It's SWITCHER SATURDAY Feb. 22, 2025 Edition

Great start, Patrick, as always, and now let the parade of switchers begin.

My contribution is the video below showing a smooth conventional running Williams Jersey Central NW2 diesel switcher hauling vial and caboose this chilly evening:

Two switchers ran on my 12’-by-8’ layout this week.

New Haven Railroad Alco S-2 diesel switcher #0615 (MTH Premier 20-20587-1) ran through the truss bridge on the O-36 inner loop and Boston & Albany USRA 0-8-0 steam switcher #53 (Lionel 6-28702) ran across the girder bridge on the O-54 middle loop.

MELGAR

MTH Burlington Nothern and real BNSF.

Hello SwSat friends!  It’s always fun to be back on the best thread in the Forum, thanks to all the great contributions from you guys!  Mel, I think the four car freight behind your NH S2 is the longest I’ve seen on your layout.  It looks fine, not too long at all!

I’m reaching back in the archives today for a switcher I haven’t shown for a while, my Williams Bangor & Aroostook EMD BL2 no. 51.  Like all Willams engines, it is a smooth, powerful, well finished model, a great value for conventional operators like me (I paid $159).  I’m on the hunt for more Williams engines, but the supply is diminishing; I don’t think Bachmann is producing any more, based on the scarce offerings on their website.

A bonus today is a cameo appearance of my Lionel Maine Central EMD GP7 no. 562.

John

Arnold ... nice looking Jersey Central NW2 !  I hope to some day own a Williams B&O or N&W NW2.

MELGAR ... Love the ALCO S2 in New Haven livery!  AND it's pulling 4 handsome boxcars and caboose too!  The USRA 0-8-0 is a classic and looks great!  I love the video of the USRA 0-8-0 and S2 coming off the bridge running side by side!

Here's a video ( posted in the past ) showing steam and diesel switchers doing their thing.  

@Steam Crazy posted:

Hello SwSat friends!  It’s always fun to be back on the best thread in the Forum, thanks to all the great contributions from you guys!  Mel, I think the four car freight behind your NH S2 is the longest I’ve seen on your layout.  It looks fine, not too long at all!

I’m reaching back in the archives today for a switcher I haven’t shown for a while, my Williams Bangor & Aroostook EMD BL2 no. 51.  Like all Willams engines, it is a smooth, powerful, well finished model, a great value for conventional operators like me (I paid $159).  I’m on the hunt for more Williams engines, but the supply is diminishing; I don’t think Bachmann is producing any more, based on the scarce offerings on their website.

A bonus today is a cameo appearance of my Lionel Maine Central EMD GP7 no. 562.

John

John - Got to love me a BL2 and your Bangor and Aroostook looks beautiful in that livery!  Yep Williams produced some very fine locomotives at a terrific price point.   You seemed to have scored a beauty for a great price!  

Happy Switcher Saturday! Lots of fishing this week (it’s the start of peacock bass nesting season here in FL)  so here is one from the archives. It’s our MTH VO1000 hauling boxcars in the early morning hours as the kids make their exit from CBGBs after a long night of partying. The city never sleeps as the subway takes the morning commuters to their jobs. Fun fact. The LIRR Baldwin #410 was actually a DS4-4-660 and not a VO1000, although they look identical. The primary difference is the 660 had a 660 HP diesel engine as opposed to the more powerful 1000 HP engine on the VO 1000 model. -

CV Alco S2 switching a handful of boxcars today.  

Have a great Saturday!

Thank you Patrick for another start of my favorite thread. After inspection, Strasburg 8618 is moving out for another day of open air and caboose rides. It may be cold here in New England, but on my layout it’s sunny and warm.

Gene

Patrick, I think the price point (MSRP) is what has killed Williams.  The advertised MSRP was about the same as full featured MTH and Lionel engines.  Those of us with some experience in the hobby soon realized the actual selling price from dealers was 40-50% less, but the MSRP probably scared away newbies.

Bachmann’s price strategy made no sense at all!  If they had set the MSRP to reflect what the product offered, I think Williams would be selling well today.

John

Happy SWSat!

The Reading received a new gondola this week. The foreman sent the shop switcher out to retrieve the car from the interchange.

Have a great weekend!

Bob

@Strap Hanger posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday! Lots of fishing this week (it’s the start of peacock bass nesting season here in FL)  so here is one from the archives. It’s our MTH VO1000 hauling boxcars in the early morning hours as the kids make their exit from CBGBs after a long night of partying. The city never sleeps as the subway takes the morning commuters to their jobs. Fun fact. The LIRR Baldwin #410 was actually a DS4-4-660 and not a VO1000, although they look identical. The primary difference is the 660 had a 660 HP diesel engine as opposed to the more powerful 1000 HP engine on the VO 1000 model. -

Great scene enhanced by the over and under video.

Track cleaning detail……..

