It's Switcher Saturday June 29, 2024 Edition

Boston & Maine #1274 is an MTH model (20-21401-1) of an Alco S-2 switcher with PS3 delivered in 2021 at MSRP $479.95.

Boston & Maine #1174 was an Alco S-3 switcher with 660 horsepower built in 1950 that was damaged in a 1957 fire at the B&M roundhouse in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was rebuilt by Alco as an S-4 switcher with 1000 horsepower and renumbered #1274. An online photograph shows #1274 at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, apparently still in service in May 1980. The engine weight was 230,000 pounds and tractive effort was 57,500 pounds.

The “bluebird” paint scheme was promoted by B&M president Patrick McGinnis to modernize the look of the railroad as he had done previously while president of the New Haven Railroad between 1954 and 1956. McGinnis became president of the Boston & Maine in 1956 and later served 18 months in Federal Prison for his part in a sale of railroad cars by the B&M. The blue color and logo were widely used for B&M locomotives and rolling stock.

Photos and videos on my 12’-by-8’ layout. This engine runs smoothly at low speeds so it’s easy to take good videos.

MELGAR

Thanks again for starting off on SWSAT Patrick! I look forward to your posts and narratives.  Here’s an unmarked Plymouth switcher moving some cars to the PRSL / PRR  Team track.  (I’ll get into the no name on another thread)

Army RSD unit, working the line……it’s by Weaver and has RS/TMCC from about 2003-04.

Have a great and safe weekend, folks!

Peter

Thank you, Pat, for promulgating this thread every Saturday! Here’s a Railking C&O AS-616

Happy Switcher Saturday!  Our little B6 was called into duty this week. Here she is after pulling a few passenger out of the yard for a commuter run around the City -

Here is an electric steeple cab switcher at Fox River Trolly Museum.

@Strap Hanger posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday!  Our little B6 was called into duty this week. Here she is after pulling a few passenger out of the yard for a commuter run around the City -

Nice layout! All I recall seeing on the past was the elevated line.

Happy SWSat!

Added a new member to the fleet this week courtesy of a forum member.

A New York Central Lightning Stripe RS1 from Atlas O with TMCC. This is my second Atlas RS1 and they are very well done with lots of details.

The NYC owned 8 RS1's painted in both the Lightning Stripe and plain black New York Central scheme. I couldn't find a #8103, but 8100 and 8105 were in the fleet. Both of these survived into the PC era as 9900 and 9901.

I just put it on the layout this morning. Here's a few shots and a short video on the break in run.

from MTH

- walt

Here’s an MTH PS 2 diesel switcher (VO 1000 model):

Good morning, SwSat Nation!  I’m going to continue my Western switcher series today with my MTH Railking Santa Fe NW2 no. 2419.

This engine was Mike’s economy model in 1999, equipped only with a horn that sounds like a buzzer.  It occurred to me that many of you probably haven’t had the “pleasure” of hearing this horn, so I’ve thoughtfully included a video with the horn sounding.  When my daughter was little, she would say a loud sound “scares my ears”.  I can’t do a better job describing this horn!

John

And here it is pulling out of a repositioned siding where I have a new engine house:

Arnood

Here's my Atlas Trainman Jersey Central ALCO RS3 #1545 in a fresh coat of B&O-inspired blue and yellow paint spotting a Seaboard boxcar on the team track...

@Strap Hanger,

I hadn't realized that your layout is tri-level - elevated, ground and subway. I should have. Very nice.

@RSJB18,

Bob - I've been trying to find an NYC RS-1 (preferably MTH) for months... Also very nice.

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

@RSJB18,

Bob - I've been trying to find an NYC RS-1 (preferably MTH) for months... Also very nice.

MELGAR

Mel- I wasn't really looking but when it popped up on the F/S forum, I jumped. Thanks.

Bob

@MELGAR posted:

@Strap Hanger,

I hadn't realized that your layout is tri-level - elevated, ground and subway. I should have. Very

Mel, if you count the floor, it’s a 4 level!  This is an older video before Union Station replaced the kids army base on the elevated line -

Since its a switcher Saturday thread, I don’t often post photos of the subway line here.

Happy Switch Sat!  Here is my Railking B&M SW-1

Take Care, Ray.

We are in the UP, so here is a Carmeuse diesel pic from the past visits.  Carmeuse is getting TugVolt power in the near future to promote a greener footprint. I hope to find out more info while visiting.

Happy SwSat!

