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Jeffrey's Trackside Diner, December 2018, from the Christmas City of Bethlehem Pennsylvania! Locked

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Posted by Track fiddler on Sunday, December 9, 2018 10:40 PM

My wife likes that good doctor show. I go in the other room and watch College football, Star Trek or something like that. The same thing when American Idol used to be on.

I didn't know the good doctor was driving around the Starsky and Hutch car.  Thanks Stephen, I may watch the good doctor with my wife after all(-D]

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Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, December 9, 2018 10:57 PM

Track fiddler
I lived two years in my youth driving around in a 66 Jaguar.

Track fiddler
That thing handled and cornered like a dream.

I learned to drive in a 1960 Jag XK150S. The 'S' also had a special meaning for that car too. It had a factory tuned (modified) head that added a fair bit of power. That car was fast! In fact, it would easily outrun any of the local 'muscle' cars either from a standing start or at top speed. IIRC the manual said the you had to be doing 80 mph before engaging the overdrive! Some drunk T boned the rear end and broke the differential. We couldn't afford to repair it. By then it was pretty clapped out anyhow.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

Bis
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Posted by Bis on Sunday, December 9, 2018 11:06 PM
Dave my wife would kill for a MG td, had a chance to get a basket case when we still lived in S. Ca., should have grabbed it. When we moved to Texas from .Ca. we sold off all most all of our fleet. I kept my 57 Chevy p.u., 327, Muncie 4 spd., and sold off a 63 Falcon, 73 Chevelle, 70 Chevelle with built 350, and the one I really regret was the 65 El Camino with a built 427, 400 trans and 12 bolt posie. I do miss going to cruise nights. Ken
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Posted by Track fiddler on Sunday, December 9, 2018 11:34 PM

I was saddened to hear about the T-bone Dave. I'm meeting the insurance adjuster about the T-bone on my truck tomorrow. I will get screwed on the compensation because it's not my insurance company. I will lick my wounds and move on. I'm going to cash out and get a new truck.

It's definitely the worst when a classic prized car gets wrecked..... Everything else is just a vessel to get from point A to point B. Accidents don't hurt so bad when your vehicle is not that special.

I hear you on that Jaguar Power. I don't ever remember breaking the tires loose. When we were just cruising,  the 66 ran so smooth and mellow and still had power at the same time. Always smooth, that's the only way I can describe it.... smooth.

When you stomped on that thing. It didn't break the tires loose, it gradually but very quickly jumped up and moved like a bat out of hell.

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Posted by hon30critter on Monday, December 10, 2018 12:13 AM

Track fiddler
When you stomped on that thing. It didn't break the tires loose, it gradually but very quickly jumped up and moved like a bat out of hell.

Was it a standard or automatic? The XK150S had no problem spinning the tires. In fact we wore them bald doing it. Couldn't afford tires either. It was a handful in the rain!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, December 10, 2018 6:16 AM

Heartland Division CB&Q
Speaking of hot dogs, an authentic Chicago style hot dog is outstanding . 

.

Garry,

.

I never had time to really get out and about while in Chicago to eat any of the places people suggested. However, I did find what looked like an authentic Chicago hot dog stand and enjoyed a Chicago style hot dog in Chicago.

.

Did you make it to Mel's in Tampa, on Busch BLVD, and try their version? I hope you are having fun un the Sunshine State. I am freezing in Atlanta this week.

.

.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, December 10, 2018 8:08 AM

Good morning, speaking of food..... two parties this past weekend.  One featured South African cuisine.  The host, a South African, cooks really good Thai, Indian and Pakistani. 

Thumbs Down on chicken liver peri peri, beef biltong (dry jerky with no taste) beef boerewors (sausage)  I've never been a fan of liver. Someone else brought venison heart/liver pate.  It also goes in the thumbs down category.

Thumbs Up chicken potjie, malva pudding

Smoked salmon was served at both parties.  I need to go the the gym today.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, December 10, 2018 8:46 AM

hon30critter

 

 
Track fiddler
When you stomped on that thing. It didn't break the tires loose, it gradually but very quickly jumped up and moved like a bat out of hell.

