Switcher Saturday: 2017-Mar-25

Good Morning, SWSAT!!!

Got to see these guys this week -  the Flats Industrial Railroad - Cleveland, Ohio.

SW1200 1202 and SW1500 1222

The viaduct on the right is the old west approach to Cleveland Union Terminal. The catenary bridges stretched over the tracks are the originals and can be seen in old photographs of the Terminal. Today the system is used by RTA's rapids.

Here's a back-in-the-day image of this area. The electrics were used to bring trains into the terminal. img: urbanohio.com

1222 is parked at the base of the FIRR's lift bridge over the Cuyahoga river.

That's the federal building behind 1222.

The Valley Railway is short on power this week so they have turned to their partners at the Akron Terminal Railroad for assistance. Here we see ABC 1501 delivering one of the Akron Terminal's MP15 locomotives to the Valley interchange track.

After dropping off Akron Terminal 104, the ABC will return to Barberton wth two recently emptied Morton Salt hoppers.

Here's a little gee-wiz trivia for you: The real ABC 1501 is an EMD SW1500, but not just any old SW1500, it is the oldest! It started life as EMDX 107 and was the first SW1500 built by EMD. 1501 is still in service today.

Time Line of  ABC 1501:

EMDX 7 > IU 200 > IU 23 > Conrail 9601 > ABB 1501 > ABC 1501

Yay! SWSat is on!

We are off to a great start this week. Thomas those Cleveland pics are great.

I took the week off work and did some projects around the house. I did find the time to do a bit of Railfanning the area as well. I found some switching in the South Bronx as well as some in South Brooklyn. I also found some interesting things regarding the last bit of Putnam Branch in Marble Hill. 

These are a Railking hi railer moving trash cars off Bruckner Blvd. It was really speeding around. 

These two are the old New York Cross Harbor/Brush Terminal  yard and engine house in Sunset Park  now the area is used by NJNY rail as a team track so it could qualify for Trumptrains Team track Tuesday. This is NJNY Rail last float operation in Sunset Park. I actually caught an EMD drilling the car float but my IPhone does not do distance well. The KLW was cold off to the side and they seemed to be using an EMD. They are without a rosters EMD so curious what it was. I'll post more later. I took pics of some historical stations for SIRT and some interesting Putnam stuff for MNCW/Tom. 

MA & PA #81 at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania yesterday. The museum is a great experience.

In case you missed it the first time:

https://ogrforum.com/t...toration-photographs

Mitch

1615 moving a recently acquired Marx caboose to the yard to await trucks.

and this week some NYC switchers

RSJB18 posted:

. . . The LIRR keeps two diesel switchers on either end of Jamaica Station for emergencies. These two engines don't have any other jobs to do. They are just parked at either end of the station on a short spur. The are idling and ready to go 24/7. The LIRR keeps them there in case a train stalls anywhere within the Jamaica block to move the train as quickly as possible and keep the tracks clear.  Probably the two loneliest switchers in the world.    Bob

Imagine what it is like for the crews of those two switchers.  (Surely, they have crews on duty and ready to go to work immediately if a train stalls.)

The loneliest switchers, with the loneliest, most bored, crews.  These jobs probably go to the most senior, or the least senior, crews.  What would you do if you were the Engineer or Conductor on one of these engines?  I would probably have every window squeaky clean, inside and out, the control stand and cab floor clean enough to eat off of, etc.  They'd find a worn-out broom on the engine every week. 

SWSAT on the Rio Grande switching layout. An SP switcher awaiting orders to move a SSW Hi cube only to be met with the red signal as a Rio Grande GP35 heads toward CWI.

K-Line's North Western MP-15 sitting at Marshalltown (Iowa) yard. 

Good morning fellow SWSAT friends!!  Wonderful photos and information!! Here are some photos of my B&O dockside at the water tank and on the team track in Patsburg on the Free State Junction Railway.  Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Happy Switcher Sataturday. SOU NW2 & SP&S switching at Shark Bay R.R.