Here is one I picked up a number of years ago.  It is a Craigsten (Japan) "shuttle" switcher, designed to run on a fixed arrangement of tin flat roadbed track in a pre-arranged sequence to pick up and move a single car.  It does it all automatically although it never changes the sequence.

In this side vie you can see the arm of the switch-man waving a flag, he moves the flag when the engine moves.

Here is a better picture of the flagman on the rear deck.

To give you a better idea of the size of this switcher, here she is sitting next to a familiar Marx 4 wheel switcher.

Happy S.W. Sat to everyone.  Best wishes

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Here is one I picked up a number of years ago.  It is a Craigsten (Japan) "shuttle" switcher, designed to run on a fixed arrangement of tin flat roadbed track in a pre-arranged sequence to pick up and move a single car.  It does it all automatically although it never changes the sequence.

In this side vie you can see the arm of the switch-man waving a flag, he moves the flag when the engine moves.

Here is a better picture of the flagman on the rear deck.

To give you a better idea of the size of this switcher, here she is sitting next to a familiar Marx 4 wheel switcher.

Happy S.W. Sat to everyone.  Best wishes

Don

You never cease to amaze me Don! A video of it running as you described would be a treat.

Have a good Switcher Saturday all! Nice looking engines

BOSTON & MAINE 0-8-0 #610 is busy today bringing a load of local brew just in time to commemorate the Fourth of July. The locals and “Wash A Shore” seasonal visitors prefer a local beer. So this train load will be sorely needed.

The BOSTON & MAINE 0-8-0 and woodside caboose are by MTH. THE 36’ and 40’ woodside reefers are Atlas-O.

Another great SWSAT!  Thank you to Patrick for getting us rolling and to all the contributors making this a successful thread.  Mel I've said it before and I'll say it again, that MTH ALCO sound file is the most interesting diesel sound set out there.

Once again bravo to all of you for your terrific posts!!   Such wonderful variety of locomotives of model, toy, and real switchers.    Keep those posts coming!!

Don McEarlean  your Craigston switcher is quite amazing!!  Got to love that brakeman    Bob  ( RSJB 18 ) congrats on your new to you ALCO RS 1 by Atlas O.  I love my Atlas O RS1 w/TMCC!  ...  SITKA very nice looking layout and your RS 3 in NYC looks terrific!  ... CTR - nice looking 0-8-0!  TNKMAX - thanks for bring us the real thing ... great photos!  ... RAYKAY - I love that version of the B&M livery .. very nice looking SW1!! ... CNJ 1601 -  Being a B&O fan, I love your B&O inspired  blue CNJ RS 3!! ...  ARNOLD - great looking Pennsy VO1000 video!! ...  STEAMCRAZY - very nice video of your 1999 MTH RailKing switcher with a horn that could "scare anyone's ears" LOL!! ...  WALT - nice Geep from your Christmas layout! MELGAR -  I love that back story on your ALCO S3/S4. ...  It sounds great in your video too!  Also loved the back story on Patrick McGinnis ... I didn't realize he did jail time. ...  PENNSYFAN - Your Plymouth switcher is mighty indeed as it pulls that 4 car train!  Nice looking layout too!!  ... PETER - Your 03/04 RSD by Weaver looks absolutely terrific!! ...  MARK SPADARO - One day I hope to own an AS616.  Yours looks great! ...   STRAP HANGER - Your video and pic of your B6 is great! ...  I also admire your trackside junk too! ...  Nice touch of realism!  ...  DAVE RIPP - Thanks for sharing your photos of the steeple cab switchers.  I'm sure they did lots of time on MOW train for the trolly line.  Very nice pics!  

Here's some switcher action in the form of an 0-8-0  ( by Lionel ) on the Free State Junction Railway.

Patrick, thanks for being not only the head dispatcher on SwSat, but the head cheerleader too!  I know I'm not the only member of SwSat Nation that appreciates your leadership and posts of your trains and great layout!

John

Weirton Steel Alco S-2 switcher #203, a Lionel Legacy (ex CNW 1031) version poses against the backdrop of Weirton's Open Hearth and Strip Steel mock-up.  This model was painted by Christine Braden.

Meanwhile #208, a TMCC S-2 (ex WP #553) in Weirton Steel livery comes off the wye at the bottom of the WSX Yard.  Tommy Gilbert (hobby shop of the same name in Gettysburg, PA) crafted the prototype stack as well as painting the model.

George

Thanks, as always, Patrick for notching us out this week. For my early Sunday entry for this week's SWSAT, I'm getting in on the Plymouth switcher fun with my Southern Iron & Equipment Company Plymouth pulling a consist of tankers I've shown before plus a new (to me) North American Mark 20 tanker:

Also, for those interested, I've posted before about the history of the Southern Iron & Equipment Company.

