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Members Like Mike Caruso Make Our Forum Great

FM Former Member

Thanks to our OGR Forum, I got to meet one of the nicest guys in our hobby, Mike Caruso. We have corresponded often about trains that we share a common interest. I finally got to meet Mike in person at Alex and Dina's Open House event last summer. One of the founding principles of the Forum is to whenever possible we try to help each other out when it comes to trains or otherwise. Let me tell you how this applies to us.

 

Since we were both going to the York Meet that ended today, I asked Mike if he would be on the lookout for a couple of sets of K-Line passenger cars I have been looking for. The old saying about multiple pairs of eyes are better than one I thought applied in this situation. We spent Thursday walking the aisles in several halls on the hunt with no luck. At the OGR Forum Thursday night gathering, Mike tracked us down (that was easy as he sat with us for dinner) and told me that he found the cars I was looking for and had a person for me to see when the Meet opened Friday morning.

 

When you have been looking for that special train item for a long time and the prospect of finding it is right in front of you, things do get exciting. So at the start of the Meet on Friday morning, Elizabeth and I were Johnny on the spot at the seller's tables. To my great surprise, the seller turned out to be an individual that I have known in the train world for a longtime but I had not seen him for several years since I moved to Maine. Small world. Mike was 100% correct in as much as the seller had exactly what I had been looking for. The upshot of all of this is without Mike's bird dogging, these two spectacular train sets would not be the newest additions to our layout. We had gone through this Hall on Thursday and at the time we made the rounds, these tables were covered.  

 

So Mike, a very big thank you for your efforts. You are indeed a very good friend!!!!!!

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SantaFeJimSantaFeJimOGR Forum Member
Brian -

I am very happy that thanks to Mike you were able to score the cars that you have been searching for.  I'm guessing that made the whole trip worthwhile.

I have never met Mike but have read many of his posts on the Forum.  He always comes across as being very helpful, always positive and wealth of information.

Again I share in your joy.


Jim
FM Former Member

Thanks to all of you for your wonderful comments. If you have not met Mike, you need to go out of your way to do so.

 

Jason (Cincinnati Western), although he could not make this York, is also very thankful to Mike as I was able to score a very hard to get set for him as well through Mike's efforts.

 

Both sets that I was fortunate enough to purchase are K-Line 21"ers. They are the Hi-Level Surfliners and the Great Northern orange and green version. These two sets are extremely hard to find and I am very thankful for Mike's help.

mike.carusomike.carusoOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Thanks everyone for the kind words.  There's certainly no shortage of great people in this hobby, and in particular on this Forum, and it's one of the nice side benefits of being obsessed with trains...getting to meet and make new friends from all over.

 

As for the passenger cars, all I can say is thank God I lifted up that tablecloth around 4:45 Thursday afternoon and saw all those yellow and black boxes underneath.  My layout is a little space-challenged when it comes to 21-inch cars, but I knew how excited Brian would be to hear this and I couldn't wait to find him to break the news.  Which I did at dinner that evening.

 

My only regret was that I didn't get there on time Friday morning to see his face when the seller pulled out those cars!  I rushed over around 9:15 but by then it was all over!!  Hope you and Jason enjoy your cars.  Look forward to seeing them in action someday!

 

- Mike 

CincinnatiWesternCincinnatiWesternOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I am deeply indebted to Brian and Mike for finding these and making the deal happen!

 

The GN Empire Builder, is three items, a 6 car set, a 4 car set, and an RPO car all of which are ultra tough to find, but finding them all together and two sets at that (Brian and I both get a full set) is almost to hard to imagine -- Mike must have some special magic up his sleeves!

 

I cannot thank Brian enough for agreeing to take my shopping list with him, and then to recruit Mike's help, of the couple items on the list these were the last thing I actually thought would be found. Amazing!

 

This set completes my K-Line wish list. I am happy as kid on Christmas morning!

 

I am going to have to come to York in the spring just to buy these two fellas dinner on Thursday at Tuesdays or however that deal works.

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