It's SWITCHER SATURDAY 5/25/24 MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EDITION

Happy SWSat!

Heading out early to play golf. Here's  one from the archives.

Honoring all those who served past and present and especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this great nation.

Bob

Good morning fellow switcher fanatics and thanks, Patrick, for getting us started.

For those of us who are baby boomers and older, our first switcher was the Postwar #41 United States Army Transportation Corps switcher. This video shows that old timer hauling a few military cars and a US Army caboose in honor of this Memorial day weekend:

Arnold

Happy SWSAT. Patrick thanks for getting us rolling. Your picture isn’t showing.  
Here ifs RMT BEEP  Naval Weapons Station Earle #8 moving a mixed consist to the piers at Brielle to resupply the fleet as they leave the port.

Boston & Maine #617 is an MTH Railking model (30-1184-1) of a USRA 0-8-0 steam switcher. The model was delivered in 2001 with PS2 at MSRP $399.95.

#617 was one of twenty-two Class H-2-a 0-8-0 switchers built for the B&M by Alco Schenectady in 1922. It was sold to the Maine Central Railroad in 1946.

Video shows the engine and train running at 26 miles-per-hour on my 10’-by-5’ layout.

MELGAR

In Observance of Memorial Day:

My Dad served in the US Army 100th Division from 1943 to 1946. I'm not sure whether this picture of him in a jeep was taken stateside or in Europe where he saw combat during 1944-'45 in France and Germany. Among other things he serviced motor vehicles in the Army - jeeps and trucks. There is a crossing shanty on my 10'-by-5' layout where an attendant is standing and a US Army jeep is parked. My Dad was much skinnier than the attendant...

MELGAR

Hello and good morning SwSat fans!  A few weeks ago I posted a photo of two switchers with “faces only a mother could love”, my Williams EMD BAR BL2 no. 51 and B&M BL2 no. 1550; today it’s time to show them in action.  Further, I’m going to brazenly usurp some of Patrick’s authority by declaring today BL2 day!  Let’s see your BL2’s!

John

Good morning Switcher Saturday family. Well I finally got a first run of my K- line A5. I looks and sounds great, (even if my accidental rough handling means I need to reattach the bell.)  This is the first time anything has run on my temporary permanent layout in over 6 months.

And a little late inspiration from Transcontinental RR day, Switcher Saturday style.   East meets West with a PRR A5, nose to nose with a UP Plymouth.

Patrick - thanks for kicking things off and sharing Freedom Park!

Thank you, Patrick, for your Freedom Park display honoring your father and all who have served to defend our way of life here in America and the way of freedom for so many people across the globe.

Here's my PW #41 US Army Davenport gas turbine pulling all of my military-themed rolling stock in honor of our veterans and active duty military this Memorial Day:

Thank you all for your service protecting freedom and democracy here and around the world. In my book, you are all heroes and winners!

Happy Memorial Day Switcher Saturday!  Here is my US Army GP20 working the rails -

God bless all that made the ultimate sacrifice for us.

The RI SW8 in for unscheduled maintenance.

Gene

@trumpettrain posted:

Hello fellow switcher fans!!  Welcome to the Memorial Day Weekend edition of Switcher Saturday!!  If you love those smallish locomotives that do BIG things then you've clicked on the right thread.  Switcher Saturday is a celebration of all things switcher related.  

This weekend we deeply honor the countless men and women who have fought for our freedom since the very beginning of our nation.  Although they are no longer with us, they will never be forgotten.  

The photo below shows a B&O Plymouth switcher idling by Freedom Park in Patsburg.  I created Freedom Park as a tribute to my father who was with the First Infantry Division ( The Big Red One ) of the U.S. Army during WW2.    Dad landed on Omaha Beach June 6, 1944 and fought all the way through France and into Germany.  When visiting Omaha Beach with Dad several years ago, I picked up stones from the beach and placed them in my pocket and brought them home.  Several years later when I got to the scenery faze of building my layout, I remembered those Ohama Beach stones and new I needed to create a tribute on the layout to Dad.  Freedom Park is that tribute and those stones serve as a monument.  Freedom Park also contains a genuine stone from the Berlin Wall which was given to me by a good friend who lived in Berlin when the "wall" came down.  

