Hello switcher fans!! Welcome to Switcher Saturday!!! Switcher Saturday ( SwSat) is THE thread which celebrates with discussion, photos, and videos all things related to switching locomotives both in model form and real. It doesn't matter what gauge you model in, for SwSat welcomes your photos and/or information for all gauges from Z- G and real 1:1 gauge as well!
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As always, I'm excited to see what you all post! We greatly learn from one another and you all have so much to share from rehab and upgrade projects, historical and technical information of both model and real switchers and switching railroads, to terrific photos of the latest high tech switchers, post and prewar switchers. AND of course we as a community learn from all the content you provide.
This week I'm showing switchers both large and small. The top photos capture my Pennsy 44 tonner running a caboose hop on the Free State Junction Railway's Mountain Division. Lately, I've been working a lot on my layout and in doing so I had to temporaritly remove the lake so I could gain access to the back of the layout. While standing in the lake ( so to speak ) I was able to capture these photos of the 44 tonner peaking out of a tunnel.
The short video at the bottom is of a Reading Fairbanks - Morse Train Master at the point of a way freight. I model 8 Maryland Railroads of the Transition Era. The Reading is not one of them, however, since the Reading had trackage rights over parts of the Western Maryland Railway ( which is one of the 8 ) , I have two Reading first generation diesels on my roster ... the Train Master being one and the other a EMD F unit. The Train Master is a William by Bachman product which I bought new probably back around 2015. It's a great puller and has proven very reliable. It's equipped with True Blast 2 horn and bell.
The Pennsy 44 tonner is a Williams by Bachman product which I purchased new from TrainWorld several years ago. It's equipped with True Blast Plus. A very reliable runner with considerable heft and good pulling power, this locomotive has given me no trouble. For the price it's well detailed, however as many others have pointed out, the hand rails are extremely delicate and the motor sound is at a low volume. Although I personally wouldn't choose this locomotive for doing yard work on my railroad, it does look good pulling a short consist down the right of way.
GE produced the 44 ton locomotive from 1939-1956. They were popular with industrial railroads, and large class ones alike. Pertaining to the railroads I model, Pennsy being one of them: the Pennsy was the largest purchaser at 46 GE 44 ton locomotives, the B&O and the Western Maryland purchased 2 each. Both the B&O and WM primarily assigned the 44 tonners to their Baltimore, Maryland yards ( Riverside and Port Covington respectively ) and areas along the Port of Baltimore.
Have a FUN - TASTIC and safe weekend everyone!! Keep those switches aligned, work those switch lists, and green signals to all!!! Now bring it on "TEAM SWITCHER SATURDAY"!!!
Here is a Reading Fairbanks - Morse H 24-66 Train Master pulling a short way freight through Patsburg. When these locomotives were catalogued by Fairbanks - Morse in 1953 .. H stands for "high hood"... 24 stands for 2,400 h.p. ... and the 66 stands for six axles six powered axles. The Reading rostered 16 Train Masters and used them on heavy coal drags and commuter passenger trains. The Train Master was in production from 1953- 1957 with only a total 107 units produced. In their window of time the TM was known for its high horsepower and rapid acceleration. Their versatility allowed for road freight, switching, and also some passenger service when equipped with a steam generator. When first introduced to the railroad world, the Train Master was the highest horsepower diesel locomotive to date. Its' opposed piston engine was not favored by shop mechanics and its 194 tons was probably the heaviest diesel to the date of 1953 and was hard on track. If you're lucky enough to find a copy, Robert R. Gottsschall, Junior's book " The Reading Railroad Fairbanks - Morse TRAIN MASTER is chocked full of information pertaining to the TM units on the Reading.