 

Was it a standard or automatic? The XK150S had no problem spinning the tires. In fact we wore them bald doing it. Couldn't afford tires either. It was a handful in the rain!

Dave

 

Automatic. I always thought the no spin thing was in the drive engineering. After what you described maybe not. It could have had something to do with the tires. That was a long time ago, maybe it had super Sticky's on it.

I'm kind of burning up my morning just sitting here waiting for the insurance adjuster over coffee. It's my only day off so I sure hope he gets here soon. 

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Monday, December 10, 2018 9:00 AM

Good Afternoon!

We had a sharp drop in temperatures last night, leaving the roads covered in black ice this morning - just in time when I had to do some business in the neighboring town! Adding insult to the misery, the option to take the train was not available, as the railroaders decided to go on a nationwide strike. So I had to drive or cancel the rather important appointment. I drove, but it took me nearly 2 hours for 10 miles!

Speaking of food, I bet our Brother Lion would love wildebeest biltong!

We had "tarte aux choux de Bruxelles" for lunch, that´s a kind of quiche with Brussel sprouts - delicious!

I am not much of a friend of fast food, but more of slow food. However, there was a time one could have said that the shrtest distance betwee two burger places is me Wink

Edit: TF - a Jag XK150S with automatic transmission? Egad, that´s like a bull without you know what!

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, December 10, 2018 10:32 AM

Tinplate Toddler

Edit: TF - a Jag XK150S with automatic transmission? Egad, that´s like a bull without you know what!

 

Egad.... that was a new one on me. I had to look it up. I still didn't know how to take that though.

My recollection of everything about that car is from a long time ago. The best I could tell from images on the internet it was a mk10 sedan. I do remember a larger engine was put in it when it was restored. Trust me it was fast.

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Posted by BroadwayLion on Monday, December 10, 2018 10:58 AM

 

LION in his native tunnel.  Turn not your back on the express train!

 

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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Posted by NeO6874 on Monday, December 10, 2018 11:05 AM

'afternoon fellas.  Had a bit of a crazy weekend (family stuff, christmas parties, etc.), so no time for learning my new electronic doodads for playing with trains Sad

 

Ulrich -- your road crews don't have grit / salt / brine to make things safer?

 

-Dan

Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Monday, December 10, 2018 11:15 AM

NeO6874
Ulrich -- your road crews don't have grit / salt / brine to make things safer?

Of course they do, but as every year, they are taken by surprise when winter actually strikes!

TF - to my knowledge, Egad is the equivalent to Dio Mio, O Boze, Mon Dieu, Mein Gott, God Almighty (that´s what the Brits say) or By Jove - an expression for a maybe not so pleasant surprise.

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Monday, December 10, 2018 12:39 PM

... and now, for something completely different!

Have you ever heard of the Isle of Man? This is an island in the Irish Sea, somewhere between GB and the Republic of Ireland. Known to bike lovers for the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, an infamous road race along the island´s narrow and winding roads. Known to railroad enthusiast as well, for the Isle of Man Railway, a 2 1/2 ft. narrow gauge line which once spun around the island with it´s unusual looking 2-4-0 Beyer-Peacock steamer, a trolley line called the Manx Electric Railway, a mountain railway going up the Snaefell Mountain, and, last but not least, a horse tram and a mine railway.

Quite a lot for not so a big island!

Enjoy!

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, December 10, 2018 2:35 PM

Egads, zounds and gadzooks.  Words I have never actually spoken or written, before today, but I can't remember not knowing them.  I learned them from either from comic books or old movies.  Four letter words have taken over popular culture and communication.

MR have a bunch of Woodland Scenics castings sitting in vinegar.  I'm thinking I should paint the crates and barrels that are supposed to wooden, the same color and then use washes to vary the color.

This is cute

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by hon30critter on Monday, December 10, 2018 2:58 PM

Tinplate Toddler
Edit: TF - a Jag XK150S with automatic transmission? Egad, that´s like a bull without you know what!

