Been there, done that. But it usually works out in the end, and you find a girl that tolerates the trains. He'll be back.

One thing I am rather impressed by is the group's fundraising ability; over halfway to $15k:
https://www.gofundme.com/mckeencarcuyamaca
If the main guy is really 16 or so he sure has a handle on fundraising, I know established groups that have trouble raising that much for high profile projects.

Hello everyone, I'm Madison Kirkman, The Founder of the McKeen Motor Car Company Historical Society, admin of McKeenCar.com and of the three Facebook pages you all have posted about on here.

I'm wondering how many of you just instantly regretted writing what you did, personally I find it more funny than anything, so don't worry. As for the Facebook pages, I have not updated the Cuyamaca Car F.B. page as the move has been stagnant, up until the last few weeks, when I've been able to raise about $3000, which includes a $2500 donation I received yesterday. Thank you for pointing out that I haven't done much with the page, I have been posting more on the main McKeen page because I have about 570 likes on that page compared to about 110 on the Cuyamaca Page. As for the S.U.#100, that is also my page yes, I started it, but the project, and page is mostly run by the actual corporation preforming the restoration on the car. They have not posted much on the project, and I am not a direct executive of their project, even though I have worked beside them with the historical analysis of the car, and currently, the reconstruction of the car.

Life has been busy, I am now 17, and I do have a girlfriend. Not only does she tolerate it, but her mother and father both like me, and are interested in my project as well. Being the head of the group, I have to keep up the website, http://www.McKeenCar.com, I have to keep up the main Facebook page, reply to emails, work on the quotes to move the Cuyamaca car down here, finish school work, have a small social life, eat, sleep, shower, complete graphic design work for a local realtor, and in my spare time (if I have any) work on 3-D drawings of McKeen Cars for the model train realm which has been wanting an O scale McKeen Car ever since MTH canceled production of their McKeen Car in 2010.

Thank you for brightening up my day, I really had a laugh reading all this, and I will try to fix my faults in the Facebook pages.

I intended no denigration, and I doubt anyone else did. We simply were noting how unusual the situation is.

No, I understand, I think it's funny/interesting to think about as well. I've always felt like an old soul, who knows, I may be a reincarnation of William McKeen, meant to be here to keep the legacy going.

The Kirkmans are good people. Keep it up Madison. I know how teenage life can get in the way of historical preservation efforts. Been there, done that. ;)

On a related note, for anyone looking to restore or rehabilitate an old kerosene railroad lantern in their collection (or any kerosene lantern for that matter), I'd suggest www.lanternnet.com

Cheers!

Mr. Black, I know, lots of life going on, and usually I take out from my sleep before anything to get stuff done, but thank you all for the support, it really helps get me through.

One question, how do you know about my family's lantern business? I am guessing because it's railroad related?

See the Private Message for full details, but my volunteer work at a local history museum got me interested in repairing and restoring antique kerosene lanterns. One thing led to another...

(Cue a certain song from a certain Disneyland Ride)

Now, do the folks that have the McKeen Cars have an Instruction Book for their operation? I seem to have blundered upon one (#139, 1912) in a dampened storage box, and it's now drying carefully in a dehumidifier......

I have been looking for an instruction book for a McKeen Car for a while now, how badly damaged is it? Please email me at Admin@McKeenCar.com.