Model Train Journal

A time gone past with uniformed attendants, free hot dogs and drinks and registered rest rooms. Who do you register you restroom with? I've seen some of these photos before, but not all....................and how about the fellow filling up with 10% Gasohol. A little before it's time I'd say.

http://hipspics.freewebspace.com/gas/gas.html

BH

Great Pics, Butch!!!!

A lot of good pictures there I have not seen before, Looks like a lot of good modeling material.

How did the get the cars in this Parking Garage ??

Hondo, I just reviewed all the pics and was about to pull that picture and ask the same question! The only thing I can think of without being able to see into the bottom of the parking area would be an elevated transfer table; slide right or left, go up to row 3 and back or pull out the Buick and lower it down, then transfer to the curb????

HONDO74 wrote:A lot of good pictures there I have not seen before, Looks like a lot of good modeling material.

How did they get the cars in this Parking Garage ??

I've seen stack parking garages but none like that.....

Mitch wrote:Hondo, I just reviewed all the pics and was about to pull that picture and ask the same question! The only thing I can think of without being able to see into the bottom of the parking area would be an elevated transfer table; slide right or left, go up to row 3 and back or pull out the Buick and lower it down, then transfer to the curb????

You got it Mitch.

Pigeon Hole Parking was one of many manias in the 50's. (Mania: mental illness marked by periods of great excitement, euphoria, delusions, and overactivity.)

Like many of these parking systems, it was plagued by bad electrics that would strand cars until repairs could be made.

Reference: http://theoldmotor.com/?p=128118

webenda wrote:Pigeon Hole Parking was one of many manias in the 50's.

It's equivalent is still or was in use in Boston not all that long ago.

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:

webenda wrote:Pigeon Hole Parking was one of many manias in the 50's.

It's equivalent is still or was in use in Boston not all that long ago.

My F-150 got parked in one in Albuquerque, NM in 1996.
When my wife and I wanted to go out to dinner there was no one around to go get the vehicle. So I asked where the parking lot was and walked two blocks to retrieve it. It was the first time I had ever seen such a parking contraption and the transfer table was way at the top. The elevator for people was pegs on a chain. Kinda reminded me of some ski lifts. I moved the transfer table over to my truck, drove it onto the transfer table and let it down. Then I put the transfer table back at the top and rode the pegs back down.

I just looked on Google Earth and the location has been changed to surface parking and a multi-story parking garage.

webenda wrote:

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:

webenda wrote:Pigeon Hole Parking was one of many manias in the 50's.

It's equivalent is still or was in use in Boston not all that long ago.

My F-150 got parked in one in Albuquerque, NM in 1996.
When my wife and I wanted to go out to dinner there was no one around to go get the vehicle. So I asked where the parking lot was and walked two blocks to retrieve it. It was the first time I had ever seen such a parking contraption and the transfer table was way at the top. The elevator for people was pegs on a chain. Kinda reminded me of some ski lifts. I moved the transfer table over to my truck, drove it onto the transfer table and let it down. Then I put the transfer table back at the top and rode the pegs back down.

I just looked on Google Earth and the location has been changed to surface parking and a multi-story parking garage.

I'm not surprised that it's gone; too complicated, too much liability, and a regular MLP garage seems more "acceptable" to patrons.

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:

webenda wrote:

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:
It's equivalent is still or was in use in Boston not all that long ago.

My F-150 got parked in one in Albuquerque, NM in 1996.
When my wife and I wanted to go out to dinner there was no one around to go get the vehicle. So I asked where the parking lot was and walked two blocks to retrieve it. It was the first time I had ever seen such a parking contraption and the transfer table was way at the top. The elevator for people was pegs on a chain. Kinda reminded me of some ski lifts. I moved the transfer table over to my truck, drove it onto the transfer table and let it down. Then I put the transfer table back at the top and rode the pegs back down.

I just looked on Google Earth and the location has been changed to surface parking and a multi-story parking garage.

I'm not surprised that it's gone; too complicated, too much liability, and a regular MLP garage seems more "acceptable" to patrons.

I know. No more u-park-it pigeon hole parking fun. What fun is left?

up148 wrote:A time gone past with uniformed attendants, free hot dogs and drinks and registered rest rooms. Who do you register you restroom with? I've seen some of these photos before, but not all....................and how about the fellow filling up with 10% Gasohol. A little before it's time I'd say.

http://hipspics.freewebspace.com/gas/gas.html

BH

I remember many places as shown. To bad economics killed them.
I noticed the Gasohol photo was from Nebraska. I recall seeing it in Nebraska and Kansas in the late 1950s.
My car still ran the same.
There also were stations that sold "reconstituted" gasoline and oil. It was recommended for farm use and I
don't think had any state tax.

As I understand it, AMOCO was always "white gas", which was gasohol. So, no change, when all the sudden gasohol became all the rage.

webenda wrote:

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:

webenda wrote:My F-150 got parked in one in Albuquerque, NM in 1996.
When my wife and I wanted to go out to dinner there was no one around to go get the vehicle. So I asked where the parking lot was and walked two blocks to retrieve it. It was the first time I had ever seen such a parking contraption and the transfer table was way at the top. The elevator for people was pegs on a chain. Kinda reminded me of some ski lifts. I moved the transfer table over to my truck, drove it onto the transfer table and let it down. Then I put the transfer table back at the top and rode the pegs back down.

I just looked on Google Earth and the location has been changed to surface parking and a multi-story parking garage.

I'm not surprised that it's gone; too complicated, too much liability, and a regular MLP garage seems more "acceptable" to patrons.

I know. No more u-park-it pigeon hole parking fun. What fun is left?

Try some of the under the building parking in DC. It's an adventure and exercise in insanity at times when you're in the 3rd or 4th level down looking for a spot while trying to figure out how to just navigate around.

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:
Try some of the under the building parking in DC. It's an adventure and exercise in insanity at times when you're in the 3rd or 4th level down looking for a spot while trying to figure out how to just navigate around.

Just part of the privilege of being in the big city.

So what does the future hold in store for us ? I can see the day coming when you won't be driving in the big cities. You will park your car outside the city and be transported to your destination by a self driving electric car. When you are ready to leave you will use your smart phone to have another self driving car pick you up and return you to your car.

HONDO74 wrote:

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:
Try some of the under the building parking in DC. It's an adventure and exercise in insanity at times when you're in the 3rd or 4th level down looking for a spot while trying to figure out how to just navigate around.

Just part of the privilege of being in the big city.

I avoid driving in DC at all costs! Insane place and w/o an up to date GPS, you will get lost....

So what does the future hold in store for us ? I can see the day coming when you won't be driving in the big cities. You will park your car outside the city and be transported to your destination by a self driving electric car. When you are ready to leave you will use your smart phone to have another self driving car pick you up and return you to your car.

Sort of have that already - it's called the Metro system. You park outside the city and ride into town to your stop in an electric train car, and then take it back out on a set schedule.

Last thing we need are more cars, although taking the driving out the hands of folks that can't outwit a stump would be an improvement.