Hi Ulrich,

I think you got it backwards. I drove the XK150S and it was a standard with overdrive. TF drove a Mark X automatic. He mentions someone putting a larger engine into it when it was being restored. I have mixed feelings about that but Carol Shelby certainly did a great job of swapping engines with the AC Cobra!Thumbs Up

I'd take any of the three!Thumbs Up

Dave

 

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, December 10, 2018 5:43 PM

Evening

You know remembering all the specifics about a car that wasn't even mine 36-37 years ago is a bit cloudy. I just remember it was a lot of fun to drive and I was lucky enough to have that experience. The only person I would allow to drive my 69 mach 1 is my brother in law that rebuilt it. I was lucky to have a friend with a 66 Jag that trusted me like that.

Today wasn't one of the best day offs. The insurance adjuster That was supposed to show up in the morning ended up showing up at 1:00 wasting half my day. The adjustment was about $1,000 short, I figured that.  Our excitement about going to Hawaii to see our friends for Christmas came to a screeching halt as Judy could not get the extra time off of work with such short noticeSad Maybe some other time with some planning. With the expense of Christmas alone, an added trip like that would have really tipped the scale anyway.

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Posted by howmus on Monday, December 10, 2018 7:03 PM

Evenin' Folks!

I had a busy weekend at the RIT Train Show.  We had our usual tables for a Modeler's Corner and also two tables  for the Central NY Division to advertise next year's Convention that they are doing for the Region.  They also brought an Inglenook switching puzzle layout to let folks try out.  A lot of kids were solving it with no problem.  I think that is a great way to get young people interested in the hobby!  We had a lot of people interested in going to the convention, so we ended up with a long list of folks interested in signing up for a railpass (we let them know to sign up at a point where they would be under the railpass to go to the convention.  We get them there, we stand an excellent chance of them becoming a full member!

OK, let's continue our field trip to Steamtown in Scranton PA.  Tonight, how about we look at some of the exhibits you will find there.

Let's start off with something really impressive....  I love the shot I got of their Big Boy!  The sun was perfect to do some interesting effects!  She is one of the first things that catches your eye.

Ever wonder what the inside of a steam loco looks like and how it works?

You will find this old D.L.&W. coal car on a track near the turntable.

Varnish?

How about the inside of a Mail Car?

Speaking of Varnish?  My son seemed to enjoy being around these old train artifacts as well!

That's enough for tonight, I continue next time I drop in.

Have a good and safe one out there!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by Billwiz on Monday, December 10, 2018 7:17 PM

Our annual Polar Express and Craft Event was Saturday and it was a lot of fun.  The craft side said they had lower traffic but the train and food side was packed all day.  We had most sizes represented, G, O, HO, N, Z, Lego and wooden.  Lots of fun talking to people about trains and one guy kept coming back and just looking at them.  He's about to pull the old HO trains from the attic!  

One woman approached me a few days ago saying she just wanted to see her husband's HO run again.  I told her to bring it and I'd put it on the track.  Ran beautifully and made her very happy.  

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Posted by moelarrycurly4 on Monday, December 10, 2018 8:27 PM

Evening all. 

 

Not much going on, MRs MLC has a fitbit blaze that the battery went bad on. Thery say you cannot repair them. Don't ever tell me you cannot repair something. I found a replacement battery on line. took it apart and swapped batteries. it is charging up now. It has those stupid security bit screws on the back, two of them had stripped the head. I had to make grooves so I could get a flathead on the screws and get them out. 

 TF: I did use my parents heated garage but no car lift. The clutch release was the quickest thing as it was 2 bolts and push in and twist ( bayonet socket) The motor mounts are not too bad once you learn what needs to come off the drivers side to get to the transmission mounts. ( air intake, battery, battery tray, wheel,  wheel well splashguard, etc.) Since I have replaced these before I even knew what sized sockets to use. Drives like a new car. Next is tie rod ends. 

 

Nice snowman video. 

