The New York Central and Alex M to the rescue.

Hi Mike ,

Thanks for the beautiful post !
it was great spending the day with you today. We had a blast running some trains. Also thanks for a delicious lunch !

Thanks, Alex

Thing of beauty. Great story, great guy, great repairs, great running session.

Alex is the best

Don’t make me laugh    The applicant is a bum

He want's a reference?!! I'll give him a reference.

How long do you know the applicant?  Too long!!

Mike,

   I was at Alex’s home this past Tuesday picking up two locomotives that he repaired. I live in Salisbury Maryland and its a 3 1/2 hour drive one way so I could only spend about a hour talking to Alex about trains, politics, family and other world issues. Probably the most enjoyable hour I spent in months. Alex is one of the best especially when Ben ribs him.

JohnB

I haven't had any out of warranty failures I couldn't handle, YET.  When I do I'll be emailing Alex.

Poor Alex.....look at his unfinished layout. He's so busy fixing everyone elses trains, he has no time for his own.

Great work, as always. Not to mention, that Niagara is one of the worst when it comes to repairs due to its complex assembly.

How fortunate we are to have access to guys like Alex that are arguably more talented than the factory service.

On a side note... that Niagara whistle is still one of Lionels best! Lionel needs to come up with a quillable version.

Alex is great!! He has repaired many of my loco's. Anything , if it is out of warranty, goes to Alex!!! I love talking politics as well with him.

Having your trains fixed by Alex - the go-to repair man - and enjoying Italian Hero's (called Hoagies in Philly, extra-sharp Provolone and copious amounts of hot peppers and spices, please) sounds like an enjoyable afternoon.

Good thread - we all like and admire Alex!  The videos are very welcome and the K-Line NYC cars are beautiful - especially the RPO and Observation. Such nice features!

Mr. BluelineC4,

I dont know who you are (and don't care to know you anyway), but Alex is a great guy and a friend. Calling him a bum is just plain wrong, and slanderous. I am an attorney, and have no prbolem suing you on behalf of Alex. Moreover, I am going to get my friend and fellow New Jersey Hi-Railer Ben Fiorello to do some harm to your person, so there. Ben isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but his is pretty muscular, a good friend and will take care of you. How do you like them apples?

Erol  

@locolawyer posted:

Mr. BluelineC4,

I dont know who you are (and don't care to know you anyway), but Alex is a great guy and a friend. Calling him a bum is just plain wrong, and slanderous. I am an attorney, and have no prbolem suing you on behalf of Alex. Moreover, I am going to get my friend and fellow New Jersey Hi-Railer Ben Fiorello to do some harm to your person, so there. Ben isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but his is pretty muscular, a good friend and will take care of you. How do you like them apples?

Erol

LOL!!!!👍👍😂🤣😃 I am still laughing.

@bluelinec4 posted:

Don’t make me laugh    The applicant is a bum

Hi Ben , LMAO

Ben i fixed Mike's engines with parts from Dauzer's on Dekalb ave . LOL

Alex

Thanks

Dave, Rob, Marty,Cincy, Paul,C.sam,Laz for you very kind words !

JohnB ,I know you had a long trip both ways, it was great to see you catch up and talk trains.

RickO , I am extremely busy upgrading and repairing trains , so it is  hard to do anything on my layout. But also i actually stopped working on it, because very soon we will be empty nesters. I don't think we will remain in this current home. Most likely look for a smaller home , and that's where i will definitely build a permanent layout. Thanks always for your kind words.

Erol, thanks for coming to my rescue LOL , Ben is a tough dude. We might need help LOL

Thank you all , Alex

Alex, can I have your direct e-mail address? I may have a few repairs I would like to talk to you about. thanks

@ChooChoo1972 posted:

Alex, can I have your direct e-mail address? I may have a few repairs I would like to talk to you about. thanks

Hi Frank ,

I just emailed you

Thanks, Alex

@locolawyer posted:

Mr. BluelineC4,

I dont know who you are (and don't care to know you anyway), but Alex is a great guy and a friend. Calling him a bum is just plain wrong, and slanderous. I am an attorney, and have no prbolem suing you on behalf of Alex. Moreover, I am going to get my friend and fellow New Jersey Hi-Railer Ben Fiorello to do some harm to your person, so there. Ben isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but his is pretty muscular, a good friend and will take care of you. How do you like them apples?

Erol 

Har har hardee har har.    Go get your friend and I’ll bend him into bookends

Mr. BluelineC4,

Although I don't know you, and don't care too,  I don't think you are so tuff, with your silly words above. My friend Ben, like my friend Alex is a a good and kind guy, but I bet he can flaten you like a pancake if he needed too.  The fact he is from Staten Island should be enough to scare you. He is also a NYC subway operator, and has been known to straighten the bent metal wheels on subway cars when they go out of round. Like Superman, he can bend steel with his bare hands. I think I will buy Ben a beer at the next York since he is  good guy.

Just run you chicken, and don't bother to come to Trainstock, as Ben will be there.

Erol 

LOL!!!!   Please post videos of the bookend and pancake making.

Just make sure theres trains in the background so its relevant

You had trouble with that Niagra since 2015  You were showing Vinny pics of it

Mike, I TRULY don't know you, but I have met these other guys at York!  I am certainly glad I checked out your thread!!  Besides a lot of laughs, I'm certainly glad to read about long lasting friendships, besides more of Alex's excellent reputation repairing trains!  Maybe a year ago, Alex posted a Legacy Chessie SD40 that he said he repaired on the for sale forum.  Those who have followed me, know I prefer steam and first generation diesels.  However, I grew up 1/4 mile from the old B&O Pittsburgh & Western mainline and started seeing Chessie on the rails when I was finishing high school.  I knew if Alex had repaired this engine, it was better than new.  It's a great engine.  Thank you, Alex!!!