As always, I'm excited to see what you all post.   We learn so much from one another!

Just a friendly reminder:   Remember to post only photos that you have taken.  If you post a photo taken by some else, please obtain express permission from that person to use their photo.  Posting copy written photos, without permission of the photo's owner, is against the law.  Read and comply with the OGR Forum Terms of Service ( TOS ) found at the top of this page.

I hope everyone has a safe and most enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend!  Green signals to all!

Eloquent, and emotional, without being maudlin, Pat. What a nice way to remember your father’s service to this nation. Very moving!

Railking C&O AS616

Good morning SwSat friends!

CN 7005 dropping off empties at a loading dock.  

Have a great Memorial Day weekend filled with cookouts, trains & car racing!

@pennsyfan posted:

Happy SWSAT. Patrick thanks for getting us rolling. Your picture isn’t showing.  
Here ifs RMT BEEP  Naval Weapons Station Earle #8 moving a mixed consist to the piers at Brielle to resupply the fleet as they leave the port.

Bob - thanks for letting me know my photo was not showing!  Much appreciated!  That's what happens when I toil away in the wee hours of the morning ... lol!   I've now corrected the problem.  

Btw - fabulous looking RMT Beep heading up the Navy mixed consist!!!

@trumpettrain posted:

Hello fellow switcher fans!!  Welcome to the Memorial Day Weekend edition of Switcher Saturday!!  If you love those smallish locomotives that do BIG things then you've clicked on the right thread.  Switcher Saturday is a celebration of all things switcher related.  

This weekend we deeply honor the countless men and women who have fought for our freedom since the very beginning of our nation.  Although they are no longer with us, they will never be forgotten.  

The photo below shows a B&O Plymouth switcher idling by Freedom Park in Patsburg.  I created Freedom Park as a tribute to my father who was with the First Infantry Division ( The Big Red One ) of the U.S. Army during WW2.    Dad landed on Omaha Beach June 6, 1944 and fought all the way through France and into Germany.  When visiting Omaha Beach with Dad several years ago, I picked up stones from the beach and placed them in my pocket and brought them home.  Several years later when I got to the scenery faze of building my layout, I remembered those Ohama Beach stones and new I needed to create a tribute on the layout to Dad.  Freedom Park is that tribute and those stones serve as a monument.  Freedom Park also contains a genuine stone from the Berlin Wall which was given to me by a good friend who lived in Berlin when the "wall" came down.  

As always, I'm excited to see what you all post.   We learn so much from one another!

Just a friendly reminder:   Remember to post only photos that you have taken.  If you post a photo taken by some else, please obtain express permission from that person to use their photo.  Posting copy written photos, without permission of the photo's owner, is against the law.  Read and comply with the OGR Forum Terms of Service ( TOS ) found at the top of this page.

I hope everyone has a safe and most enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend!  Green signals to all!

Patrick,

I fired up my iPad and now I can see your beautiful tribute. Blessings on your Dad and all who served.

Happy SWSat!

Today I am showing my Lionel Army Transportation Corp switcher.

On this Memorial weekend I would like to tribute this to my Uncle George, whom was a Marine in the 3 division on Iwo Jima. He is shown bellow receiving a purple heart for wounds he received there.

Take Care, Ray

Here's a tribute to my Dad who was in the Navy during WWII and one of my brothers who was in the Marines for Vietnam. The grave yard was built by my wife's brother. The switcher is a custom painted MTH SW1500.

Charlie

Posted elsewhere this weekend, but some additions to my switching fleet.

@GG1 4877 posted:

Posted elsewhere this weekend, but some additions to my switching fleet.

Nice Jonathan, the silver one looks like an AMT product.

@pennsyfan posted:

Nice Jonathan, the silver one looks like an AMT product.

