Car Rental Stories

I have had some memorable car rental escapes.
(1)In 1976 we rented a car in Cincinnati and drove 1500 miles From Friday after work, until Sunday night, driving to Atlanta, then to Culpepper, VA and back on a weekend, chasing 4449 on the Southern.
(2) 1978, we were scouting Allegheny Grade on The C&O, driving down the Service road the day before the trip, some 10 miles, through tunnels, etc. Got to the bottom, and we got out to take a leak, and got back in the Pontiac firebird, and put it in gear and nothing. We had put a whole in the Transmission pan. Tow truck from Covington had to get us. Made it to Roanoke by mid-night to get a new car in a lightning storm. Didn't make it to Richmond for the start of that trip. What a night. Tow driver had a flat taking us back out the service road. Got a couple of nice pics on the grade the next day.
(3) In 1995 Les Jarrett and I rented a Dodge Minivan to shoot our big trip out west for a month. Rental company was mad that we put 9500 miles on their vehicle, cause it was now over 30,000 miles or something and they would get less for it. Hey, they never told us that when we got it!!!
(4) Wrecked 2 Budget vans in South Africa. One was my buddy who was driving and trying to find the hand-drawn map I made for him to meet me at the station. I was ridding the cab of a doubleheader 25NC's(two 4-8-4's), and we were to swap at a specific location. He never made it so I got to ride further and engineer dropped me off at the hotel later in Bethlehem. Had a new van there by 6 am the next day, so we could chase the same loco on a 7 am Saturday Only Passenger run. Bill got his cab ride that day!! " />
Not a rental car scenario, but we have bottomed out 3 different times on the C&TS over the years. My dad did it once near Sublette/Big Horn in 1971, and I did it at Osier in 1992. Each time required some repairs. In 1971 we had to stay for 3 days waiting on a part from Denver!!!
Greg