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Posted by NWP SWP on Monday, December 10, 2018 8:42 PM

Hi all,

TF, yeah the Torino is actually the good doctors roommates car, but she let's him drive it now that he has a license (he's autistic).

I'm soon going to have a garage/workshop space soon (it's a long story) anyways I'm going to start working in my Mustang, uf I post some pics of my stang could you guys perhaps tell me where to start I have no idea! I can use all the help I can get!

I'm going to add some fender flares for sure, just look at these babies!

 

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by CNCharlie on Monday, December 10, 2018 8:55 PM

Good Evening,

Just got back from visiting friends in Thief River Falls. Had a nice time and good trip as the roads were bare. I got to enjoy my 2 new front tires. 

I have 2 new front tires because I put a hole in the sidewall of one last week and naturally they don't make that tire anymore so I had to get 2 so the load/speed ratings matched. I hit the same spot on the front steps coming into our garage as I did at this time year which required replacing a tire. This time they were no longer on warranty so I had to pay. Those tires were quite expensive at $295 each. Remember that is Canadian dollars. Oh well. 

Dave, I have an original sales brochure for the Jaguar 150 that I've had since about 1959. According to it the 150S option had a different head with 3 SU carburetters ( that's the spelling used ). It put out 250h.p. with 240lb.ft. of torque. For its day it would have been quick. 

As far as power goes straight 6 twin cam engines are certainly smooth and as that is the configuration of the engine in my car I can say it with certainty. While it isn't a rocket off the line, passing on the highway is very quick. I had to pass a semi going down to TRF and a little push on the gas resulted in the tranny instantly dropping down a cog and we were off hitting about 80 by the time we passed the cab of the semi. 

Not much else is new here. 

Sure hope Ken gets his computer issues sorted as I miss his posts. 

Have a nice evening, 

CN Charlie

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Posted by hon30critter on Monday, December 10, 2018 9:59 PM

CNCharlie
the 150S option had a different head with 3 SU carburetters

I remember the triple carbs. They were huge by comparison to those on the '68 MGB that I bought in 1975. Getting them all sync'd was a bit of an exercise. We used a 'Uni-Syn'. How many of you know what that is?

Ironically, the carbs were one of the few things that we kept after the car got smashed up. I sold them a few years later for quite a sum to a fellow who was building a Lotus Super 7.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Monday, December 10, 2018 10:20 PM

Good evening all.

Chloe - A hot cocoa with a candy-cane stir stick please. Thanks. (Mint hot cocoa anyone?)

Ken - If you can read the forums, try to clear your browser cookies. That's what got me back in.

Ed - Hopefully I didn't wake you when I went by shouting hi like a fool! Laugh

Health front - Trying a different asthma med, again. Still not where I like it to be.

Grandpa - Good news, bad news type deal here. Good news is they sent him home from the hospital. Bad news is, they stopped treatments. Quite abruptly 

W*^k - Got a surprise shipment of 10 snow blowers today... Have storage room for about 3 of them... The roof is looking like a nice option, if I can figure out how to get them up there...

Car - My vehicles have always been more sensible than a sports car. I've had a Cavalier, a Taurus, and now an Escape. The most "fun" to drive, was the Cavalier, as it was light enough that it easy to "drift" in, although most times you were not really trying to drift when it did anyways! But when you wanted to, it was fun! In the winter time however.... That got interesting in a hurry!

Only ever lost it once though, after hitting a ice patch in a curve, during a snow storm. I attempted to gather it back up, but decided the field looked softer than the oncoming car. Snow went flying everywhere, but I ended up with not even a scratch on me or my car. Took 30 minutes for a tow truck to dig me out, but with no damage, I think I made out well. (I fully expected damage from the sheer cold and the snow bank, but punched a nice hole right through it without a single mark on the car. Powder style snow is good for something besides ski season!)

The only other time I have ever ended up off the road, was in my Taurus, where I was forced off by some idiot who thought 4-wheel drive made him Mario Andretti during a different snow storm. He soon found out very differently, and again, I figured that the snow bank would do less damage than his truck would. (It ripped the front valence under the bumper cover off on one side, but really did nothing else.) 

