IT's Switcher Saturday 5/11/24 National Train Day Edition!!!

Lionel delivered its Lionchief Plus 2.0 model of Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal 0-6-0T steam switcher #15 (2032020) in 2020. It’s the smallest O gauge steam engine model in my collection. Its length is listed by Lionel as 8.5 inches. The engine is so small that it’s dwarfed in comparison to scenery and structures on the layout, and even boxcars.

Model Railroader Cyclopedia – Volume 1 – Steam Locomotives, by Linn H. Westcott, has a drawing on page 32 of a 1910 Alco 0-6-0T industrial steam switcher that appears to be the prototype for Lionel’s model. It shows a length of about 32 feet (8 inches in 1:48 O scale) over coupler faces with 44-inch driving-wheel diameter.

MELGAR

Today, May 11th 2024 is National Train Day.

Yesterday, May 10^th 2024 was the 155^th anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad and pounding of the Golden Spike at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory in 1869.

As Americans, railroaders, and model railroaders we should not forget this date.

Photos show my MTH Premier model (20-3237-2 with scale wheels) of Central Pacific #60, Jupiter, delivered in 2006, which met with Union Pacific #119 on that day.

MELGAR

This video shows an MTH PS1 Jersey Central FM Trainmaster switcher hauling oil tankers and a Lionel Jersey Central caboose:

Arnold

Nice start with great pics, everyone.  It’s track cleaning time on the subway lines (lots of grime in the subway) with my trusty little 44 tonner leading the way -

My PRR BEEP paying tribute this National Train Day with Rivarossi's HO-scale PRR GG1 #4902 in ARR livery:

This PRR ARR GG1 was released by Rivarossi in December 1970. Only one prototype, #4902, received this livery. She pulled the "Golden Spike Centennial Limited," returning from Ogden, UT, on its final leg from Baltimore to NYC possibly including the cabin Patrick shows above on "special assignment."

Happy SWSat!

Happy National Train Day!

Last week I finished up the upgrade of a Weaver RS-3 that I had recently purchased from Trainz. It's done in the original New York New Haven and Hartford paint which I really like. The bold Raymond Lowey New Haven scheme is great too but the original stands out for its colors and unique script lettering.
As I've mentioned on other threads, it arrived with a balky reversing board, so after a reasonable discount from Trainz, I decided to keep the engine and I upgraded it with a Lionchief board with bluetooth. The upgrade was easy to do and the cost of the board was comparable to a Dallee reversing board.
I now have a command control engine that can be operated with either the Lionchief App or the Universal remote.

I was surprised to find that the crew talk (which I usually hate for it's cringe-worthiness) actually is line, and region correct and calls out towns including Maybrook, Poughkeepsie, and  Hopewell Junction. Other than the engine number being incorrect, it's a home run as far as I'm concerned. I have considered changing the numbers on the shell but that will wait for another day.

# 560 was delivered to the New Haven in January 1952 and survived into the Penn Central era.

I added a cab interior, crew, and cab light as part of the upgrade as well.

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all the SWSat Mom's.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Happy SWSat!

Happy National Train Day!

Last week I finished up the upgrade of a Weaver RS-3 that I had recently purchased from Trainz. It's done in the original New York New Haven and Hartford paint which I really like. The bold Raymond Lowey New Haven scheme is great too but the original stands out for its colors and unique script lettering.
As I've mentioned on other threads, it arrived with a balky reversing board, so after a reasonable discount from Trainz, I decided to keep the engine and I upgraded it with a Lionchief board with bluetooth. The upgrade was easy to do and the cost of the board was comparable to a Dallee reversing board.
I now have a command control engine that can be operated with either the Lionchief App or the Universal remote.

I was surprised to find that the crew talk (which I usually hate for it's cringe-worthiness) actually is line, and region correct and calls out towns including Maybrook, Poughkeepsie, and  Hopewell Junction. Other than the engine number being incorrect, it's a home run as far as I'm concerned. I have considered changing the numbers on the shell but that will wait for another day.

# 560 was delivered to the New Haven in January 1952 and survived into the Penn Central era.

I added a cab interior, crew, and cab light as part of the upgrade as well.

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all the SWSat Mom's.

Bob

Outstanding work, Bob.  Love the crew talk sounds as well. I may give one of these upgrades a try as well based on your fantastic results.

Good morning, SwSat Nation!  You’ve heard of the juxtaposition of the moon and stars; now we have National Train Day and SwSat!  Is this why I have an urge to buy a new switcher?

I’m staying in a hotel this morning in Ogunquit, ME.  It’s beautiful here, but the hotel internet is so slow I can’t load any photos or videos.  I won’t be posting on StDaySun tomorrow either, but I can still look forward to viewing your great trains and layouts!

John

@Strap Hanger posted:

Outstanding work, Bob.  Love the crew talk sounds as well. I may give one of these upgrades a try as well based on your fantastic results.

I'm planning on doing more once I get some other projects off the bench.

Bob

@Steam Crazy posted:

Good morning, SwSat Nation!  You’ve heard of the juxtaposition of the moon and stars; now we have National Train Day and SwSat!  Is this why I have an urge to buy a new switcher?

I’m staying in a hotel this morning in Ogunquit, ME.  It’s beautiful here, but the hotel internet is so slow I can’t load any photos or videos.  I won’t be posting on StDaySun tomorrow either, but I can still look forward to viewing your great trains and layouts!

John

No worries John. Thanks for stopping by.

