I know there has to be a dollar limit on field purchases, but it is some times pretty silly.
When the railroad tore out the shoe[fly to cut in the new US231 overpass, the back hoe starter failed. There it sat in the middle of the track--dead. A dealer service man determined it needed a new starter. He checked and it was in stock at the local dealer, but the price was 10 or 15 dollars over the limit.
It was after 4 pm and the person in Jacksonville had gone home for the day. The crew had the track until 6 pm. Trains were backing up and Amtrak was due in 5 hrs. It was getting dark and the temp. was falling. I knew my supper would soon be ready, so I went home without knowing the outcome.
I went back the next day and the overpass was cut in and the back hoe was gone
