Atlas SWs and custom painted postwar Lionel RRRR switchers

Boston & Maine Alco RS-3 #1506 is an MTH Railking model (30-21164) delivered in 2024 with PS3 at MSRP $389.95. Like my other MTH RS-3 diesels, the manufacturing quality is exceptional and it has the realistic sounds of a 12-cylinder Alco 244 motor. The excellent low-speed operation made it possible to take good videos of a slow-moving  milk train on my 10’-by-5’ layout.

B&M #1506 was built by Alco at Schenectady in April 1954 and equipped for passenger service. Alco produced 1,416 RS-3s between May 1950 and August 1956. They weighed 247,100 pounds, had 61,775 pounds tractive effort, 1,600 horsepower, and maximum speeds between 65 and 85 mph depending on gearing.

Videos show the engine running at 16 scale-miles-per-hour on my 10’-by-5’ model railroad pulling three milk cars – New Haven Dairy GICX 300, Bellows Falls Co-Operative Creamery MTC 1835, and Hood’s Milk GARE 819. The Boston & Maine Railroad transported milk from Bellows Falls, VT to the Boston area for Hood’s Milk and First National Stores (Brookside Milk), so those two cars in my train are probably realistic. Products for the New Haven Dairy would most likely have gone on the B&M to Springfield, MA and then into New Haven on the New Haven Railroad.

MELGAR

Free State Junction Railway BL1/2 fleet. " The Beauty and the Beast"  

I've always thought the WM BL2 to be rather drab looking compared to the paint schemes of the other 7 prototype roads who purchased the BL2 locomotive.   However, Western Maryland is one of the 8 roads I model and of course WM was the only one of those 8 who purchased a BL2 ... they purchased two in fact.  The two WM B2s numbers 81 &82 stayed in this same livery throughout the entirety of their service years. Even after WM was absorbed into the Chessie System these two locomotive's  livery never changed from what you see here.  Both BL2 spent most of their years in the WM ( now CSX )  yards in Hagerstown, Md. The locomotives were retired at some point in the 1980s.  Number 81 resides at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.  

Patrick, don't take this wrong, but which one is which?   

George

Having dropped the caboose (required by the 3 mile run over the Panhandle mainline from Weirton Steel to Standard Slag), WSX Alco S-2 #208 huffs and puffs and pushes its string of slag cars onto the dump track.

George

@G3750 posted:

Patrick, don't take this wrong, but which one is which?   

George

Hey George!  No offense taken .. lol! If I'm reading you correctly .. you might be one of many who may not have an affection for the BL2??  Only fans of the BL2 can tell the difference ... to everyone else all BL2s look all the same. LOL!  

Your S2 and slag cars look terrific!!!  .... as does your yard too!!

Good morning, SWSAT crew!

I'm switching things up this week. (Pun intended )  First the back story:  A couple years ago I got involved with a local HO group that focused on operations.  It was basically a large switching layout in one of the guy's basement.  This exposure to operations infected me with the operations bug.  While I can, and do, perform operating sessions on my O scale layout, it is difficult to do with more than two people.

After attending a local train show this past summer I hatched a plan to build a modular N scale switching layout.  I wanted a modular layout that could be easily transported, could be assembled in multiple configurations and had the capability of supporting several operating crews.  What I designed was a series of modules that are six feet long and one foot wide.  There is one module that is two feet wide that contains a yard.  Another has a spur that exits the side of the module.  There are three end modules with bumpers to prevent trains from running off the end of the layout.  I also constructed two corner modules.  There are six full size modules.  The track is centered on the module at each end and set back 2 1/2 inches to accommodate a connector track.  The modules are constructed of 1 1/2" extruded foam board supported by a wood frame.  Alignment pins and draw hasps secure the modules together and keep the track aligned.  Wiring is via a two wire cable that uses automotive flat connectors at each end.  Multiple power drops are included to ensure reliable power distribution.  Power is provided by a Digitrax Zephyr DCC system.  A UT6D handheld throttle is used for mobility.  All switches are manually operated.  All rolling stock is equipped with Micro-trains compatible couplers. There are currently no plans to add scenery, but I intend to add removable structures in the near future.

While I have had several "test" operating sessions in my garage with all modules in use, I have found that I can set up a single module on the dining room table and do some quick switching in the house.  One weekend, when my wife was out of town, I set up two modules in our family room and had an operating session while watching a college  football game.

This past weekend I gave the layout its first official appearance.  My wife and I went to our nephew's house in Michigan to help with the kids.  I took three of the six modules with us.  I set the layout up on the floor in the basement.  After going over the rules with the two oldest boys (ages 4 & 6) I  did some quick switching moves, showing them how the throttle operates.  I let one of the boys run the throttle while the other threw switches at my direction.  After switching the industries on the first module the boys traded places and we continued onto the second module.  The entire operating session took about 2 1/2 hours.  Their mother and my wife were extremely grateful for keeping the boys occupied for that long.

