New York Central SW8 diesel switcher #9620 is an Atlas O model (6105-2) delivered in 2001 at MSRP $349.95. It has a highly detailed diecast shell and a smooth-running mechanism with a single horizontal motor and two flywheels. However, the sounds on my model are substandard.

New York Central SW8 #9620 (NYC Class DES-18) was built in February 1953 and eventually went to Penn Central and Conrail. It had an 8-cylinder 800 horsepower GM 567B diesel engine and maximum speed of 65 miles-per-hour. New York Central data shows a continuous tractive effort of 31,200 pounds at 7 miles-per-hour which is equivalent to 581 horsepower at the rails. Other sources say 57,000 pounds starting tractive effort. Weight was 230,000 pounds.

I ran the engine this week on both of my layouts.

MELGAR

Here are switcher pics from York. Enjoy!

Berwyn Toys and Trains had a nice selection!   Check out these 0-6-0s!  

This RS3 was only $125 with no box.  I believe it was an MTH Railking.

A Frosty The Snowman 0-8-0 !

Mr. Muffin had a very nice selection of switchers!

@trumpettrain Thanks for getting the switchers moving today, Pat!
Now I don’t feel so bad picking up the AHM Western Maryland reefer out of the dollar box at a table in the Red hall on Thursday. You wouldn’t have seen it anyway.

https://ogrforum.com/topic/307...9#186129110000067399

For today I have a NYC Plymouth Switcher moving two milk reefers from the ice house to the passenger car ready tracks.

Thanks, Patrick, for getting Switcher Saturday off to another great start, and thanks to all who have contributed to it so far,

My contribution is an early MTH Conrail diesel road switcher, without Protosounds, so it only has a horn, Here it is hauling freight and an MTH Conrail caboose on my layout:

This MTH Conrail diesel switcher and caboose were part of a set that was very reasonably priced, maybe $300 for the whole set. The switcher has sure stood the test of time providing trouble free reliable operation for about 25 years. Also, the fact that it lacks Protosounds is not a negative for me because I have plenty of PS 1, 2 and 3 locomotives, and I like to run quiet trains for a change. My wife also appreciates my quiet trains when I run them while she is sleeping. LOL, Arnold

Arnold

A New Haven RS-3 pulls an all NYO&W consist as it heads out of Scranton PA on the NYO&W portion of my layout

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YB1NCSj6Ecet6QVK9

It’s a great start to this switcher Saturday!  Thanks for kicking things off again and sharing those pics from York, Patrick. Here is my little MTH boxcab working on the layout -

This little beauty was just sitting on a shelf at ready to roll trains in Miami a number of years back, having just been returned by someone because of a slight imperfection that was easily rectified once I got her home. The owner let me have her for a great price, although not as good as some of the steals Patrick found at York. It was one of those right place at the right time situations to that enabled me to pick up a nice little switcher.

TALES OF THE DOCKSIDER

Good morning, SwSat Nation!  Patrick, I don’t know how you resisted all those beautiful switchers at York.  You have more self control than me!

SwSat devotees that have participated in this topic for a while will probably remember a series of posts I made under the title above.  The subject was NYC shop switcher 0-6-0T no. X-8688 and her proud crew.  The crew took pride in having the best maintained locomotive in the Worcester, MA yards and particularly enjoyed retrieving disabled larger engines and hauling them back to the shop.  The crew of X-8688 are Joe Safetyvalvoni, engineer, Vasik Semaphorowski, fireman and Mick O’Depot, brakeman.

Here are a selection of photos from way back in the archives.

John

Happy SWSat!

Great finds at York Patrick! I'd have grabbed a switcher or two for good measure.

The Team Track is bustling these days. The annual Oktoberfest is this weekend and the RR has been busy delivering all of the "necessary" supplies.

First load in is from Matts Brewery. PRR #94 (K-line) is on the point bringing the loads in.

Next up is NYC 0-4-0t # 9998. These guys have the brats and knocks from the local meat packing plant.

Looks like it's going to be a great party!

Have a great weekend!

Let's Go Mets!

Bob

@Steam Crazy posted:

TALES OF THE DOCKSIDER

NYC shop switcher 0-6-0T no. X-8688 and her proud crew. The crew of X-8688 are Joe Safetyvalvoni, engineer, Vasik Semaphorowski, fireman and Mick O’Depot, brakeman.

John

@Steam Crazy,

John,

Instead of standing around and scratching their heads, why don't Safetyvalvoni, Semaphorowski and O’Depot get X-8688 back up and running again? In that last photo, they look like they still don't know what to do. There's a guy in the New Haven Yard who's ready to get up to Worcester and do the repair. Whaddaya say?

MELGAR

Caught SPS 6014 working on NS yesterday (Sorry I couldn't get the cab in the picture)

More carmover action with an empty flat.  I was hoping to have a nice video showing a load of condenser tubes being spotted but no such luck.

fyi, the whole schedule gets thrown off when the rail car mover gets a flat tire before it lands on the tracks!

MTH Burlington Northern.

MELGAR,

The crew of X-8688 take offense at your suggestion they are goofing off!  They are dedicated, proud, hard working railroaders! Everybody deserves a break!  They say “no thanks” to your offer of sending some nut job from New Haven, they’d rather do it themselves and get it done right!  They will definitely need to go to the cafe after work for a few cold ones!

