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Hi guys,

Today I spent the day with my old friend Alex M. Most of you guys know him. He is the Lionel repair guru as far as I’m concerned. He’s been repairing my Lionel trains for years. But  we’ve been friends for 35 years before he became the Lionel Guru. Lol! Now he’s known by most of you guys. He’s probably repaired most of your engines. He’s got a great repair shop and has turned it into a great business, except when I show up. Lol! I take over the day and he can’t get anything done because we laugh and joke around and have a great day. You see he lives about an hour and a half away from me so we only get together a few times a year. When we do I usually bring him 5 or 6 engines to repair. So I dropped off a few things before the holidays and today I went to go pick up the last two. One was a Santa Fe station sounds car from the F3 Anniversary set from 2000. I’ve had problems with this car for years. I even sent it back to Lionel probably 19-20 years ago. It hasn’t worked for the entire time I have it. Alex found that it was wired backwards from the factory and he re-wired the hole thing for me. Needless to say, now it works perfectly.

The other piece was a CCII Niagara that I’ve had since new. I told him I think I burnt out the smoke unit. He dug into it and said it had a lot more problems than the smoke unit. I said I know. Lol! It ran intermittently. Come to find out the plastic gears were stripped and the driveshaft was on its way out. So I told him to fix whatever it needs. Well he upgraded everything from the gearbox, driveshaft, smoke unit, electronics, four chuffs, a Cruise M, Chuff n Puff, the works. Now it runs and smokes like a Legacy engine. Unbelievable job, I couldn’t be happier!

To throw one more project on top I brought overe a CCII Empire State Express Hudson I just bought from a forum member. It was brand new never run sealed in the shipping carton. Well it ran but not good. It would loose the TMCC signal and the smoke unit didn’t work. He opened it up and in ten minutes he had the shell back on and it was fixed and running perfectly. The R2LC board was loose and the smoke resistor was broke and needed to be replaced. Probably from being in the box for nearly 20 years and moved around.

The point is if you need anything repaired Alex M is your guy. oh yeah and we ran some trains!! One is the Vision Lne NYC Pacemaker box car set and a beautiful set of aluminum 21” K-Line passenger cars.

Sorry to be so long winded but I feel it’s one way to show my appreciation. That and getting us some nice Italian Heroes for lunch! Lol!

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Last edited by Mike R
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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

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.

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.

Last edited by laz1957

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

@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 

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