Bob,

The silver one is a Rivarossi product.  I'm not sure who imported it though as I don't have the box.  It could have been AHM or perhaps in a Rivarossi box in Italian like my FM C-Liner.  Like most Rivarossi of the era, it is about the weight of an early Weaver freight car.   This Plymouth switcher has been offered under many brandings in O, HO, & N.  Tyco, AHM, and Bachmann all imported versions of this.  Did AMT also do a switcher?

If so, I'd love to track on down!

Doing a little research and found this Strasburg Railroad Gem.  It would be fun to repaint a K-Line switcher into this scheme.  They seem to be a pretty good match.

@GG1 4877 posted:

Bob,

The silver one is a Rivarossi product.  I'm not sure who imported it though as I don't have the box.  It could have been AHM or perhaps in a Rivarossi box in Italian like my FM C-Liner.  Like most Rivarossi of the era, it is about the weight of an early Weaver freight car.   This Plymouth switcher has been offered under many brandings in O, HO, & N.  Tyco, AHM, and Bachmann all imported versions of this.  Did AMT also do a switcher?

If so, I'd love to track on down!

I had one many years ago; it was DC powered. A friend has a mining track that he want to have the engine reverse and come back out onto the trestle. He was fumbling with how to do that. Ha had Gargraves track. I gave him the engine which was a lot easier to have a reversing circuit. It made a nice scene on his layout.
Have you ever gone on this IO group; [AMT-Kusan-KMT-Kris-Williams-Trains] From American Model Toys to Ready Made Trains - The Die Molds That Never Died? I’m sure that they could answer your  question.

A few more from the way-back machine.  EMD offered the GP15 as a -2 upgrade to SW and MP switchers being used in the mid 1970's.  Not an extremely popular model, but several still exist today.  Atlas did a fine model of this locomotive.  It borrowed elements from the "Tunnel Motors" on the rear of the unit even though these weren't intended for that type of use.

@pennsyfan posted:

I had one many years ago; it was DC powered. A friend has a mining track that he want to have the engine reverse and come back out onto the trestle. He was fumbling with how to do that. Ha had Gargraves track. I gave him the engine which was a lot easier to have a reversing circuit. It made a nice scene on his layout.
Have you ever gone on this IO group; [AMT-Kusan-KMT-Kris-Williams-Trains] From American Model Toys to Ready Made Trains - The Die Molds That Never Died? I’m sure that they could answer your  question.

I have not checked that site out.  I will do that right now!

To follow up everyone on the Memorial Day theme here are some pictures from my collection.  First and foremost is our flag, this one a 48 star flag from Lionel in 1957 (before Alaska and Hawaii) flies over my "Small Town" square.

Some RMT "Beeps" like Bob's first the Air Force, from which I retired and then the Navy where I served as a civilian engineer and retired from there as well.

The red, white, and blue "Spirit of 1776"

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Of course the "Space Race" in the 1960-70's.

And finishing up with a Navy tanker.

Remember everyone..."Freedom isn't Free!"  God bless those who served and who have the watch today.  May those who sacrificed all rest both in peace and honor.

Best Wishes

Don

Patrick, thanks for starting this thread, what a great turn out with great photos of awesome equipment!

Here's what I use for switchers on my layout.

Here's one at a time. (Sorry for the TV noise in the background)

Here's all three end to end.

Happy Saturday!

U.S. Army: This We'll Defend

@Sitka posted:

U.S. Army: This We'll Defend

The headlight on your #41 looks great! I've gone onto Evan Designs and there are so many LED options, it's a bit confusing. Can you let me know what part # you used in yours? As you may have noticed, my #41 is running without shell screws because I've been planning to add lights for quite awhile now

@Bill Swatos posted:

The headlight on your #41 looks great! I've gone onto Evan Designs and there are so many LED options, it's a bit confusing. Can you let me know what part # you used in yours? As you may have noticed, my #41 is running without shell screws because I've been planning to add lights for quite awhile now

Hi Bill, I don't want to steal Sitkas thunder,  but here's and idea for a LED headlight for your #41. This is one way to go and possibly the easiest solution. Here's the link to Evans Design page with what you could use.

https://evandesigns.com/produc...ariant=6763864621104

This has a built in rectifier so you don't have to make your own, which can be tedious! It works with DC/AC/DCC 7-19 volts. All you have to do is figure out how to mount the LED and then connect it to the power and ground wires already in the locomotive. In conventional mode the LED should come on almost immediately when you apply power.