Here are some pictures of the layout while set up in Michigan:

Before I disassembled the layout I let each boy run the locomotive from one end of the layout to the other and back again, no restrictions .

Both boys did an excellent job of running the trains. They played well together, which is highly unusual.  They both grasped the concept of how real railroads deliver and pick up goods.

Some things I learned:

- Clean track is a must

- Never set the layout up on the floor - that much crawling around takes a toll on this old body

- I didn't know a N scale locomotive could go so fast

- Bumpers are pretty strong

Sorry for rambling on.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Tom

Happy SWSAT All! Thanks for the start of this Saturday's Edition of a great thread Patrick. My operation today involves a PCR F40 PH and an EMD demonstrator SW8. The Dispatcher ordered the crew of the RB2 extra to drop their train just before the Keith Interlocking and move down the Main 7 car lengths. Holding until the EMD Demonstrator could add 4 more TOFs to their consist. Highly unusual to tie up both mains and the Main St crossing for a switching operation. The Junior Yard Master, Quinn caught H@&$ for giving the RB2 the green out of the yard before the 4 cars could be added.

Click the tube link

https://youtu.be/FzCSKsMFpz8?si=e1caJhb0iCRMGkyi

New York Central Legacy Geeps, on the road.....

Have a great and safe week, folks!

Peter

One of my prettiest and maybe my best, this Legacy Susquehanna diesel switcher, from the archives:

Arnold

Weaver Rock Island 499

@TomDensel…Looks great!

This weekly thread is why I built my HO switching layout.  The hollow core door worked perfect for the space I had.

Here is a CSX moving a couple PC cars.

Have a great SwSat!

Good morning, SwSat Nation!  Patrick, thanks for telling me about the Facebook post, I didn’t know about it.  I got another surprise last night; I was looking at train videos on You Tube when I stumbled on an OGR video with my antique American Flyer 0-6-0.  I’m humbled to be in the company of some of the other fine modelers that contribute to this thread!

I enjoyed your BL2 history, you know it’s one of my favorite diesels, too.  You almost got my to “switch” from the switcher I planned to post today, but I’m sticking with another nice Williams model, my Canadian National RS3.  No. 3019 is seen hauling a long coal drag somewhere in the hinterlands of Ontario.

John

@trumpettrain Patrick, thanks for the well written history of the BL1/2. It’s great to hear you finding the only BL1 to add to your collection. Good luck with it.

Gene

Happy Switcher Saturday. Great pics, everyone! Here is our LIRR RS1 pulling out of a sidetrack -

Wow, @trumpettrain, Patrick, what a great start off for this beautiful Saturday in middle Tennessee. Great pictures everyone, and Happy Railroading Everyone

Happy SWSat!

Was planning something else but I'll jump on the BL-2 bandwagon since I'm a fan of these ugly ducklings.

This is an early MTH model with horn and bell only.

Bob

My Rich Yoder 3R brass 44 toner equipped with TMCC, switching Revere Sugar

@Tom Densel  Your tale of modular switching and attracting young model railroaders is a very timely one.  That's very well done and something we can all learn from.  My NMRA division superintendent, the membership committee chair, and I are all involved in trying to boost membership and this is a story I intend to relate to them.  Getting young people involved via modules and handing them a throttle is terrific technique.  Thank you, and again - well done!

George

Happy Switch Sat.!

In keeping with a RS - 3 theme I'm showing my well used early 2.0 Rail King B&M model, I don't own a BL2.

Take Care, Ray

Lionel Pennsy GP-7 running the rails on SWITCHER SATURDAY.

Well its a beautiful sunny day in the 70's here in Central Texas so I have been busy on "non-train" tasks today taking advantage of the warmer weather, but in keeping with SwSat here is a little Japanese lithographed tinplate 0-4-0 locomotive from the manufacturer "TN".  She is battery powered with the single "D" cell going in the boiler using the boiler front as a door.  Her consist is just one passenger car, which may qualify her as a "switcher" just moving a car into place to be hitched up to the next express coming along.  This loco is an example of the Japanese product era in the 1950's and early 1960's when their government decided that lithographed tin toys was a logical next step after inexpensive ceramic items in their post war recovery.  They made some really beautiful and elaborate tin plated trains and the quality was quite high.  By the 1980's all this stuff had migrated to China and the quality suffered greatly.  Anyway, here is my "switcher" for today, the 0-4-0 TN steam switcher and her single passenger car.