The Escape I have now, is a tank during snowy weather, but I still take my time, as while it has all wheel drive, I still can't stop any quicker in bad conditions than anyone else.

However, said Escape needs a new alternator, and on those, you need to drop the front axle, pull out the battery and battery tray, then fish it through the firewall while not breaking anything else! (And, it helps if you are not only ambidextrous, but also a contortionist who doesn't mind standing on your head!) And, sometimes, even that does not get it in the right spot!

Hope all are well, and all enjoy the evening!

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

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Posted by hon30critter on Monday, December 10, 2018 11:30 PM

I just saw the weather that the southeastern United States are getting! Nasty!!Thumbs Down Some places have had their normal annual snowfall in just one day. That sort of weather would shut us (Ontario) down too!

I hope everyone who is affected gets through the storms okay.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 12:00 AM

Good Morning Folks.

ricktrains4824
Ed - Hopefully I didn't wake you when I went by shouting hi like a fool! 

Naw, I was up. I tried to flag you down for a cup of coffee but you were making tracks! Maybe next time?

 

hon30critter
That sort of weather would shut us (Ontario) down too! I hope everyone who is affected gets through the storms okay.

 

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/12/09-winter-storm-leads-to-amtrak-cancellations-in-southeast

I remember the days when a bad snow storm was the reason the traveler went to the railroad for "Dependability, comfort and speed" Not so much anymore. 

Time for some Rotary action on Donner Pass:


Stay warm, everyone. I talked to CudaKen the other day and mentioned clearing his browser cache and cookies. Looks like he hasn't done that yet.

Mr. Otte, do you have any advice for Ken?

My list of "First Cars"  — 1961 Checker Marathon with 3-on-the-tree and a Continental Inline six (226 CID), 1959 Fleetwood Sixty Special, 1966 Volkswagen, 1964 Corvair. IT had twin carburetors! Laugh

There were true muscle cars. It took some real muscle to push them off the road.

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 2:30 AM

JaBear can't log in so he asked me to post this:

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 3:02 AM

Good Morning!

Another icy cold, but bright day - just the way I like my Winter!

I hope Kent and the Bear solve their login issues - I miss their posts!

My list of cars?

  • 1971 Renault R 6
  • 1971 VW 1302L
  • 1976 VW Passat 1600L (known as "Dasher" in the US)
  • 1971 Mercedes 200D
  • 1981 Toyota Celica LT (stolen)
  • 1981 Renault R 9 (wrecked by truck)
  • 1981 Mercedes 250*
  • 1992 Mercedes 190D*
  • 1994 BMW 520*
  • 1997 BMW 730D*
  • 2000 Mercedes S350*
  • 2001 Porsche Carrera Turbo S (my private midlife-crisis car)
  • 2004 VW Touareg*
  • 2008 Nissan Micra
  • 2013 VW up!

Those cars marked with a "*" were company cars.

Quite a list! Some of the cars never made it to the North American market, but I can tell you didn´t miss a thing. Those Renaults were pretty bad in those days, but dead cheap, which made them attractive for people with  a small budget. However, repairs were outrageously expensive - and frequent!

Thanks for the snow vids - here is another one, showing snow clearing on the Bernina line in Switzerland in the 1930s.

Enjoy!

 

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by NeO6874 on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 6:19 AM

Tinplate Toddler
neo6874
Ulrich -- your road crews don't have grit / salt / brine to make things safer?
Of course they do, but as every year, they are taken by surprise when winter actually strikes!

You and Petra would feel right at home in CLE then (although it's usually the drivers, and not ODOT that are surprised about "winter").

 

-Dan

Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site

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Posted by NeO6874 on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 6:53 AM

howmus
Ever wonder what the inside of a steam loco looks like and how it works?

Cool pic, although it's *far* too clean.  I was a walking prop65 warning for two days after cutting out the tubes and flues to prep one for a rebuild ... and that was even with taking precautions (3m / tyvek bunny-suit, respirator, goggles, facemask, ducktape all the seams...).

-Dan

Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site

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