Select: 3mm, 8" wire, warm light, 7-19 volt. $3.25 plus shipping

It’s still Saturday here in Tennessee, and these are some newly acquired switchers waiting for duty on my layout. Great thread, beautiful switchers everyone. Happy Memorial Day Everyone…

What a great SwSat!!!    So many terrific posts of switchers, information, and mentions of family members who served.   Do keep posting throughout the upcoming week!!  Unfortunately my military train equipment is packed in boxes so I don't have any videos to share.  Here's one for late night viewing this evening.  Have a super Memorial Day weekend everyone!!  

A Baltimore and Annapolis RR SW 9 pulls a string of junk gons.  

@trumpettrain posted:

What a great SwSat!!!    So many terrific posts of switchers, information, and mentions of family members who served.   Do keep posting throughout the upcoming week!!  Unfortunately my military train equipment is packed in boxes so I don't have any videos to share.  Here's one for late night viewing this evening.  Have a super Memorial Day weekend everyone!!  

A Baltimore and Annapolis RR SW 9 pulls a string of junk gons.  

Patrick, great consist of gondolas with scrap metal! Classic! Reminds me of the scrap metal gondolas that Union Pacific brings into the San Jose rail yard coming from South San Francisco and Oakland. Usually the gondolas look worse than the scrap they are hauling! LoL I wish I had some photos of them, but I usually see them at rail crossings and never have time to get out my camera/phone! This is such a great thread!

@GG1 4877 posted:

Doing a little research and found this Strasburg Railroad Gem.  It would be fun to repaint a K-Line switcher into this scheme.  They seem to be a pretty good match.

No repaint required Jonathan......

Great switchers as always.

Yesterday afternoon my son and I took a trip out to see the New Jersey Hi-railers club in Patterson. We met a special guest and his wife @Buco - Peter and Sue from Austrailia. They are on a cross country tour of the US and had arranged a visit to the club. Also attending was @Mark V. Spadaro, he and I have been trying to get together for a while. It was nice to meet some Forum members in person.
Ben @bluelinec4 along with a few other members were gracious hosts and showed us around the layout and the control platform up above. The place lives up to the hype. Absolutely incredible layout.
I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Ben for the gift of a NJHR club car- a MTH gondola with scrap load too.

Here's some switchers that were on the layout.

Peter had just picked up a SD-45 from EZ Catch Trains on Staten Island, and Mark brought along a WM Geep to run.

Enjoy the rest of the Holiday weekend.

Bob

Bob it's good to see you finally made it down to Paterson.  Ben and the boys are great ambassadors for the hobby and welcome all visitors with open arms.

Have to amplify what Bob said above. It was a pleasure to meet him and his son, on his birthday!
njHr (H for HOSPITALITY) extended a very warm and gracious welcome to Pete & Sue, and, also a gift of a club Premier NYNJ gondola with a junk load. It can be seen in the 3rd image in Bob’s post.

SWSAT on Sunday!

Happy Memorial Day!

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

Patrick, great consist of gondolas with scrap metal! Classic! Reminds me of the scrap metal gondolas that Union Pacific brings into the San Jose rail yard coming from South San Francisco and Oakland. Usually the gondolas look worse than the scrap they are hauling! LoL I wish I had some photos of them, but I usually see them at rail crossings and never have time to get out my camera/phone! This is such a great thread!

Thanks so much Scott!  For some reason I love a train of gons hauling scrap ... lol!   Yes, usually the gons do look worse than the scrap loads they are carrying.  It's nice to know you and I share the affection.  

