My York find….with special meaning …Tales From Harmon Shops

Nice! Just a couple of things, for those of us who haven't visited York, excuse my ignorance but what's a "bandit"? And two I'd love to see those cars in a video when you have time. Thanks!

Great find Pat, that does have a special meaning.

@ConrailFan posted:

Nice! Just a couple of things, for those of us who haven't visited York, excuse my ignorance but what's a "bandit"? And two I'd love to see those cars in a video when you have time. Thanks!

Bandit meets are swap meets before the big event on the fair grounds…..and yes, a video is most definitely coming of the ESE departing Harmon,…a quick tune up of the cars, and we’re off,..

Pat

Great story Pat. I have those cars as well, but got them when they came out many moons ago. It is good to get something that is of more value than just having the item itself when it is attached to a person whom you've admired. Good heartfelt story.

I lost out finding a Dreyfuss Hudson as none to be found, thought about buying a picture of one, felt hungry, wound up talking for more than 15 minutes to new acquaintances, went back, and of course, gone. A little picture about the size of a sheet of paper, $15, and I walked away figuring I would get it when I came back. That lesson is one I really need to hit home. I'll get there though.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Great story Pat. I have those cars as well, but got them when they came out many moons ago. It is good to get something that is of more value than just having the item itself when it is attached to a person whom you've admired. Good heartfelt story.

I lost out finding a Dreyfuss Hudson as none to be found, thought about buying a picture of one, felt hungry, wound up talking for more than 15 minutes to new acquaintances, went back, and of course, gone. A little picture about the size of a sheet of paper, $15, and I walked away figuring I would get it when I came back. That lesson is one I really need to hit home. I'll get there though.

Yep,…I’ve had the MTH Premier ESE’s for years, but the Century Club Cars blow them out of the water,….one of the rare examples when our friends over at the big L shot one over the moon,…there’s just no comparison,……on Wednesday evening we had dinner with Pete & his buddy Lee, and what a great time that was,..and I said to Pete, I’m going to get those cars ……that evening in the hotel room, all those wonderful and super exciting emotions roll over like a tidal wave,…just like a kid at my first swap meet with 25 dollars to spend……so for me, a very exciting York indeed ……

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Yep,…I’ve had the MTH Premier ESE’s for years, but the Century Club Cars blow them out of the water,….one of the rare examples when our friends over at the big L shot one over the moon,…there’s just no comparison,……on Wednesday evening we had dinner with Pete & his buddy Lee, and what a great time that was,..and I said to Pete, I’m going to get those cars ……that evening in the hotel room, all those wonderful and super exciting emotions roll over like a tidal wave,…just like a kid at my first swap meet with 25 dollars to spend……so for me, a very exciting York indeed ……

Pat

Every York(all 4 October's) I get that feeling. I've never come home disappointed no matter what I've bought or missed. Maybe I am just someone who can be happy with what I walk into. Whether it be work, pleasure, or whatever, I don't seem to get down. It's a good attitude to have. Missing nothing, looking at everything taking it all in. I just seem to enjoy it all, even if it is not my cup of tea. I saw some old stuff, early 1900's or very late 1800's, I don't know, but I found it fascinating. Some stuff I recognized like some Ives, but beyond that, don't know. Of course early Lionel, no way to mistake that.

One thing I saw in one of the member halls was a 7 piece MTH NYC Dreyfuss passenger car set for $750 I believe. I only briefly looked at it, and smiled a bit. Sure I could have bought them, but with no engine, figured I'd wait another time. Besides, I wound picking up some MTH NYC Madison passenger cars with the two tone grey, white stripe, 6 wheel trucks, 5 car set. Later I picked up a different color two car set, combine/diner and also an RPO car. All of these looked smashing to me and since you and Pete had said that sometimes cars would be mixed, this would work perfect behind any of the Hudson's I have.

Pat, That is an excellent find and a great story behind the cars.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Every York(all 4 October's) I get that feeling. I've never come home disappointed no matter what I've bought or missed. Maybe I am just someone who can be happy with what I walk into. Whether it be work, pleasure, or whatever, I don't seem to get down. It's a good attitude to have. Missing nothing, looking at everything taking it all in. I just seem to enjoy it all, even if it is not my cup of tea. I saw some old stuff, early 1900's or very late 1800's, I don't know, but I found it fascinating. Some stuff I recognized like some Ives, but beyond that, don't know. Of course early Lionel, no way to mistake that.