Bob

Great start Trumptrain nice looking trains all

Happy SWSAT on National Train Day.
Thanks for a great start @trumpettrain.
Here is a Lionel 8977 0-6-0, from 1989.

PRR B-6.  Henry and Ned were reassigned from their yard duties to run this  fire apparatus about 50 miles South to a warehouse fire near the coast. Ned is already talking about a fresh crab cake lunch.

@pennsyfan posted:

Happy SWSAT on National Train Day.
Thanks for a great start @trumpettrain.
Here is a Lionel 8977 0-6-0, from 1989.

PRR B-6.  Henry and Ned were reassigned from their yard duties to run this  fire apparatus about 50 miles South to a warehouse fire near the coast. Ned is already talking about a fresh crab cake lunch.

Bob, those tank cars are cool looking, did you make those yourself?

Gene

MTH PS-3.  Great runner and puller.

- walt

RI SW8 moving 2 bulkhead flatcars to be unloaded for the upcoming tractor show.

Gene

@Genemed posted:

Bob, those tank cars are cool looking, did you make those yourself?

Gene

Gene, thanks the credit goes to Maury Kline and his team.

My new MTH switcher from OGR sponsor EZ Catch Trains.

Good morning SWSAT crew!

Strasburg RR #90 and crew prepare for the day's operations:

While hardly a switcher, I thought the photo was appropriate considering it being National Train Day.  How often did daily meetings like this occur during the heyday of steam, whether it be at the side of a small 0-4-0 or a massive 4-8-8-4?

Have a great National Train Day!

Tom

Does part of a switcher count? I have a postwar 616 switcher that had a poorly performing pullmor. One lobe of the motor tested badly. I have rewound it and the video clip is the test after reassembling it.

Here are my two Lionel “General” adaptations for the Golden Spike event. Sold as a two-loco LionChief set in 2019 along with the separate sale commemorative boxcars. All very nice!
i was surprised that Lionel had not released the set by May; it arrived later in the year.

Railking

Happy Switcher Saturday on National Train day! I am running both of my RMT BEEPS in B&M livery.

Take Care, Ray

Happy National Train Day from four engineers at Disneyland, CA last Sunday!

.Well for my switcher today, I have selected the little Hornby M0 locomotive from 1930.  She was born of the Depression as Hornby, like most of the other manufacturers sought to bring out a line of more affordable toys for what were heavily restricted budgets.  This little 0-4-0 was the initial offering in the M0 line, it was 0 gauge but of a slightly smaller scale than the normal Hornby line (somewhat like Lionel's 0-27).  She is clockwork never had any drive rods  and came with 2 Pullman coaches as a set.  However today I am posting her in freight guise.

Here she is gamely pulling a short freight consist from 20 years later...the freight wagons are Mettoy (U.K.) from the 1950's.  She can handle this little train easily enough at least around my flat layout.  She is definitely modest, but in my imagination I can see that some young person on Christmas Day 1930 was thrilled with their "new" train.  She is 94 years old this "Train Day"!

Hope you are having a great weekend

Don

Great posts everyone!!!  Got to love the tributes to National Train Day!  Love dem switchers of all varieties!    Keep those posts coming everyone!

Here's an evening video of a FM H - 24 - 66 Virginian Train Master at the point of a fast freight. Later a B&O Docksider trundles by on the bridge about.  Meanwhile a trolley keeps time going back and forth on the EL.  

The engineer is getting impatient waiting for his pickup at the public delivery track.  The dispatcher was told the car was ready to go, but a last-minute delivery of 50 cases of Campbell's chicken noodle soup was taking longer to load than planned.

WbB 44 tonner, Atlas boxcar, Matchbox/Dinky 1949 Peterbilt

A RMT Beep pulls a short string of custom run Lionel ore cars.  The Beep sports road number 1964 to commemorate Dashing Dan taking the LIRR all the way to the World's Fair in Flushing Meadows.

@coach joe posted:

A RMT Beep pulls a short string of custom run Lionel ore cars.  The Beep sports road number 1964 to commemorate Dashing Dan taking the LIRR all the way to the World's Fair in Flushing Meadows.

Looks like Norma Bates Kitteh has some competition.....

That's Sally.  Noise intrigues her.  She comes running at the sound of trains or the ice dispenser in the fridge.  Hovers around the vacuum cleaner while running but won't get too close.  She'll sidle up to and give it a quick swipe when it's off.  I was running that train to keep her out of Irene's hair for a while.

Hey Sally, meet Max sort of a "look alike" train fan as well.

Don

@coach joe : what are these 2 devices?

thanks - walt

@walt rapp posted:

@coach joe : what are these 2 devices?

thanks - walt

Walt- they are lever-lock connectors...

Very convenient for making splices.

Thank you for answering Walt's question Bob.  We just got back from the beach or else I would have replied sooner. 

Walt I know it's not the best way to connect wire to track but since the track is tubular I am using Lock-Ons for power connections to the track.  I'm going with two lock-ons per loop therefore the three way lever nuts.  One wire to each lock-on and one to the transformer, one lever nut for hot, one for neutral.  At first I thought they would look like some cool trackside control or communication units but the more I look at them the more I think they should go underneath the table.

Late to the party but I have something to add.  I caught these nice views of a trackmobile today.  Enlarge the vertical picture if you can, it came out really impressive.

You're always welcome here John

@jhz563 posted:

Late to the party but I have something to add.  I caught these nice views of a trackmobile today.  Enlarge the vertical picture if you can, it came out really impressive.

Well, John, you got me to go to the website:

https://www.trackmobile.com/

A lot of neat motors. Now I wanna' drive one...