Here's a video of my Lionel NW2 in action pulling my first add on car, a post-war N&W covered hopper, a K line flat car with MOW equipment, and the caboose that came with my first electric train which Santa brought me in 1957.  

My MTH Premier model (20-3148-2) of New Haven #3400, a USRA 0-8-0 switcher with PS2 and scale wheels (no traction tires) ran with a short train on my 10’-by-5’ layout this week. The locomotive was listed in the 2005 Volume 1 Catalog at MSRP $599.95.

#3400 was one of thirty-five Y-3 class USRA 0-8-0 heavy switchers built by Alco for the New Haven Railroad between 1920 and 1923.

The train includes New Haven Dairy refrigerated milk car GICX300 and New Haven caboose C-665. I’ve searched for years without success for information about the milk car and dairy. I was contacted last week by forum member @Farmall-Joe who informed me of the dairy’s location on Hazel Street in New Haven on the “Canal Line” of the New Haven Railroad, so I visited the site this week. Although the dairy has been gone for a long time, a few rails still remain there on the roadbed of the Canal Line which originated as the 78-mile Farmington Canal in 1822 and was later filled-in to become the New Haven & Northampton Railroad before being absorbed by the NYNH&HRR in 1887. Milk was delivered to the dairy from Amston, Connecticut via the New Haven’s Air-Line and Canal Line. On my layout, the milk car is hauled by #3400.

MELGAR

Early SwSat for me this week!  CN SW8 by MTH is moving a few 50’ cars.  These are the longest cars I can run w/o hitting a tree, building or light.

Have a great Saturday with your trains!

Happy SwSat to all.

A NYC Plymouth Switcher is making up a train.  Currently in the move are a United States Mail Railway Post Office Car and a Pullman coach.

Good morning SWSAT crew!

AC&Y Fairbanks-Morse H16-44 #202 (Lionel) has a short freight in tow as it passes through the village of Killbridge:

An operator inspects the train as it passes the tower at Killbridge Junction

The driver of this pick-up truck patiently waits as the FM pounds the grade crossing

A homeowner watches as the train passes his garden on its way out of town

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Tom

Here is a Lionel shell I mounted on a Williams NW2 shell. I don't remember the Bondo spot on the front I'll have to paint that.

Happy Switcher Saturday everyone! I’ll mix things up with our Boxcab heading into yard track #6 -

Hello SwSat people!  I had some new photos/videos prepared for today,  but - after seeing those classic Lionel NW2 switchers - I had to go back to the archives to show my Chesapeake and Ohio model no. 624.

I probably received this shifter for Christmas in 1954.  Like Patrick said it’s a great runner, so I’ve piled a lot of miles on it in seventy years.  The motor has required a couple of rebuilds in that time, but, hey, I have too!

No. 624 is seen passing a trio of Baltimore and Ohio Budd cars.  The RDC1 is a postwar Lionel model from 1957 and the RDC4s are modern Lionel reproductions.

John

Mel, you need this New Haven Dairy car!  It’s a Lionel model.

John

The first priority on the dispatched list for the PRR RS-27 #2412 is moving a newly restored boxcar for the M.O.W.

Gene

Happy SWSat!

I'll jump on the NW-2 bandwagon too. Actually planned to show this engine this week. Great minds think alike.

Mine is a newer model from Williams by Bachman. These are great runners, and since I wired the motors in series, it can get as close to a crawl as a conventional engine can.

The railroad recently picked up some new business. There is a scrap yard on the edge of town and the owner has been begging for rail service for years. The President looked at the potential revenue and decided to lay down the new spur line to service the facility.

The crew on PRR 8543 were dispatched to pick up the two gondolas that were dropped at the yard over night and run them out to the new customer.

After they returned from that run, a pair of refers were ready to head out to the interchange for pick up.

Have a great weekend!

Bob

@MELGAR posted:

The train includes New Haven Dairy refrigerated milk car GICX300 and New Haven caboose C-665. I’ve searched for years without success for information about the milk car and dairy. I was contacted last week by forum member @Farmall-Joe who informed me of the dairy’s location on Hazel Street in New Haven on the “Canal Line” of the New Haven Railroad, so I visited the site this week. Although the dairy has been gone for a long time, a few rails still remain there on the roadbed of the Canal Line which originated as the Farmington Canal in 1822 and was later filled-in to become the New Haven & Northampton Railroad before being absorbed by the NYNH&HRR. Milk was delivered to the dairy from Amston, Connecticut via the New Haven’s Canal Line and Air-Line. On my layout, the milk car is hauled by #3400.

MELGAR

Mel, that is so cool you took the time to visit that site. Thanks for sharing a quick history and pictures.

Gene

Greetings and salutations this cold Saturday morning! Feeling fortunate Enjoying Saturday switcher once again. Patrick thanks for the Lionel 616 start! It’s a beauty and your first loco! Awesome story.
616 Question:might anyone know if the 616 shell can be adaptable to a 624 mechanism without too much modification?

Mel, your visit to Hazel Street is interesting. I particularly like the Farmington Canal Emblem shown in your photo. There is a farming plow representing the historic hard work accompanied by the covered canal scow. Magnificent period history. Fortunately the plaque is respected and in good shape.