BTW:  Following Paul's lead, There is one thing that Philly folks and we Burgh folks can agree on; and maybe the only thing we can agree on:  They are called Hogies!! 

@Mark Boyce posted:

  They are called Hogies!! 

What the heck is a hoagie   They are heroes and like most english words they were derived from the Greek Gyro  Now how would you get hoagie out of Gyro  The word hoagie is an abomination of its original which was Hoggie.  A hoggie was a sandwich that an Italian immigrant invented for people that worked at the Hog Island Shipyard 

@bluelinec4 posted:

What the heck is a hoagie   They are heroes and like most english words they were derived from the Greek Gyro  Now how would you get hoagie out of Gyro  The word hoagie is an abomination of its original which was Hoggie.  A hoggie was a sandwich that an Italian immigrant invented for people that worked at the Hog Island Shipyard

😆😆😆

Ben,

Back then the driveshaft broke and Alex replaced the driveshaft with another plastic one. It was just before the metal one and metal gears were available. He also repaired the smoke unit all at that time. The driveshaft broke again. I didn’t know it. I thought maybe it was the plastic gears this time. (And it was both). So he did a major tear down Of the engine and replaced everything. He also upgraded the electronics with cruise m and a bunch of other stuff last month. It now runs as good as any Legacy engine I have.
Those are great pictures of My daughter and Vinny and I. I’ve never seen them. Thanks for posting. One day I’ve got to get back to the club and see you guys. Say hi to your wife and Vinny for me.

Mike R

I have no stake in this discussion... but it has to be one of the most interesting threads I've ever read! 😁

Mark (now in Oregon; born in Connecticut)

PS: I thought they were called "submarine sandwiches"... 🤔

@Strummer posted:

I have no stake in this discussion... but it has to be one of the most interesting threads I've ever read! 😁

Mark (now in Oregon; born in Connecticut)

PS: I thought they were called "submarine sandwiches"... 🤔

That’s what’s so confusing here in Western Pennsylvania.  Subway sells hoagies.  I think hoggies are hot dogs. 🤔🤪

This thread has turned into hilariously entertaining and after Ben's post about hoagies, informative.  Beyond the regional misnomers for heroes I always wondered if Blimpie made heroes or subs?

So... what's a "grinder" then? 🤔There's a local pizza joint that sells them. Looks like a sub...😁

Mark in Oregon

@Strummer posted:

So... what's a "grinder" then? 🤔There's a local pizza joint that sells them. Looks like a sub...😁

Mark in Oregon

A grinder is a hoagie in some parts of New England.

They talk mad wicked funny up in Red Sox land.  Grinder equates to a meat ball hero

True dat. I remember when I lived in Maine: there was a brand of potato chip called "Wicked Good".(pronounced "goo-awd"). 😁

Mark (now) in Oregon (pronounced "Ory-gun")

Alex has repaired several locomotives for me.  He is very professional and does great repair work and keeps you informed of his progress.   Great to work with and great guy!!

@bluelinec4 posted:

What the heck is a hoagie   They are heroes and like most english words they were derived from the Greek Gyro  Now how would you get hoagie out of Gyro  The word hoagie is an abomination of its original which was Hoggie.  A hoggie was a sandwich that an Italian immigrant invented for people that worked at the Hog Island Shipyard

Forget which channel had the program "The History of Food" on during holiday times. My late mother had tuned onto that(those) programs a bunch of times. Names of sandwiches vary throughout the country because of how they got their new. Submarines were named because of the sailors that would pick them up heading back to the naval yard(I think on the west coast) to the submarine they were assigned to. Sandwiches that have French fries on them were a result for those in the trucking industry that wanted a whole meal and not have to pick at the fries, sort of all in one. The most interesting thing I have ever heard was that Chop Suey was invented in San Francisco when a bunch of sailors came into a Chinese restaurant late in the evening. The owner/cook told them he had no food but all the leftovers, the sailors replied they didn't care, so the owner threw everything together, this creating Chop Suey. It's the only Asian American export to China for Chinese food.

Also, the picture of Vinny above, at first I said to myself, "Where's that" and then smacked my head. Duh, at the HiRailers of course, that's the kitchen. Memories of 2019's OGR 50th Anniversary party came flooding back  I think I had a cheese steak and a pretzel. Don't remember what else I ate, but you can't knock great food made in a kitchen like that. Just like by my at my local pizzeria. Gotta love it.

@Strummer posted:

True dat. I remember when I lived in Maine: there was a brand of potato chip called "Wicked Good".(pronounced "goo-awd"). 😁

Mark (now) in Oregon (pronounced "Ory-gun")

Strummer, where in Maine did you live?

@bluelinec4 posted:

They talk mad wicked funny up in Red Sox land.  Grinder equates to a meat ball hero

It's always the guys with the NY accent who say New Englanders talk funny!!

@BlueComet400 posted:

It's always the guys with the NY accent who say New Englanders talk funny!!

My first job I helped in the office for a bit, had a guy who called in from Massachusetts with a very thick accent. Good thing was I could understand him the second time he said what he said the first time. There was another person who would call in who almost no one could understand, he was from NJ(not sure where he hailed from originally), and his accent was horrible. Could never understand him and he would get mad. Good thing the office manager had no issues with either of them.

@BlueComet400 posted:

It's always the guys with the NY accent who say New Englanders talk funny!!

Well it’s true the New Englanders do talk funny. Lol! Just ask anybody from my old neighborhood, Sheapshead Bay Brooklyn. Lol!

Mike R

Sorry but New Yorkers dont have an accent.  Everybody else does