For me, model building started way back in about 1955. I had an American Flier train on the traditional 4x8. round and round it went. I had the Plasticville buildings, painted roads and sidewalks. I began to ballast the track. Well, at least as much as a nine year old nows how. About the same time Tomalco started producing Sn3 kits I moved into Sn31/2. I converted a PFM Climax and two Shays. I built my own rolling stock too.
Then collage came and I graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Advertising Design after three years of Architecture. For several years after graduation I worked as an Advertising Art Director. i moved to California in 1972 and joined WED Enterprises (Walt Disney Imagineering) about a year later. My first assignment was to develop the new paint schemes for the Disneyland Railroad after the Santa Fe decided to pull out. Many years later in Florida I retired after a long career with Disney. I worked on all theme parks and left as a Principle Designer. I spent four years on Disneyland Paris and worked as Graphic Art Director for animal Kingdom, Asia. I did all of the signs and developed the rusty signs! Also during my years at Disney, I developed Thomas A Yorke Enterprises, designing model railroad kits for HO and O Scales. While in college I worked for Miami Model Builders under H.O. Williams, writer of the Dollar Car Series in Model Railroader.
That is all ancient history. I am now basically retired and working on my own Gn15 system and building custom models for model railroads and doll houses. The following photos show much of my personal work as well as some custom pieces completed for customers. I still write articles for Railroad Model Craftsman and the Gazette. I also have a line of sketch books full of original rail plans for various subjects. First I will show some of my own original creations.
I may be contacted through email at tomyorke@bellsouth.net, phoned during edt. at
770-645-2597, or contacted by mail at 210 Pitch Lake Ct, Roswell, GA 30076.
