido. This was a beautiful tribute.
Thanks for your very kind words.
Jason, you are 100% correct. Mike was a true mensch! May he be remembered!
Thanks for the kind words!
Thank You And God Bless !!
R.I.P Mike McGrattan
Rest in peace mike.
When I was in grade 7 for my science fair I did a project on how ac current from the wall gets turned into dc current for model trains. I'm 17 now, anyway I've been involved in model railroading since I was very little. The first memory with model trains was at 3 years old when my dad handed be a mehano steam locomotive to calm me down when we were heading home from vancouver children's hospital when I got my eye surgery because my left eye was pulling to the left. I've been involved with model trains since then and haven't turned back away from it. I now custom paint and detail my own model trains.
This hobby is definitely not dying we just need to get more kids into the hobby.
I don't have any rapido products at the moment but hopefully will in the neer future
Great story! We don't feel that the hobby is dying either.
A wonderful tribute to a great guy,well done guys.
Thank you.
Mike était un bon gars! Merci de nous nous le ramener à la mémoire.
C'est notre plaisir. Merci d'avoir regardé la vidéo.
Beautiful video and a very moving tribute. Well done. A nice change of pace from your usual hectic videos, not that those aren't fun, but the contrast is very welcome.
Thanks for your kind words.
Rest in peace sir !
You will always be miss by everyone and rapido
Even I will miss you.heck everyone miss you.even do I don't do N scale.i still think you were a great guy.R.I.P man.R.I.P:(😭😭😭😓😓.hope you had fun in heaven
RIP Mike gratton.
I met Mike once, we had connected years earlier on line on some N gauge forum. I live in AB - he was in Ont and I doubted we would ever meet in person. I hosted "little Pud" on my layout many many years ago. Then I decided to take in a CARM Event in Hamilton Mike drove down to meet me at that CARM meet. We had a great visit. We keep in contact on line. I know how excited he was to get on the Rapido team. And then learned of his illness. I still think of him when I look at the Puddington line gondolas I bought (I never heard how successful that run was). Thanks for sharing this video.
Thanks for sharing the memories, David. He was a class act.
What a beautiful tribute to Mike. Rest in Peace
Thank you for your kind thoughts.
I sympathize for your loss. I remember Mr. McGrattan was fond of the Turbo Train - one of my first N Gauge trains given to me for Christmas by my parents in beautiful CN white (by Bachman). I am glad he talked you guys into making the Turbo Train in N Gauge and bought the CN and UA sets.
He was a big fan of the Turbo. Thanks for supporting us!
Wonderful tribute with some deep insights into model railroading lasting's appeal and potential for building enduring relationships. Kudos to Rapido for sharing this.
Thanks for your kind words.
Wow! What a wonderful video. R.I.P. Mike.
Thanks. We miss him.
Sorry about your loss. I'm currently living in Peterborough as well. Nice spot for trains with all the history behind it
Thanks.
What a great tribute!! Thanks for the video!
You're welcome. Thanks for watching.
What can I say other than this is what the hobby is all about, passing on from generation to generation the love and passion for building something that is a reflection of something either in our memory or our dreams. Vale Mike and all that have passed before us.
Very well said.
What a wonderful tribute. I feel a lost opportunity to meet a great family man who stuck to his morals and his heart.. and I think that says alot about a job well done making this video. As a tribute to him I pledge to further help spread the word about the best company in the game. While it's not a video about the new rs18, it's far better. All the best boys
Thank you for your kind words.
Amazing video about a great chap.
Thanks on both accounts.
We all have a hyphen that space between our birth date and date of death Mike made great use of his hyphen by leaving a legacy that his family and friends can look back on. Nice work on this video keeping one mans legacy alive
Very well put, Andrew!
Excellent video. Very poignant, very touching.
Thanks Bill!
R.I.P. Mike.
You will truly be missed.
Indeed he is.
I never met the man in person but he and I chatted via facebook and Trainboard all the time. He is deeply missed.
May God Bless Mike and Keep Him.
Cant wait to meet him in the big Layout in the Sky.
Peace Andy M
Beautiful thoughts, thank you.
Thank you Jason and Rapido for posting this video. I had spoken with Mike numerous times via a popular online model railroad forum (I won't mention any names, but Jason you're also a member of this forum) but never had the pleasure of meeting him in person. He was a great father, great guy and great modeler. Rest in Piece Mike. On a side note, Is there any chance of another run of the Mike McGrattan memorial gondola? Cheers, Rich S.
Thanks, Rich. We still have the gons. I will ask our IT guy to put the page back up. It got lost in the site redesign. -Jason
Very moving video. Jason,making this video, makes you a mensch. The success of Rapido is not accidental.
Thanks for the kind words.
Hi Jason. Great video to remember a colleague by... When I pass on if the reaction is anything close to the same as your video I know I'll have done something right.
We should all aim for that goal.
We miss you Mike. Now and always.
Goodbye Mike McGratten
You will be missed by your friends, family, and your fans
And he has many fans...
Thank You. That was very touching! :-(
You're welcome. It was tough to do...
A very touching tribute! I've done my best to share model railroading knowledge too with the younger generation too.
Thank you!
Rip Mike mcgrattan 😭😭 we will miss you
Indeed.
Keep making great models really happy about your Royal Hudson
I will never forget this video of Michael McGratton Sam if you’re listening to this please he’s safe in heaven I want to help repeat trains and Jason thank you you made my day I will never forget the day that the last time I saw him at the model train show he will never be forgotten PS I attended his funeral to honour his death PPS nice train sounds in the background I love it he will be missed thank you❤️❤️🇨🇦🫡👍😞
he seemed like such a great person and im sure he was, im sorry for your loss
Thanks for the kind words, he is sorely missed.
@@rapidotrains your very welcome
Sorry for your loss :(
RIP Mike
Thanks.
Thank you for sharing.
Nice video. How nice to be remembered . God bless
Thank you.
Wonderful video and a fitting tribute.
Thank you.
An emotional Video. But what Mike has build and his Modelrailroad looks great! Thanks for sharing this Video!
Greetings from Germany
Rallis MoBa Brasselbude ✌🏼
You're welcome. Thanks for watching.
Rest easy Mike.
Great tribute !
Thanks.
A great video. Very moving.
Thank you.
That was beautiful. RIP.
Thank you.
I think that's really cool name because my sister really likes Pokemon
Very well done!
Thank you.
Jason - Thanks for this.
You're welcome.
Great job,its a shame that sometimes your life maybe cut short,so you should enjoy every day to the fullest,weather its model trains,climbing a mountain,what ever God bless.
Thanks, and well said.
Very touching. I hope the N scale wagon fund for his sons education (I think) was successful.
It was hugely successful. Thanks!
Jason you are awesome
Jason you are awesome and thank you for the Pikachu repeater trainz Canadian pacific train shirt I wish we can be together as friends I will never forget this day love you bye
Rip Mike.
Rip mike, sadly missed
Agreed.
Good job, guys. Good job, Mike.
Thanks, Graham!
Rip 😭😭
Very very classy and deserved
Well done Class ACT Jason
Thanks for your kind words.
really sad to see the N scale person go. Mike will always be remembered forever.
Mike will always be remembered, he was family.
who dares dislike this video???
Some people have chips on their shoulders that can't be fixed...
Nice video!
Thank you.
Wish Mike could see how the hobby has developed in the last three years.
Especially in N scale.