I Banked a Check Today!

[M636C]

On Monday night, I found a check in the mail! In this country, we normally spell this "cheque", but this one said "check" on it! It was from Kalmbach, payment for a really small contribution, an answer to an "Ask Trains" question about engine power and cylinder firing pressure in the EMD 710 engine in the SD70ACe. So if you're interested, keep an eye out for it (it won't be big!)

Anyway, the check was for $25 (US Funds). So next day, at lunch time, I casually strolled down to my bank, wandered up to the enquiry counter, and asked what I had to do to bank it. "Please come back tomorrow!" I was told, "All of our computers are down and we can't even calculate the exchange rate!"
So I wandered down to the tracks and checked out the motive power on the oil train (G26Cs X52 and X51) and went back to work.

Today I tried again at lunchtime, and the Sasser Worm had gone. Dougal, if you are understandably unhappy about your Sasser problems, imagine if you were the IT manager of Australia's second largest bank, unable to conduct business! I hope his retirement benefits are good!

Anyway the conversion rate is 0.73 US cents to one Australian dollar, which is equal to $(Australian) 33.92, but the conversion charge was $(Aust) 10.00, so I ended up with $(Aust) 23.92, a bit less than three quarters of what I was paid!

Still, it's the first money I've received from Kalmbach in forty years (I contributed two photographs in the early 1960s) and I'm really pleased!

While thinking of the 1960s, and while writing this, I watched a TV documentary about Senator Robert Kennedy. It started and ended with views from the funeral train in 1968.

I can clearly remember watching the funeral train on television (not live, of course - that wasn't possible then). The black PC GG-1s were suitably sombre for such a sad occasion for the whole country.

Peter

[Anonymous]

"Anyway the conversion rate is 0.73 US cents to one Australian dollar, which is equal to $(Australian) 33.92, but the conversion charge was $(Aust) 10.00, so I ended up with $(Aust) 23.92, a bit less than three quarters of what I was paid!"

you received roughly 1.37 australian for each usa. several years back you would have received 2.00 aus'la for every usa. you have just been victimized by the weakening u.s. dollar in post 911. imagine how rupert murdock and the australian wheat board feel when they take a u$d check to the bank.
next time send the check back to kalmbach and ask for a subscription credit. then you'll avoid the handling fee that the bank chipped off and you'll be matching currency origin with origin of goods received. $10 isn't much anymore, but it is lunch money.

[Modelcar]

....That sounds like a terrible exchange rate fee for the 25 dollar check...[cheque]. Was that a minimum charge you had to pay...? cbt141 does seem to have a good idea of the subscription.

[Anonymous]

"....That sounds like a terrible exchange rate fee for the 25 dollar check...[cheque]. Was that a minimum charge you had to pay...? "

remember no matter how much they weep and complain, banks and insurance companies own everything that was ever built taller than five stories. they earn it one petty larceny at a time.

[dharmon]

But more importantly Peter, how many Coopers will that buy?

[Anonymous]

You got a check?? What was the rubber content??

LOL...just kidding...

Will it buy a Foster's?

LC

[M636C]

Guys,

I'll check the local cost of beers and get back to you!

A subscription credit sounds like a good idea, and I'll try it if there is a next time.

For what it's worth, there was ten dollars worth of entertainment watching the bank clerk try to do the conversion (and these are the people I trust with my money?)

Peter

[UPTRAIN]

Cost of beers...yum...*(joke)*.

[Anonymous]

$10 conversion charge is brutal, banks are getting on my nerves.

Banks used to pay people decent money to save their money in savings accounts, and now banks are the biggest rip jobs out there.

Last month I had $3 in service charges and made ONE CENT in interest.

No wonder the banks make billions a year! [}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)]

[soapbox]
Ok, ok I'm getting down now.
[:(!]

[M636C]

Guys,

I've finally found my way to the liquor shop, to convert answers to "Trains" questions into useful small containers of alcoholic beverages.

Taking Dan's lead, I could get one six-pack of Coopers (Stout, Ale or Pale Ale) 375ml bottles, and one six-pack of Coopers Light (low alcohol beer).

If quantity is important, it seems that low alcohol beer carries a lower excise, and I could have bought a "slab" (24 x 375ml bottles) of Fosters Light, giving twice the quantity but not neccesarily the same effect per bottle.

Clearly, should any large number of you arrive, I'll have to rely on other income to provide adequate beer supplies!

Peter

[JoeKoh]

As the song says take the money and run!
stay safe
joe

[Anonymous]

(Peter) M636C

"I Banked a Check Today!"

I was just about to tell you to keep your hands of the people who inhabit Czechoslovakia..

But then I realized it said "banked"

your saved.
[:D] [:D]

[M636C]

Kevin,

It was Lord Maxwell who was described as a "Bouncing Czech", relating to his poor financial state.

There are two countries in that part of Europe now, The Czech Republic and Slovakia.

And there is nothing wrong with my spelling, even if it can be misread!

Peter

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C

Guys,

I've finally found my way to the liquor shop, to convert answers to "Trains" questions into useful small containers of alcoholic beverages.

Taking Dan's lead, I could get one six-pack of Coopers (Stout, Ale or Pale Ale) 375ml bottles, and one six-pack of Coopers Light (low alcohol beer).

If quantity is important, it seems that low alcohol beer carries a lower excise, and I could have bought a "slab" (24 x 375ml bottles) of Fosters Light, giving twice the quantity but not neccesarily the same effect per bottle.

Clearly, should any large number of you arrive, I'll have to rely on other income to provide adequate beer supplies!

Peter

hmmm this is bit of a conundrum.......fewer more powerful yet more expense beers (EMD) or more less expensive lower quality beers (GE)......hmmmm

Very tricky the way you came full circle back to trains............

[daveklepper]

We should all be so lucky! Dave Klepper

[M636C]

Dan,

I'm an EMD man myself (I've had shares in Clyde, now EDI, the EMD licensee for more than thirty years). So you can count on Coopers here, should you need a drink while in the area.

Peter

Peter