May all enjoy your 4th of July holiday and remember our veterans who've served around the world to keep us free and safe and our active military serving to do so now.

@pennsyfan posted:

You never cease to amaze me Don! A video of it running as you described would be a treat.

I concur!

@Steam Crazy posted:

Good morning, SwSat Nation!  I’m going to continue my Western switcher series today with my MTH Railking Santa Fe NW2 no. 2419.

This engine was Mike’s economy model in 1999, equipped only with a horn that sounds like a buzzer.  It occurred to me that many of you probably haven’t had the “pleasure” of hearing this horn, so I’ve thoughtfully included a video with the horn sounding.  When my daughter was little, she would say a loud sound “scares my ears”.  I can’t do a better job describing this horn!

John

RMT's "Diesel Horn Sound" gives your MTH sound a run for it's money doing a job of "ear scaring!" Or the PW "door buzzers," for that matter. Funny though, you'll work your butt off getting those old PW "horns" working, including springing for a "battery eliminator."

At least you've got engine sound...

Bill, the engine sound is deceiving.  It’s from my UP GP20 idling off camera.  I didn’t think to shut it off and didn’t notice it until I posted the video.

The PW bike horns “scare” my ears so much I don’t use them at all.  I leave the batteries out so I don’t have to worry about them leaking and damaging the engine.

John

@Bill Swatos posted:

RMT's "Diesel Horn Sound" gives your MTH sound a run for it's money doing a job of "ear scaring!" Or the PW "door buzzers," for that matter. Funny though, you'll work your butt off getting those old PW "horns" working, including springing for a "battery eliminator."

At least you've got engine sound...

Add Lionel's original 0-6-0t's to the list. The "whistle" on these is pretty bad too....

I've got a MTH RK Conrail SD90Mac on the layout pulling my string of Trailer Train  TTUX spine cars.  It's equipped with the QSI reverse unit and that same horn.  I was going to start a post about to ask if the sound card was going bad but I guess those horns were just bad from the get go.

@Don McErlean - still loving your old-time stuff.  again, thanks for posting.

what struck me on today's post is everything that you've been showing is in top-notch condition!!!!

- walt

@RSJB18

Bob,

Thanks for the offer, I think I’m good on the scale couplers. My intention is to have a scale front end and a O Gauge rear. Except for one I’ll  keep all scale for scale cars .

Continuing with "SWSAT On Sunday" and following Patrick's Lionel 0-8-0,  here are my two 0-8-0s under the watchful eye of road foreperson Sally.  I thought it was so exciting when Lionel finally came up with the 0-8-0 switcher as a replacement for the venerable 4-4-2 (Atlantic) in starter sets I had to have one.  The coal burner in the foreground is one such starter set engine.  It was a Lionel Lines now wearing Pennsy gold on it's flanks.  I'm not sure if it was offered for separate sale or if it was part of a set break-up.  The new 0-8-0s came with full round boilers and a gap between boiler and frame and a more appropriate tender design.   This one is equipped with Lionel's mechanical air whistle.

The starter set engines came with a basic valve gear.

Separate sale models came in both conventional and Vanderbilt tender versions,

and had much more detailed valve gear.  The Great Northern oil burner fit into my roster perfectly,  the GN was one of the roads I ran and the Vanderbilt tender added an interesting profile. It also has Steam Railsounds, whistle and bell.

Close-ups of the gap.

Re-lettered for the Pennsy.

@pennsyfan, @Bill Swatos, @Trumptrain, @walt rapp  Thank you all for the nice compliments.  Like most collectors, Walt I try to find those things in the best condition I can and its nice for you to recognize that.  I must say however that since I started collecting around 1972, the amount of good condition "old stuff" was a lot more numerous than today.  Thanks again everyone.

Don

@G3750 posted:

Weirton Steel Alco S-2 switcher #203, a Lionel Legacy (ex CNW 1031) version poses against the backdrop of Weirton's Open Hearth and Strip Steel mock-up.  This model was painted by Christine Braden.

Meanwhile #208, a TMCC S-2 (ex WP #553) in Weirton Steel livery comes off the wye at the bottom of the WSX Yard.  Tommy Gilbert (hobby shop of the same name in Gettysburg, PA) crafted the prototype stack as well as painting the model.

George

It is so nice we can have switchers from our steel mills of our past!

Youngstown Sheet and Tube

Ron

@PRRronbh - gorgeous!

George