Bob! I never get tired of looking at all the action on your pike! There’s life’s movement everywhere!

Tom Densel, trackside king! The videos are mesmerizing as usual. Village of Killbridge is a great spot to watch!

Steam Crazy, 70 years old 624’s  still going strong…I have a couple of them along with 623 and 6250! Classic switchers! My favorites. But temporarily retired to shelf queen position.

Strap Hanger! That LIRR boxcab is quite a sight on your layout. Thx for video!
I have one in scale that does float job duty. Enclosed a short demonstration of a model that I brought back to life!

David Ripp, thumbs up on the Way of the Zephyrs shell transfer! I have a 624 power unit looking for the adaptation of a 616 shell when I find one!

Pennsyfan! That little Plymouth walks away with those Pullman’s! Serious muscle!

Have a great day everyone. And thanks for your posts.

My other two PW NW-2's.

True classic #623

This is a PWC remake with TMCC

Bob

@Genemed posted:

Mel, that is so cool you took the time to visit that site. Thanks for sharing a quick history and pictures.

Gene

Agreed!

Peter

Some PostWar switchers working Peddler Freights.......

Have a great and safe week, folks!

Peter

Great stuff, everyone. I was really impressed with the horns on Tom’s FM and Gene’s RS27. The reverb effect was riveting. Listened several times. Bet they’re Lionel models.

RK PS2 (5v) Reading SW1500

This was my first experience with a 5v board blowing up. Thanks to Jim Sutter’s (of Homer City) intercession, it was fixed by MTH at no cost to me. MTH’s Repair Dept. was initially very resistant to this. Nonetheless, it went swimming in Sandy shortly thereafter☹️☹️☹️

MTH PS2 NY Central GP7:

Here it is running on DCS hauling Lionel NY Central Madison Heavyweights:

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Great stuff, everyone. I was really impressed with the horns on Tom’s FM and Gene’s RS27. The reverb effect was riveting. Listened several times. Bet they’re Lionel models.

Mark, yes it’s a Lionel custom run from Mr. Muffins.

Gene

Arnold! I think you should have active ultrasonic  nebulizer  misters installed in your GP7.   Holy smokes! lol.

i spotted the covered Scow in your canal. Is that a new addition?

hope all is well w you and family.

@MELGAR posted:

My MTH Premier model (20-3148-2) of New Haven #3400, a USRA 0-8-0 switcher with PS2 and scale wheels (no traction tires) ran with a short train on my 10’-by-5’ layout this week. The locomotive was listed in the 2005 Volume 1 Catalog at MSRP $599.95.

#3400 was one of thirty-five Y-3 class USRA 0-8-0 heavy switchers built by Alco for the New Haven Railroad between 1920 and 1923.

The train includes New Haven Dairy refrigerated milk car GICX300 and New Haven caboose C-665. I’ve searched for years without success for information about the milk car and dairy. I was contacted last week by forum member @Farmall-Joe who informed me of the dairy’s location on Hazel Street in New Haven on the “Canal Line” of the New Haven Railroad, so I visited the site this week. Although the dairy has been gone for a long time, a few rails still remain there on the roadbed of the Canal Line which originated as the 78-mile Farmington Canal in 1822 and was later filled-in to become the New Haven & Northampton Railroad before being absorbed by the NYNH&HRR in 1887. Milk was delivered to the dairy from Amston, Connecticut via the New Haven’s Air-Line and Canal Line. On my layout, the milk car is hauled by #3400.

MELGAR

Now, -this- needs to be modeled on your layout.

A 2-foot diameter tree in the gauge of the rails indicates some serious MOW scheduling problems.

A trusty classic Post-war Lionel NW-2 Switcher in hard nosed black Santa Fe livery awaits track orders on the Shenandoah Short Line.

WOW!!  You all are amazing!  Such wonderful contributions by all of you!!!  AND by all means do keep posting.   Here are some late night videos of switcher action in Patsburg.  The bottom video was taken by me at York ... It's a Coors Brewery switcher running on Brian Inche's display.  Brian is a fabulous professional layout builder and I think you'll agree that his work is superb!

'' Remember to remind your switch crews to set their clocks ahead one hour tonight!   

@Leroof posted:

.

Strap Hanger! That LIRR boxcab is quite a sight on your layout. Thx for video!
I have one in scale that does float job duty. Enclosed a short demonstration of a model that I brought back to life!

That’s a beauty, Leroof! Thanks for sharing your video.

@trumpettrain posted:

WOW!!  You all are amazing!  Such wonderful contributions by all of you!!!  AND by all means do keep posting.   Here are some late night videos of switcher action in Patsburg.  The bottom video was taken by me at York ... It's a Coors Brewery switcher running on Brian Inche's display.  Brian is a fabulous professional layout builder and I think you'll agree that his work is superb!

'' Remember to remind your switch crews to set their clocks ahead one hour tonight!   

Love the foliage on the layout in the video above. Arnold

@Leroof posted:

Arnold! I think you should have active ultrasonic  nebulizer  misters installed in your GP7.   Holy smokes! lol.

i spotted the covered Scow in your canal. Is that a new addition?

hope all is well w you and family.

No, it’s been there a while. Everything is fine and wish the same for you and your family, Leroof. Arnold