I caught this yesterday, CN 4028 switching between Manitowoc's Lakeshore yard and main yard.

Here's some pics I took when I got the chance to ride along in number 3 at Kodak Park. These were used to move materials and coal throughout the park but their days may be numbered as the power plants are being converted to natural gas. Enjoy. The caboose is just because.

Number 90 posted:

RSJB18 posted:

. . . The LIRR keeps two diesel switchers on either end of Jamaica Station for emergencies. These two engines don't have any other jobs to do. They are just parked at either end of the station on a short spur. The are idling and ready to go 24/7. The LIRR keeps them there in case a train stalls anywhere within the Jamaica block to move the train as quickly as possible and keep the tracks clear.  Probably the two loneliest switchers in the world.    Bob

Imagine what it is like for the crews of those two switchers.  (Surely, they have crews on duty and ready to go to work immediately if a train stalls.)

The loneliest switchers, with the loneliest, most bored, crews.  These jobs probably go to the most senior, or the least senior, crews.  What would you do if you were the Engineer or Conductor on one of these engines?  I would probably have every window squeaky clean, inside and out, the control stand and cab floor clean enough to eat off of, etc.  They'd find a worn-out broom on the engine every week. 

As far as I know they are unmanned. I am sure there is a crew assigned to them each shift though.  I'm sure they are VERY well compensated for their "work" each day.

abbrail posted:

Good Morning, SWSAT!!!

Got to see these guys this week -  the Flats Industrial Railroad - Cleveland, Ohio.

SW1200 1202 and SW1500 1222

The viaduct on the right is the old west approach to Cleveland Union Terminal. The catenary bridges stretched over the tracks are the originals and can be seen in old photographs of the Terminal. Today the system is used by RTA's rapids.

Here's a back-in-the-day image of this area. The electrics were used to bring trains into the terminal. img: urbanohio.com

 

1222 is parked at the base of the FIRR's lift bridge over the Cuyahoga river.

That's the federal building behind 1222.

Brings back memories of taking the Shaker Rapid downtown in the fifties and sixties. Always anticipated what I would see on the tracks leading into CUT. Now I leave in the LA area near a UP (formerly SP) branch line but far less RR action to see here. Mostly Metrorail commuter trains. Thanks for posting!

RSJB18 posted:

Number 90 posted:

RSJB18 posted:

. . . The LIRR keeps two diesel switchers on either end of Jamaica Station for emergencies. These two engines don't have any other jobs to do. They are just parked at either end of the station on a short spur. The are idling and ready to go 24/7. The LIRR keeps them there in case a train stalls anywhere within the Jamaica block to move the train as quickly as possible and keep the tracks clear.  Probably the two loneliest switchers in the world.    Bob

Imagine what it is like for the crews of those two switchers.  (Surely, they have crews on duty and ready to go to work immediately if a train stalls.)

The loneliest switchers, with the loneliest, most bored, crews.  These jobs probably go to the most senior, or the least senior, crews.  What would you do if you were the Engineer or Conductor on one of these engines?  I would probably have every window squeaky clean, inside and out, the control stand and cab floor clean enough to eat off of, etc.  They'd find a worn-out broom on the engine every week. 

As far as I know they are unmanned. I am sure there is a crew assigned to them each shift though.  I'm sure they are VERY well compensated for their "work" each day.

"They also serve who only stand and wait." Undoubtedly their motto.

Marx NYC switcher shoving some PRR gons past the station.

Phil in Ohio

Up this week, a Rail King BNSF SW1500.  Enjoy the weekend everyone.

abbrail posted:

Good Morning, SWSAT!!!

Got to see these guys this week -  the Flats Industrial Railroad - Cleveland, Ohio.

SW1200 1202 and SW1500 1222

The viaduct on the right is the old west approach to Cleveland Union Terminal. The catenary bridges stretched over the tracks are the originals and can be seen in old photographs of the Terminal. Today the system is used by RTA's rapids.

