Welcome to the Speeder Email List

This list is open to anyone interested in railroad motorcars; nicknamed "speeders" and sometimes called "putt putts." This lists forwards any message from one member to all members. Only people who are active subscribers to the list can post or get mail. This is not a newsgroup. However, our messages are available to the general public by way of an archive at http://lists.cirr.com.

Free Service

There is no charge for this list. It exists thanks to the generosity of our host, Eric Schnoebelen. Eric also hosts several other railroad related e-mail lists on his computer in Dallas, TX. See Eric's web page at http://www.cirr.com.  The list manager is Pete Wenk in Beaufort, NC.  This is NOT a moderated list, which means that whatever you post goes directly to all members without the manager reviewing your post.  The only ground rules are that your post be reasonably related to the motorcar hobby, that it is in good taste, and that there are no personal attacks or slander.  Occasionally, “threads” outlive their usefulness, become rants, or go beyond the scope of the hobby.  In that case, the list manager may step in and ask the discussion to stop.  His decision is final.  DO NOT post messages with attachments.  If you have photos or long documents you wish the list members to see, please link to an outside source.

Participate

Only your active participation in this list makes it successful. If you're a meet coordinator, frequently post the details of your upcoming event. If you have parts or cars for sale or are looking for such, post those messages. Forward club news, messages for friends that don't have computers, and reports of events you've just attended. Ask questions or offer technical advice about motorcars.  Don’t be just a lurker.  Post messages with information for all. And remember that your messages to the list will be archived and available to the public.

 When you subscribe, please introduce yourself to the current members with a message to <speeders@lists.cirr.com> about yourself. If you're a member of a club and/or own a speeder include that information.

How to Subscribe

Here's how to subscribe to the speeders list:
Send an email message to: speeders-request@lists.cirr.com
with nothing in the subject field and
with the message: subscribe
Please use your main address and not a mail forward box.

Or subscribe automatically by clicking here. (An email form will appear; all you have to do is send it).

Here's how to unsubscribe from the speeders list.
Send a message to: speeders-request@lists.cirr.com
with nothing in the subject field and
with the message: unsubscribe.

Or unsubscribe automatically by clicking here. (An email form will appear; all you have to do is send it).

Please note: If you are going to be away from your computer for an extended time, you can avoid having an overflowing mailbox on your return by unsubscribing before you leave.  This is especially important if you have a mailbox with a limited amount of storage space.  If your quota is exceeded, your messages will bounce back to the list manager.  If this happens for more than a few days, the manager will “unsubscribe” your address.  In that event, you will have to “subscribe” all over again to begin receiving messages from the list.

Speeder Archives

There is an archive of old messages at http://lists.cirr.com Search the archive by subject to find answers to previously or frequently asked questions on this e-mail list. Warning, the archive search can be slow because, it looks at message text as well as headers. Be patient. Making repeated requests or too many requests will lock up the system including the e-mail system. What follows is a compilation of speeder information from the members of this list. This summary of important stuff was compiled before the archive was activated. For example, a search of the archive for "buzz boxes" or "coils" will come up with a mountain of information about ignition systems on two cycle cars.

The Original Sin

If you are just getting interested in riding on real railroad tracks, please join a club and ride legal. "Bootlegging" or riding without permission hurts the hobby. Here's how. There is no such thing as abandoned railroad track. Unless the rail has been pulled up, the ties sold for backyard planters, and the stone ballast dug up for fill; the track is not abandoned. Some company owns it or has leased it; someone is financially responsible. Riding without permission is trespassing. Run-ins between railroad officials and trespassers make the companies suspicious of all motorcar operators. Bootlegging activity has caused problems for just about every club trying to organize legal events. This is a "frail hobby...completely dependent upon the goodwill...of the railroad owners." NARCOA says that there are about 140 NARCOA insured meets held each year around the USA. An estimated additional 75 events are held around the country that operate with local club or historical society insurance. The total is over four legal events each week!

Parts for Cars and Other Things

Parts for Fairmont Cars and Cars
Dan Brown
Brown Rail Road Equipment, Inc.,
4 Amersham Ct.
Glen Carbon, IL 62034-1562 (St. Louis area)
618-797-5484, FAX: 618-797-6076 brnrailrd@aol.com
Major source for parts as he is buying all of Fairmonts motorcar parts
stock

Motorcars and Used Parts
Bill Evans
4020 E. Ave., T-4
Palmdale, CA 93552
(805) 285-8330

Fairmont & Woodings Parts. Fairmont and Woodings railcars.
Most series. MOW-ready if needed.
Gary Boots
P.O. Box 182
Paradise, CA
(916) 896-1666, FAX: (916) 893-3666.