Have a great and safe day, everyone…….

Peter

Here is a Lionel 6-18000 PRR 8977 B6 Switcher moving coal hoppers to the round house. Very short video, most of it ended up on the cutting room floor.

Great stuff everyone. Also nice to see some switcher representation in the OGR rail video -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXs-0uES6-U

@Strap Hanger posted:

Great stuff everyone. Also nice to see some switcher representation in the OGR rail video -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXs-0uES6-U

Cool- thanks for posting this Strap. Don't know how me and Arnold made the big time!

Bob

PW Lionel 624 Chesapeake & Ohio moving some trout

MTH switchers

@taycotrains posted:

MTH switchers

Nice looking switchers Bob! Thanks for the visit the other day. Let's make it longer next time.

@pennsyfan posted:

Nice looking switchers Bob! Thanks for the visit the other day. Let's make it longer next time.

Thanks Bob !

Next time I’ll be sure to give you a little more notice !

I did enjoy the visit !

An old standby Lehigh Valley 44 ton performing duties on a busy Switcher Saturday.

Happy SwSat to all! Here is my kinda rare Lionel #645 NW2 UP switcher just returned from the “Train Shack Shops” in Burbank, CA with a new E-unit installed. The 645 was final year Postwar production (1969) and is much harder to find than its twin sister #635. This model is pristine.

But what I am really showing off is my new mountain backdrop which I installed this past week. I love it!

I found the 13”x32” photo backdrop on Scenic Express’s website. And at the sale price of $13.99, a real deal. I needed two sheets. Very pleased with these backdrops, to say the least! Have a great weekend.

B&O SW1 203 circa 1950. MTH model stripped, repainted, re-lettered, weathered, with scratchbuilt smokestack. My intention was to backdate a preserved SW1 on the Wilmington & Western RR. The modeling effort was published in B&O Modeler, a free online magazine of the B&ORRHS.

Well everyone knows about the great versitility of the switcher type locomotive.  Well here on the Leonardtown and Savannah, management always trying to reduce costs, takes advantage of that property.  Here we see the Hornby type 51 tender locomotive first used to pull a single cattle car taking some livestock to market.

The next time we see her, she is taking a small branch line passenger train down the line

Best Wishes, Don

Atlas switchers

Well, Patrick, I don't think we can avoid the "6th Sense" you have for my SWSAT posts. I had planned in the middle of last week to post my late PW Lionel 2322-15 Train Master in VGN livery ca. 1965 pulling the new 6-car consist of VGN coal hoppers I had just received for her, and, once again you seemed to know, posting your very nice Williams version of the same Train Master to start us off. In fact, I almost posted another switcher I have been working on, but she needed more work, so I didn't.

So, for my SWSAT Sunday Supplement, here's the VGN Train Master:

The hoppers are MTH and they are models of Pullman-Standard's 4-bay units, ca.1956-57:

The bay window caboose is a K-Line smoker that I'm not running with smoke thanks to a warning about overheating from John @Steam Crazy:

And here they are under way:

@Bill Swatos posted:

Well, Patrick, I don't think we can avoid the "6th Sense" you have for my SWSAT posts. I had planned in the middle of last week to post my late PW Lionel 2322-15 Train Master in VGN livery ca. 1965 pulling the new 6-car consist of VGN coal hoppers I had just received for her, and, once again you seemed to know, posting your very nice Williams version of the same Train Master to start us off. In fact, I almost posted another switcher I have been working on, but she needed more work, so I didn't.

So, for my SWSAT Sunday Supplement, here's the VGN Train Master:

The hoppers are MTH and they are models of Pullman-Standard's 4-bay units, ca.1956-57:

The bay window caboose is a K-Line smoker that I'm not running with smoke thanks to a warning about overheating from John @Steam Crazy:

And here they are under way:

Beautiful Virginian set you have Bill!  Got to love the Virginian Train Master!!  As a kid that locomotive really drew my eyes to it like a magnet.  To the "young me"  then it was a fabulous looking locomotive and my "older me" still thinks the same too.  I have two Virginian 4 bay hoppers by Weaver but no Virginian caboose.   Since the Virginian was merged into the N&W in 1959, I run a N&W caboose with the Virginian Train Master.  My imagination tells me the N&W shop has not had time to repaint into N&W ( much uglier livery )

AND Yep ... the sixth sense seems to be a definite thing!!

@Steam Crazy posted:

Patrick, I think the price point (MSRP) is what has killed Williams.  The advertised MSRP was about the same as full featured MTH and Lionel engines.  Those of us with some experience in the hobby soon realized the actual selling price from dealers was 40-50% less, but the MSRP probably scared away newbies.

Bachmann’s price strategy made no sense at all!  If they had set the MSRP to reflect what the product offered, I think Williams would be selling well today.