Here's a back-in-the-day image of this area. The electrics were used to bring trains into the terminal. img: urbanohio.com

 

1222 is parked at the base of the FIRR's lift bridge over the Cuyahoga river.

That's the federal building behind 1222.

Quite an interesting adventure. 

The electrics were before my time by just a few years. One of the local TCA members (Don Speidel) was an engineer on those locos. We had a discussion last summer about them, specifically about the sounds. I am writing code for one of the electrics and wanted to know if they had a whistle or horn and whether the bell was hand pull or mechanical. Don told me that otherwise they ran almost silent. 

He also said that being an engineer on an electric passenger train was a suit and tie job; apparently quite prestigous. He was riding a train into NYC when the engineer came back to him and said come on up front; the next stop is where I live. Take this run into Grand Central. I'm going home!  What a thrill!

Back to CUT, they had their own unique dwarf signalling system. I've seen pictures of the interlocking table in the Terminal Tower. Remember at one time there were 28 tracks servicing the tower. 

Lou N

abbrail posted:

The Valley Railway is short on power this week so they have turned to their partners at the Akron Terminal Railroad for assistance. Here we see ABC 1501 delivering one of the Akron Terminal's MP15 locomotives to the Valley interchange track.

After dropping off Akron Terminal 104, the ABC will return to Barberton wth two recently emptied Morton Salt hoppers.

 

Here's a little gee-wiz trivia for you: The real ABC 1501 is an EMD SW1500, but not just any old SW1500, it is the oldest! It started life as EMDX 107 and was the first SW1500 built by EMD. 1501 is still in service today.

Time Line of  ABC 1501:

EMDX 7 > IU 200 > IU 23 > Conrail 9601 > ABB 1501 > ABC 1501

I see Akron's JO tower lives on!

Check Summit Tower in New Jersey!  Another tower built into the landscape. 

http://www.trainweb.org/rahway...ange_summittower.htm

Lou N

I saw those two LIRR switchers blasting eastbound through Massapequa on the Babylon Branch last week.  They were on either end of a single passenger car.  The paint on both was in horrible condition as RSJB18s picture clearly shows.

Since I had good luck with my PRR center cab switcher, I decided to give my Pennsy NW2 a similar treatment, and spent the afternoon with masking tape and yellow paint:

Going to have to work on the body railings once the paint dries completely, but overall, I'm pleased with the results!

Norma Bates Kitteh approves too!

Mitch

Many unique locos this week.  I couldn't like them all.  Nice shots guys.  

Happy Switcher Saturday everyone. I had to work again today, hopefully the last one for the foreseeable future. 

I took the easy way out and took a shot of my workbench. Anything switcher related can be found there (unless it is buried under something else)! 

Tom 

coach joe posted:

I saw those two LIRR switchers blasting eastbound through Massapequa on the Babylon Branch last week.  They were on either end of a single passenger car.  The paint on both was in horrible condition as RSJB18s picture clearly shows.

I would be nice if the LIRR maintained their rolling stock occasionally. 

Never seen an old MOW truck on the road though. They must replace their trucks every 5 years. They are always clean and shiny......But it's OK to let a humble switcher look like crap!

Lou N posted:

abbrail posted:

I see Akron's JO tower lives on!

Check Summit Tower in New Jersey!  Another tower built into the landscape. 

http://www.trainweb.org/rahway...ange_summittower.htm

Lou N

Lou,

With so many little railroads competing for track time on my loops, JO is just what's needed to maintain control!

JO looks rather plain compared to Summit Tower - very impressive.

Lou N posted:

abbrail posted:

Good Morning, SWSAT!!!

Got to see these guys this week -  the Flats Industrial Railroad - Cleveland, Ohio.