John

Happy Switch Sat!

This RailKing 0-8-0 Switcher has seen its better days.

Its on the repair roster, but still looks good.

Take Care, Ray.

Purple, red, pink, gold, white, orange, green and yellow extend in every direction.  Yep, flowers galore in California’s Fall Mojave.  Please forgive older switcher photo--yesterday I splurged and have new/old locomotive on its way.  Hopefully, I can share my 0-4-0 next week.  Nice photos everyone.

Oh Oh...This looks like a "day of reckoning" in the yard.  Old Bill, the steam hostler who has been driving old #2295 for nearly 20 years is looking at her replacement and he doesn't like it one bit!  The road foreman of engines is telling Bill he will have to learn to use the new locomotive and re-qualify and Bill likes that even less!! Well Bill may finally retire and take #2295 to the scrap line as his last move, who knows.  Tense times these.

Best Wishes, Don

Wow, beautiful switcher’s everyone, and @trumpettrain , great pictures of so many switcher’s available at York, of course York is a super fun meet. We are on the road from San Francisco to Palm Springs today on our Journey home. But here’s a few pictures for today. Happy Railroading Everyone. (we rode the Royal Gorge RR)

Good evening SwSat fans,

The Pennsy had three classes of switchers.  Other classes, especially the H-class (2-8-0) , were used late in their life when they were no longer useful as line engines, but the true switchers were A-class (0-4-0), B-classs (0-6-0), and C-class (0-8-0).  In the late forties, Penny ran these:

A5

B6

C1

MTH, K-Line, Weaver

Oh wow gents!!! You all have done it again ... sharing your wonderful knowledge ...Capilot ... I learned from you the Pennsy classification of their switchers ... and MELGAR back stories on both the MTH model SW8 and the prototype.  Sharing your wonderful photos, videos and stories too! .... Courtesy of John ( Steam Crazy ) and MELGAR we had a bit of a feud between the New Haven crew and Worster crew which looks as if it's now resolved.   Pennsyfan - got to love those little Plymouths and great find with the WM reefer car ... I'm jealous!  JHZ563 - great video of the car mover!! ...  Leapin Larry - safe travels home and thanks for sharing those pics of the Royal Gorge power! ... Rustykamel - very artistic pic!!! ...  Don McErlean - Nice story!  I hope 2295 doesn't have to be scrapped after all so Bill can enjoy her for at least a few more years!  RayKay - got to love your B&M 0-8-0. May she receive her repairs soon and hopefully run a great as she looks! ...  RSJB18 - Bob it's great you're keeping the switchers busy on your team track!   That's going to be one heck of a great party!!  Lots of good eats and drinks!  ...  Dave Ripp - beautiful Burlington Northern you have there!! ... Straphanger - your LI boxcab looks and sounds terrific!!   One day I'll find a MTH Premier boxcab in B&O livery and hopefully like you, be in the right place at the right time for a great price!  You've inspired me!  ... Bill Park - WOW your layout is amazing!!  The NH RS3 looks great as does the NYO&W passenger train!  I love when switchers are at the point of passenger trains, especially RS 3s! ... Bill Teeple - what a beautiful Chessie System SW9 you have!! Great shot!!  ...  Arnold - That's a fine looking Conrail road switcher you have at the point of what looks to be a "Fossil Fuel Special" .. lol!   Great looking consist of tankers and coal hoppers!!  

Here's a video from the archives.  I took this one back in 2015 of two freight trains ( a Western Maryland & a B&O ) with switchers at the point.  The train on the left is pulled by a SW9 and the right a BL2 with a FA 2 as a second unit.   Back in 2015 I had not learned the correct way to hold my phone when taking videos  ... so please pardon the flaw.  

Thanks, Patrick for another smooth roll-out for SWSAT; I especially appreciate the York switcher photo essay. You folks that can attend don't know how good you have it living relatively close to the "action!"

Anyway, I thought I'd make my SWSAT Sunday supplement reflect the appreciation of ol' X-8688, our favorite 0-6-0 saddle tank. I'm featuring her with three early PW NYC gondolas from 1949-50:

The video above is also a "proof of concept" that shows her running considerably more smoothly at low voltage with the traction tires removed from the rear grooved wheelset and slipped over the smooth front wheelset which is driven by the motor. As I mentioned in a previous post, nearly every steamer has the tires on the motor driven axle(s) and this little gal really should have been no different.

I'm now debating whether to take the risk of swapping the grooved drivers onto the front geared axle and the smooth drivers onto the rearmost axle. I believe the axle ends have very fine "splines" and the ends have been "peened" to better retain the wheels. Since the wheel centers are zinc, I'll likely need to use red LocTite when reinstalling the wheels. I'll also make sure I have "back up" wheelsets before I attempt this, should I decide to.

Bill, you’re a brave man if you attempt that wheel swap.  Considering how well your engine runs I think it might not be worth the effort, unless you enjoy the challenge.

I ran my X-8688 so much I wore it  out.  It started running erratically - I suspect gear slippage - then stopped and started smoking, but not out the stack!  I removed the motor, now it’s a dummy I run with another engine.

John

Had some other views.