John

John - Yes, I agree that the published/advertised MSRP of Williams by Bachman trains is quite over the top IMHO.   I don't think Bachman did themselves any favor with that high MSRP.  AND ... yes we who are immersed in the hobby know we can find WbB at prices greatly lower.    

When writing my response to your post  yesterday , I was thinking more along the lines of the Williams Reproductions price points before that company was bought by Bachman, although I didn't state that thinking in the post.     Back before the sale,  the Williams brand was advertising a  MSRP much lower than most of its' competitors .. Lionel, MTH, K line, Atlas, Weaver and of course 3rd Rail which is in league all its' own.  Even then we could purchase Williams trains for much less that their MSRP.  

When Jerry Williams sold the company to Bachman, I thought that doing so was a fabulously wise move.  Bachman wanted to get into O gauge trains and at least,to me,  Williams seemed to be a terrific fit given that William was a long established company with a fine reputation in the O gauge world of trains ... plus Bachman would be able to perpetuate and expand the brand through their broader network.  Of course as soon as Bachman took control the price of Williams trains increased somewhat.  Fair enough, however IMHO and experience, the quality control decreased somewhat  ... not a great combination ... higher price = decreased quality control.

For we who love switchers, and in all fairness to Bachman ( WbB) brand, the scale 44 tonner and 70 tonners are a great addition.  There were some other road switchers produced as well but my memory fails me right at the moment as to what they were.    Bachman deserves a great deal of credit for producing those locomotives IMHO ... and of course we, who know the hobby, have probably bought our 44 and 70 tonners for a fraction of the MSRP.   I love my Pennsy 44 tonner and, in fairness, it's given me no problems in all the years I've owned it.

It's my hope that the Williams by Bachman brand will be around, if only producing a small offering, for years to come.  It would be a pity to see that brand disappear into the ethers.  Who knows, maybe O gauge will enjoy another  Renaissance at it did in the 1990s- earlier 2000s and Williams by Bachman will re-emerge as a significant player in O gauge trains.  If not, at least WbB has added some switchers to our fleets.  Time will only tell.  

Patrick, I couldn't agree with you more!  In addition to the 44 and 70 tonners, WBB produced nice RS3, GP30, Alco FA and other models.  I have a CN RS3 and CP FA; wish I could buy more.

Let's hope your right about a renaissance of Williams.  Thanks for your thoughtful response.

John

@Sitka posted:

PW Lionel 624 Chesapeake & Ohio moving some trout

Nice trout car, Mark! Make sure the aerators are in good shape as trout really like fast-moving water

@trumpettrain posted:

Beautiful Virginian set you have Bill!  Got to love the Virginian Train Master!!  As a kid that locomotive really drew my eyes to it like a magnet.  To the "young me"  then it was a fabulous looking locomotive and my "older me" still thinks the same too.  I have two Virginian 4 bay hoppers by Weaver but no Virginian caboose.   Since the Virginian was merged into the N&W in 1959, I run a N&W caboose with the Virginian Train Master.  My imagination tells me the N&W shop has not had time to repaint into N&W ( much uglier livery )

AND Yep ... the sixth sense seems to be a definite thing!!

Thank you for the compliment, Patrick! I was lucky to find that blue and yellow Virginian bay window to purchase along with the Train Master. I'm happy my post added to the fond memories you have of this loco. I imagine your Williams runs like a champ! As you say above, Williams Reproductions really produced some great product. I have their pre-Bachmann reproduction of the classic 1955 PW Congressional passenger set and really enjoy running it behind my WbB Congressional GG1, which is also one of their best offerings along with the 44 and 70-tonners.

And I already know what I'm posting next week, so we'll see...

@Strap Hanger posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday! Lots of fishing this week (it’s the start of peacock bass nesting season here in FL)  so here is one from the archives. It’s our MTH VO1000 hauling boxcars in the early morning hours as the kids make their exit from CBGBs after a long night of partying. The city never sleeps as the subway takes the morning commuters to their jobs. Fun fact. The LIRR Baldwin #410 was actually a DS4-4-660 and not a VO1000, although they look identical. The primary difference is the 660 had a 660 HP diesel engine as opposed to the more powerful 1000 HP engine on the VO 1000 model. -

OK, Strap, you got "Life During Wartime" going through my head now...

@Bill Swatos posted:

OK, Strap, you got "Life During Wartime" going through my head now...

Same as it ever was, LOL!

@Steam Crazy posted:

Patrick, I couldn't agree with you more!  In addition to the 44 and 70 tonners, WBB produced nice RS3, GP30, Alco FA and other models.  I have a CN RS3 and CP FA; wish I could buy more.

Let's hope your right about a renaissance of Williams.  Thanks for your thoughtful response.

John

FYI all, Forum sponsor Mario's is having a 10% off WbB sale that ends today 2/26. I got a UP GP38 True Blast Plus w/o dynamic brake delivered for $197.