SW1200 1202 and SW1500 1222

The viaduct on the right is the old west approach to Cleveland Union Terminal. The catenary bridges stretched over the tracks are the originals and can be seen in old photographs of the Terminal. Today the system is used by RTA's rapids.

Here's a back-in-the-day image of this area. The electrics were used to bring trains into the terminal. img: urbanohio.com

 

1222 is parked at the base of the FIRR's lift bridge over the Cuyahoga river.

That's the federal building behind 1222.

Quite an interesting adventure. 

The electrics were before my time by just a few years. One of the local TCA members (Don Speidel) was an engineer on those locos. We had a discussion last summer about them, specifically about the sounds. I am writing code for one of the electrics and wanted to know if they had a whistle or horn and whether the bell was hand pull or mechanical. Don told me that otherwise they ran almost silent. 

He also said that being an engineer on an electric passenger train was a suit and tie job; apparently quite prestigous. He was riding a train into NYC when the engineer came back to him and said come on up front; the next stop is where I live. Take this run into Grand Central. I'm going home!  What a thrill!

Back to CUT, they had their own unique dwarf signalling system. I've seen pictures of the interlocking table in the Terminal Tower. Remember at one time there were 28 tracks servicing the tower. 

Lou N

I remember Don from TCA Meets at the UAW Hall in Parma for many years. I live in California now but remember all those meets fondly.  Good times.

Thanks everyone for another great Switcher Saturday, sorry I wasn't online but a quick peek this morning and I can see what a great day it was.

See you next week!

p.s.  I believe Tom @PRR8976 will be kicking off Switcher Saturday next week so I can sleep in, see you then!

Rich,

  Yes, I would be glad to handle that and hope you can actually sleep later.

  Note to all Switcher Saturday participants and viewers...Next Saturday is April 1st, so be prepared for some wacky stuff. 

Tom 

MNCW posted:

Rich,

  Yes, I would be glad to handle that and hope you can actually sleep later.

  Note to all Switcher Saturday participants and viewers...Next Saturday is April 1st, so be prepared for some wacky stuff. 

Tom 

UHHOHH SWSAT on April Fools Day......

Be afraid-be VERY afraid.....

I know I'm a day late....

Caught these guys one way to the grocery yesterday!!

Silver Lake posted:

Yay! SWSat is on!

We are off to a great start this week. Thomas those Cleveland pics are great.

I took the week off work and did some projects around the house. I did find the time to do a bit of Railfanning the area as well. I found some switching in the South Bronx as well as some in South Brooklyn. I also found some interesting things regarding the last bit of Putnam Branch in Marble Hill. 

These are a Railking hi railer moving trash cars off Bruckner Blvd. It was really speeding around. 

These two are the old New York Cross Harbor/Brush Terminal  yard and engine house in Sunset Park  now the area is used by NJNY rail as a team track so it could qualify for Trumptrains Team track Tuesday. This is NJNY Rail last float operation in Sunset Park. I actually caught an EMD drilling the car float but my IPhone does not do distance well. The KLW was cold off to the side and they seemed to be using an EMD. They are without a rosters EMD so curious what it was. I'll post more later. I took pics of some historical stations for SIRT and some interesting Putnam stuff for MNCW/Tom. 

Great photos Silver lake.  2 questions. What is that white stuff on the ground in several photos? And what type of caboose is the blue?

Haha Pennsynut. That white snowlike substance is snow.

The Caboose is an ex New Haven/B.E.D.T./ New York Cross Harbor RR NE-6. It has been the yard office there for years. There is a porch with a built in food grill on the far side. 

Andy/Silver Lake,

  Nice pictures as you explore more of New York. Thanks for sharing them. 

  Speaking of cabooses...I found a great website for railroad equipment that is either for sale or sold. 

Nice PRR caboose http://www.ozarkmountainrailca...-Caboose-477594-SOLD

Misc equipment all for sale: http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/index_rw.asp 

Hey Patrick, I think I noticed an ex B&O switcher for sale...

Tom