Your reply inspired me to reminisce about my earliest years here on the planet.   Gondolas were actually the first kind of freight car I came  in contact with,  and have fond memories of them set out on a siding as they were used as idler cars.    My hometown was served by a branch line of the  B&O.   The branch line served a cotton mill which was located on the opposite side of the river directly across from the rails of the branch line.  The bridge used to span the river had been moved to this location from elsewhere on the B&O and had low weight restrictions.  Locomotives were prohibited from crossing the bridge.   In order to reach outbound cars and spot in bound cars at the cotton mill, a string of idler cars in the form of gondolas were  employed.    The floors in these idler/gons were rotted out in many places and I'm sure the cars were at the very end of their useful purpose ... hence being relegated to idler car status on a branch line.   I'm sure they were on borrowed time from the scrapper's torch.  

Due to having to use idler cars, the switching maneuvers were quite involved:

The idler/gons were coupled between the locomotive and inbound/outbound freight cars ( boxcars and open hoppers ) to extend the train over the bridge.    

The switching move routine would be: Locomotive pushes the train of inbound cars from the mainline up the branch line to my hometown.    The inbound cut of cars to be delivered to the mill on the opposite side of the bridge ( spanning the Little Patuxent River ) would be pushed to the precipice of the bridge and uncoupled.  The locomotive ( in my day a GP7 or GP9 before that a steam loco) would then move forward, clearing the switch,  and then back onto the siding with the idler gons.  Once coupled ..  the locomotive would pull forward until the last gon cleared the switch, then back up to the cut of  inbound cars .. couple on, and shove the inbound cars  across the bridge.  Once the loads were to the other side of the bridge, the train was coupled to waiting outbound cars.  The loco then pulled the entire train of idlers, inbound cars, and out bound cars over the bridge then back the outbound cars onto the idler car siding, uncouple ... pull forward with last inbound cars clearing the switch ... then back the entire train over the bridge so that the inbound cars reached the loading dock.  Once in bound cars were uncoupled ..  the idler cars were pulled forward past the switch for the idler car siding where the outbound cars are now set out ... idler cars were pushed back  onto siding and coupled to outbound loads ... locomotive pulls forward with idlers and outbound cars ...  once out bound cars clear the switch .. locomotive pushes idlers and outbound cars back toward bridge where outbounds are uncoupled and left sitting ... the idlers are then pulled forward and then backed into the idler car siding where they wait to perform the same function the next day.  

Lots of switching moves which would be fun to simulate on a model railroad!

Patrick, someday I'll figure out those switching moves, but not today!  Now I know why I don't have a switching layout!

John

@RSJB18 posted:

Great switchers as always.

Yesterday afternoon my son and I took a trip out to see the New Jersey Hi-railers club in Patterson. We met a special guest and his wife @Buco - Peter and Sue from Austrailia. They are on a cross country tour of the US and had arranged a visit to the club. Also attending was @Mark V. Spadaro, he and I have been trying to get together for a while. It was nice to meet some Forum members in person.
Ben @bluelinec4 along with a few other members were gracious hosts and showed us around the layout and the control platform up above. The place lives up to the hype. Absolutely incredible layout.
I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Ben for the gift of a NJHR club car- a MTH gondola with scrap load too.

Enjoy the rest of the Holiday weekend.

Bob

I really like the rotary gondola unloader setup shown in the foreground of your video above, Bob! Did you get to see it in action? I'd be really interested to see how they load and control the gondolas on the inclined  "feeder" siding.

@Bill Swatos posted:

I really like the rotary gondola unloader setup shown in the foreground of your video above, Bob! Did you get to see it in action? I'd be really interested to see how they load and control the gondolas on the inclined  "feeder" siding.

Bill- that's a Millhouse (???? Ben can verify) rotary coal dump. The operation works like this.

The loaded car is pushed into the dumper, after it is emptied, it's pushed out of the dump unit and down a slope just enough to run it up an incline through a sprung switch, and then down to a staging yard where the empties are picked up.

It wasn't being operated but that's the basics.

Bob