I thought it had been rather quiet on the west coast. Glad to see you back.

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Sheldon & Mike,

I second that!  Anxiously awaiting further info.

Best Wishes!

Jack

Dear Alan,

I would respectfully suggest you check with Union Pacific, who have or had a VP who ran a steamer on a long round trip in the mid west.  I got a video from Sam's Club Christmas 2006 who showed this guy running a Challenger on the Clinchfield RR in TN.  Perhaps he could help you.  I will try to view video and get you his name. He is rather young, perhaps not 50.

Too, how about calling the Strasburg RR and talking to one of their mechanics who restore steam locos?  Similarly, you could call Steamtown.

My inclination would be to call a physics department and try to get an answer from a physicist.

Good luck and Best Wishes!

Jack

Dear Jerry,

Much thanks for your very thorough response.  Should it work for AristoCraft plastics, which I presume are delrin, as well?

Best Wishes!

Jack

Dear Friends,

I just lost a few bids on Ebay at the Favorite Spot.  I can tell you it was very competitive, and I believe to be great prices.

http://stores.ebay.com/THE-FAVORITE-SPOT

Another good source is Micro-Mark.

http://www.micromark.com/

Good tips that I have received from our friends here.

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Mr. B,

Is "Mike's" better than generic CA?  I will use whichever (or is it "what ever") you say.  You are my hero!

Best Wishes,

Hazel

Dear Mr. B., SDR, and our Friends,

Happy New Year to All!

Best Wishes to our Friends in Harm's Way!

Ever thankful for the opportunity to live in America!

Jack Majcher, Altoona, PA

Dear Brain,

Thanks for the parodies!  What a hoot!  Lots of good stuff out there!

One of my favorites is the barbershop skit Archie Campbell did on HeeHaw. The title was "Rindercella and the Pransome Hince."  The punchline went something like this: 

"If you are Rindercella dancing with a Pransome Hince and the strock clikes twelve, don't forget to slop your dripper!"

Best Wishes & Happy New Year!

Jack

Dear Gene,

I have been following your posts and the mention of the days of Christmas.  So here goes a link for any and all who are interested:

http://www.cresourcei.org/cy12days.html

Very interesting stuff and increases my knowledge.  Thank you!

Best Wishes & "A Statue of a Naked Lady With a Portable Transistor Radio Where Her Stomach Oughta Be."

Or something like that! 

Jack

Dear Friends,

Resolutions:

1.  Build my Bowser USRA Light Mike Super Detail kit.
2.  Transfer my friend's 11' x 22' HO layout to my basement.
3.  Build a garden RR for my Joey.
4.  Get the Annie with battery r/c I want for my Joey.

Best Wishes,

Jack

Dear Scott,

Thank you for the references and parody.  Pretty neat stuff.  I presumed this had come from somewhere, as much stuff usually does.  That is why I always include references.

As aways, Best Wishes & Happy New Year to All!

Jack

FROM PARADE MAGAZINE, DEC. 1989

“Our Present to You.  A Guide to a Happy Life.”

No one will ever get out of this world alive.  Resolve therefore to maintain a reasonable sense of values.

Take care of yourself.  Good health is everyone’s major source of wealth.  Without it, happiness is almost impossible.

Resolve to be cheerful & helpful.  People will repay you in kind.

Avoid angry, abrasive persons.  They are generally vengeful.

Avoid zealots.  They are generally humorless.

Resolve to listen more & to talk less.  No one ever learns anything by talking.

Be chary of giving advice.  Wise men don’t need it & fools won’t heed it.

Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving & tolerant of the weak & wrong.  Sometime in life you will have been all of these.

Do not equate money with success.  There are many successful moneymakers who are miserable failures as human beings.  What counts most about success is how a person achieves it.

Dear Friends,

Best Wishes & Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from your friends in Altoona, PA.

Jack Majcher & Family

Dear Friends,

Thank you for the wonderful information! 

I have bids on the FS for a 2-10-0 and Heavy Mountain.  Hope to get those two beauties! 

I should have mentioned that an 11' x 22' layout comes with the friend's rolling stock.  Presumably with 22" or greater radius curves. 

Too, I have a Bowser USRA Lt Mike kit with super detail kit to be built.  Many E8's, U-boats, a Century, etc. 

Looks like youse guys hit it!  Thanks a million!  I will have a great time running my choo choo's, and will drink several toasts to you all!  There is a second fridge in the basement loaded with my favorite beveridges.  Good thing I am only driving trains, as the legal limit in PA is 0.08.  My limit is when my face hits the floor, to paraphrase Dean Martin.

Any and all are welcome to stop by to run trains and to sample the fridge. Lots of room to crash if needed.

Best Wishes & Hoppy New Year!  Or as my Father's friends from WWII used to say, "Up your New Year!"

Jack

Dear Max (UK),

I recently found a site that explained how to convert your O gauge engines to r/c battery power.  This would allow you to run O scale (2-rail) on O gauge (3-rail) track, and vice versa.

If you are interested, I will look for it and post here.

Best Wishes & Happy New Year!

Jack

Dear "Bear,"

Very Droll!  SteamGene came up with a good one, too!  Way to go, guys!

From the father of a constantly irritated 13.5 year old female. 

As I approach 57 years of age, I am amazed how good is the word curmudgeon.  I am a "cur" who got stuck in the "mud"  "eons" ago.  My dear wife would agree!

Two teenagers, and two on the way!  I will have to work until 75 if I ever want to get them out of my house.  Thank goodness I have my choo choos.  Thank goodness for Spectrum.

Best Wishes & Happy New Year!

Jack