It's the start of the weekend and that means it's time for SWITCHER SATURDAY 9/21/2024 Edition!!! WELCOME one and all!!!
If you love those do all do anything locomotives that are the backbone of a railroad you have clicked on THE thread that celebrates all things switching locomotive! If you are new to this thread please consider posting a photo of your favorite switcher from your layout. We'd love to see what you have!
A vast majority of us who frequent this thread love those small ( and not so small ) locomotives that can perform all the tasks given by any railroad. Yep! Switchers do it all ... switching in yards, at the point of way freights, industrial switching, switching at larger passenger stations, heading a MOW train ... including pushing snow plows, switching tight curvature on city streets & harbor areas, at the point of both commuter passenger trains and long distance passenger trains. 
Switcher Saturday (SwSat) welcomes your photos, videos, and information/discussion regarding switching locomotives, steam, diesel, and electric of all gauges and scales from Z - G ... and even real life 1:1 scale too! We'd be honored to have you join us by posting pics and videos of your switchers. We'd also love reading any information regarding toy, model, or prototypical switchers.
Please keep in mind:
* Post only photos that you have personally have taken. If you post someone else's photo be sure you have express written permission by the photo's owner to post their photo. Posting someone else's photo without their permission is a violation of copyright law and the poster can/will be held legally accountable.
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I hope everyone has a most enjoyable weekend! May you spend time running some trains and in particular switchers! Keep your switches aligned. Remember " Safety First " and green signals to all!
This week on the Free State Junction Railway Western Maryland BL2 number 81 is relentlessly working the Patsburg Yard day and night as the demand by shippers for freight cars has increased.
As number 81 idles in the yard conductor Doc O'Malley, who just came on duty, leans out the side of the cab so he can give a holler to brakeman Keater Betts .. " Hey Keets! Yah better come on up in here in the cab! We's just got orders to pull a 38 car transfer of empties to East yard. If you stand out there those dag blasted skeeters might eatcha up once we go thru that stretch of marshland. It's often we get a red signal out in the marshland and have to stop. Don't want you to get eat up! Keeter look back at Doc , shaking his head and yells " I'll take my chances! Ain't no way I'm riding in the same cab with that hogger, Hotbox McGee. I saw what he ate for dinner tonite when wee's all taken beans at Momma Lou's Diner! That sucker downed a great big bowl of Momma's Extra Spicy Chile with a ton of onions, then he chased it down with a huge serving of cabbage and he topped that off with some pickled eggs!" Doc, with eyes as big saucers, replies " Hooooooleeeee cow!!! I just came on duty and missed taken beans with ya'll. Thanks for that information! Looks like I'll be taken some chances riding here in the cab with Hotbox myself!" With a big chuckle Keater shakes his head " Yep! Ol' Hotbox's has quite the reputation for his dietary habits, but I'll tell you what ... he's also got a fine reputation around the railroad for being a great engineer!! His safety record is impeccable! I just don't know which of his reputations is greater ... railroaden or dietary! " Upon hearing this Ol' Hotbox smiles and gives three horn blasts, the bell starts to clang and number 81 begins to move backward toward its' train. These boys got themselves some switching to do and .... It's going to be a long night for Keater and Doc.
The next morning after the cab aired out, and with a new crew, number 81 is seen cruising through Butler Junction with a cut of gondolas loaded with scrap. 
