Mulligan's Excavating

[DaveInTheHat]

Everybody knows the story of "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" and how Mary Anne got stuck in the cellar of the Popperville town hall. Not too many people know what happened 75 years later when the town of Popperville built a new town hall. The old building was scheduled for demolition and the town was going to sell Mary Anne for scrap. Hearing this Mike Mulligan's grandson, Bill set out to rescue Mary Anne. After a long legal battle which included corrupt town officials, scandals, kickbacks, and numerous other things the court decided that the town had no legal rights to Mary Anne. Since Mike Mulligan was never paid for the work that he did in 1939 the judge ordered that Bill Mulligan was to be compensated for the work done with interest.  So, with the Mulligan family having ownership of Mary Anne a salvage operation was started. With the help of Earl Schmutz and the guys from Davetown Salvage Mary Anne was finally removed form the cellar and seen in the daylight for the first time in 75 years. She was taken to a undisclosed location where the restoration was done by Ed Wertz and his team of mechanics from the Davetown Speed Shop. Mary Anne is now on display for everyone to see in front of Mulligan's Excavating. The only time she works now is the occasional parade or steam show.














Pictures of the entire build are here: http://public.fotki.com/DaveInTheHat/davetown/mulligans-excavating-/

Slideshow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkqdLmYwlsA

[BandOGuy]

Love it!
But, corruption and dishonesty in politics? Even at the local level?
You're kidding us, right? 

[ACL1504]

Great story there Dave. Politics and honesty is an oxymoron like jumbo shrimp.

Tom

[donatode]

Great story there Dave. Politics and honesty is an oxymoron like jumbo shrimp.

Tom

Loved the build AND the story Dave.  "Politics and honesty" is an oxymoron because MOST (if not all) politicians are morons. [size=78%] [/size]

[tom.boyd.125]

 Well done slideshow showing the building and painting of the Erie shovel, the dump truck, DPM garage, the scratch built addition, and the rest of the completed diorama. This story is great ! How can I not respond to your thread.
Tom
1979-1985 Park Commisioner
State of Illinois - Stickney Township

[GPdemayo]

Great scene & story Dave. 

[LongHornCaddy]

Nice job!

[Slim Jerkins]

Neat and square!

loved that story - great job!

-slim

[S&S RR]

Great thread and story! Thanks for sharing it!

[bparrish]

Dave...

I built one of those steam buckets some years ago and put it on a flat car lest the track wheels.

I set it out as a right of way ditcher.

It's a really fun model.

see ya
Bob

[DaveInTheHat]

Thanks for all the positive feedback.

[postalkarl]

Hi Dave:

Very nicely done.

Karl