Best Wishes, hope your upcoming week goes well.

Don

@G3750 posted:

@Tom Densel  Your tale of modular switching and attracting young model railroaders is a very timely one.  That's very well done and something we can all learn from.  My NMRA division superintendent, the membership committee chair, and I are all involved in trying to boost membership and this is a story I intend to relate to them.  Getting young people involved via modules and handing them a throttle is terrific technique.  Thank you, and again - well done!

George

Thank you, George.

I originally built the modular layout as a selfish experiment.  During the construction, one of our neighbor kids, who is autistic and LOVES trains, came over and I showed him what I was building.  I explained how the layout would eventually operate and theory of point-to-point operations.  He would often check in as construction progressed.  When I got things up and running I had him come over to do a simple switching session.  Later, I took him along to one of the HO operating session.  The owner of the layout had never met him before.  He handed him a throttle, explained how it worked, assigned him a locomotive and told him I was his conductor...MOVE IT OUT!  He had a blast!  His parents told me he talked about it constantly for several weeks and repeatedly thanked me for including him.  I have had a couple inquiries about publicly displaying the layout, especially during the holidays.  Based on the reactions I have gotten, I may have to seriously consider it.  It seems this selfish experiment has turned into a winning situation for all.

Tom

@Tom Densel posted:

Thank you, George.

I originally built the modular layout as a selfish experiment.  During the construction, one of our neighbor kids, who is autistic and LOVES trains, came over and I showed him what I was building.  I explained how the layout would eventually operate and theory of point-to-point operations.  He would often check in as construction progressed.  When I got things up and running I had him come over to do a simple switching session.  Later, I took him along to one of the HO operating session.  The owner of the layout had never met him before.  He handed him a throttle, explained how it worked, assigned him a locomotive and told him I was his conductor...MOVE IT OUT!  He had a blast!  His parents told me he talked about it constantly for several weeks and repeatedly thanked me for including him.  I have had a couple inquiries about publicly displaying the layout, especially during the holidays.  Based on the reactions I have gotten, I may have to seriously consider it.  It seems this selfish experiment has turned into a winning situation for all.

Tom

Tom - Wow! What a wonderful story!  Your kindness gave/gives this young man a thrilling experience.  Best wishes going forward with your switching layout and the community involvement!

@Genemed posted:

@trumpettrain Patrick, thanks for the well written history of the BL1/2. It’s great to hear you finding the only BL1 to add to your collection. Good luck with it.

Gene

Thanks you very much for your kind words Gene!  

A very nice discourse on EMD's BL1 and BL2 locomotives to start us off, Patrick. Over time, it seems this locomotive has  come to be considered by most railroad enthusiasts as anything but an "ugly duckling," including me! I guess the "resonance" we've experienced in our recent posts has not carried through to this week, though.

For my SWSAT Sunday Supplement, I present my almost finished ca. 1994 MTH (formerly PS-1) GP9 in NYC "Lightning Stripe" livery:

Here she is pulling a short NYC regional passenger consist of Lionel 60' semi-scale aluminum streamliners:

As the air tanks on the roof attest, the prototype #5946, built in December of 1955, had been fitted with a steam generator for passenger service so she is doing what she was originally built to do. I love "excuses" for pulling passenger trains whenever I can find them.

The model now has a Lionchief/Flyerchief GP7 board installed to replace the PS-1 electronics that, as I mentioned in a SWSAT post a few weeks ago, had been "fried" by the previous owner (and not mentioned by the seller). I'm working on a few "tweaks" under the hood that I think will assure long service life. I'll post the whole project on "Workbench" when I get done. Thanks to @RSJB18 for the idea of using these boards for switcher upgrades. BTW Bob, it's great when all of the functions available on the Lionchief board are already installed on the receiving loco!

Finally, here's my new cellphone with the LionChief app controlling the loco on idle:

@Bill Swatos posted:

The model now has a Lionchief/Flyerchief GP7 board installed to replace the PS-1 electronics that, as I mentioned in a SWSAT post a few weeks ago, had been "fried" by the previous owner (and not mentioned by the seller). I'm working on a few "tweaks" under the hood that I think will assure long service life. I'll post the whole project on "Workbench" when I get done. Thanks to @RSJB18 for the idea of using these boards for switcher upgrades. BTW Bob, it's great when all of the functions available on the Lionchief board are already installed on the receiving loco!

Finally, here's my new cellphone with the LionChief app controlling the loco on idle:

Looks and sounds great Bill. Yea- not having to do everything from scratch makes things simpler.

FYI- try the Cab 3 app. All the same functionality (and more) and the vertical screen makes is easier to navigate.

Bob