One thing I saw in one of the member halls was a 7 piece MTH NYC Dreyfuss passenger car set for $750 I believe. I only briefly looked at it, and smiled a bit. Sure I could have bought them, but with no engine, figured I'd wait another time. Besides, I wound picking up some MTH NYC Madison passenger cars with the two tone grey, white stripe, 6 wheel trucks, 5 car set. Later I picked up a different color two car set, combine/diner and also an RPO car. All of these looked smashing to me and since you and Pete had said that sometimes cars would be mixed, this would work perfect behind any of the Hudson's I have.

Oh yes, towards the end of the great steel fleet, everything and anything would’ve been tossed into a train set to make it work,…even the great 20TH CENTURY LIMITED was not immune to this practice,…..not long after the war’s end, the Central proper wasn’t a top notch healthy entity …..gone were the perfectly matched train sets with locomotives to match,….not to say though, in the 20’s and 30’s, luxury rail travel was THE way to travel,…..so the railroads had their finest cars pulled by their best stallions….

Pat

"Yep,…I’ve had the MTH Premier ESE’s for years, but the Century Club Cars blow them out of the water,….one of the rare examples when our friends over at the big L shot one over the moon,…"

I, too, have the MTH versions. Nothing wrong with them, but, yes, Lionel's were much more impressive.

As promised, a video clip of the ESE leaving north bound, out of Harmon, just beginning to pick up the pace, ….sorry, the diner car has lights out,….we’ll fix that,…thanks Bob Sr. & Jr…..love them, …only hope I can be as good as custodian as y’all are …..

Pat

Beautiful!  Both the train and the story behind it.

I love when pieces in my collection have special meaning to me. Those are the ones I will never part with.

Great find Pat. I too am very fortunate to have this set that I also got from Bob Sr when he was doing the Bandits on Sherman St. He was packing up and he had to unpack to get them out of his mini van. You could always count on him that what he sold was working and in excellent shape.

While I also have a set of the GGD ESE cars I feel these are even nicer with a more correct color, better detailed, freer rolling trucks and the full width diaphragms that these cars had when they were built.

Pete

Thanks Pete,…as you recall, as soon as I got them, I couldn’t wait to tell ya,….I was pretty stoked,….walked out the silver hall like a peacock,….I was practically first in the door,….

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

As promised, a video clip of the ESE leaving north bound, out of Harmon, just beginning to pick up the pace, ….sorry, the diner car has lights out,….we’ll fix that,…thanks Bob Sr. & Jr…..love them, …only hope I can be as good as custodian as y’all are …..

Pat

I had to watch that on full screen. Nothing beat a great NYC engine on full screen doing what it is supposed to do. Very nice video Pat.

"a true champion of this hobby, and one of the greatest guys you’d ever meet."

Pat,

It was great to meet up with you at York on Thursday.  I've enjoyed each one of our conversations... whether it's about trains or cars!

Your sentiments about your friend (quoted above) echo what I, and I bet a host of people, already think about you!  You're craftsmanship is amazing and I appreciate so much how quickly you answer questions and provide updates on projects. 

So thankful to know you!

@Larry Mullen posted:

"a true champion of this hobby, and one of the greatest guys you’d ever meet."

Pat,

It was great to meet up with you at York on Thursday.  I've enjoyed each one of our conversations... whether it's about trains or cars!

Your sentiments about your friend (quoted above) echo what I, and I bet a host of people, already think about you!  You're craftsmanship is amazing and I appreciate so much how quickly you answer questions and provide updates on projects.

So thankful to know you!

Thank you Larry,….and as soon as I retire from this day job, it’ll only get better for the turn around times ….my biggest Achilles heel,…I thank you and everyone’s patience as I build their projects ,…..my work will show such appreciation,….

Pat

@harmonyards, Pat do you also usually come to York in the Spring?  I live right here, and had tickets,  but couldn't abandon work.  I expect to be able to schedule vacation time for the spring, would love to meet up.   Who knows,  maybe I'll have the Jinty assembled by then!

Fantastic pick up made even better by the connection to the seller and the history of the set.