New Fairmont Parts
Les King
P.O. 164
North Lawrence OH, 44666.
(330) 833-2868, FAX: (330) 830-5213.
Major source for cars and parts in the east. Les makes some out of
stock parts. His brake shoes & liners are a particularly good deal.

Custom made Decals:
NARCOA (new logo), Fairmont and several Fallen Flag Railroads. Custom
services and logo designs also available. All made from High Performance
3-M Vinyl in all colors of rainbow. Reflective colors also available.
Michael Mitzel
P.O.Box 79
Waterman, IL. 60556
815-264-7979
mitzelsigns@juno.com

Operator's Manuals, Maintenance Manuals, etc.
Rail Motor Car Resource Library
Doug Cummins, 1146 W. 27th, Independence, MO 64052-3222
Send large SASE for free list.

Rings for any motor
Paul Weaver
Bremerton, WA
360 373-7870
have bore diameter, ring width, groove depth and number of rings needed

Air horns, lights, beacons
The Lighthouse
2315 South Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
213 749-5031
suggested air horn is Spartan SPA555C, comes w/ air compressor

Magneto Repair and Alternator Parts
Oil Field Ignition Parts Co.
200 N. Classen Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK
405 235-1579

Fairbanks, American Bosch, Wico, Zenith and other small industrial
application carburetors, ignition and magneto parts
AEI Corp.
114 NE 8th
Oklahoma City, OK
404 236-3551

Transmission bearings, Drive Chain
King Bearing, Inc.
255 East Brokaw Road
San Jose, CA
408 436-5464

Birth papers and manuals for Fairmont Cars
FAIRMONT RAILWAY MOTORS
P.O. Box 415
Fairmont, MN 56031-0415
507 235-3361 FAX 507 235-9048
correct serial number and $5 gets copy of car history card
complete model designation (M19D1, ST2K1, M9C2, A4D, etc.) and
$25 gets car service manual (not all originals are available, some are
xerox copies from their archives)
correct engine type and $10 gets engine service manual
correct part numbers and they will advise on price and
availability. Most motorcar parts have been sold to Dan Brown, see
earlier listing above. New wheels are available and many things like
brake parts too.
Fairmont will not go back into production of older parts. Minimum parts
order $50. Everything sent COD.

Fairmont Parts in Vancouver, Canada
I.P.S. (Inter-Pacific Services Ltd.)
Dean Jefferson (604) 465-8994
Source for new wheels as well as Fairmont in Minn.

Engine rebuilds
See your local Onan dealer but shop around. Also try Dudley Newman
Machinery in Pheonix, AZ

Onan Engine Parts
See your local Onan dealer. Dealers make parts orders to Onan twice a
week. Many parts for CCKB and B48G engines still in stock.

MOTOR CARS & TRAILERS ****************************************

MOTOR CARS
Dudley Newman
Newman Machinery
4705 W. Buckeye Rd.
Phoenix, AZ
602 952-0035 FAX 602 269-5851
Main business is maintenance of way equipment.
Has variety of cars for sale. Will sell parts for cars bought from
him. Also does engine and transmission re-builds

Gary Boots
Paradise, CA 95967
530 896-1666
Sells cars and can deliver MOW ready

Les King
P.O. 164
North Lawrence OH, 44666.
(330) 833-2868, FAX: (330) 830-5213.

Sal Jacobs
Cars and gas tank protectors
Larkspur, CA
415 924-4701
Has 30 (?) cars
Can deliver MOW ready

PAINT COLORS ***************************************************
If you're painting / restoring a motor car, the following information is
from Dudley Newman on recommend paints:

Martin Senour MSE Industrial Enamel #73-082 Med. Silver Metallic
(Good for fenders, floor, etc.)

Martin Senour MSE Industrial Enamel #73A042 Orange (Safety Orange)
(SP, MOPAC, Etc.)

Martin Senour MSU Urethane Enamel #MSU-035A Yellow (Federal Yellow)
(This is a close if not exact match to the common UP Yellow, Etc.)

All can be purchased from your local NAPA stores in most states.
No primers needed.

Credits

Thanks go to Mike Paul, George & Kathy Best, Dudley Newman, and Guy Lynn
for much of the information included above. Thanks also to all the
other speeder pilots who have sent in corrections!

List Manager: petewenk@nccoast.com