New York Central 0-4-0 #901 is an MTH Premier model (20-3261-1, MSRP $599.95) with PS2 delivered in 2007 and listed as having 1:48 scale proportions.

MTH describes the model as a Pennsylvania A5s with its Belpaire firebox replaced by a standard radial firebox. The builder’s plate on the smokebox of the New York Central version even says “Juniata Shops” – not a manufacturer from which the NYC would have bought locomotives. Photos of PRR A5s in Pennsy Power, by Alvin F. Staufer, also suggest that the model’s tender is taller than scale, probably to accommodate electronics.

I consulted Steam Locomotives of the New York Central Lines, Volume 1 by W. D. Edson, H. L. Vail Jr., and E. L. May, the authoritative reference on New York Central steam locomotives, but found no information on a superheated 0-4-0 switcher like this model. The NYC was buying more powerful 0-6-0 steamers by 1900 and began superheating them around 1915. So, although this excellent model is not prototypical, it’s a good size for the O-36 inner loop and the narrow rock cut on my 12’-by-8’ model railroad.

This little locomotive running through the rock cut on my O-36 loop reminds me of when I was about 12 years old and rebuilt my O gauge railroad into an HO layout with small locomotives and a single track branch line. About a year later, I began to concentrate on airplanes - real and model - and didn't resume O gauge railroading for almost four decades...

MELGAR

Thanks for starting off Switcher Saturday Patrick. I had two engines on my home layout ready to be stars on SWSAT only to have my phone mess up. So here is my Lionel Legacy A5 0-4-0 in Christmas Livery. A METCA Custom order; running on the Equestra Trainclub layout in the Equestra clubhouse.

MTH PS3 New York Ontario & Western 44 ton center cab diesel switcher hauling box cars and a caboose through a passing siding in upstate New York:

Arnold

Happy SWSat!

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. We have my brother-in-law and his wife staying with us so it's been a busy house this week. Their older daughter is coming by today after spending the holiday with her boyfriend in the City. They live near Syracuse NY so they are planning to high-tail it off Long Island today before any snow starts flying up there. Just to the north of them, Watertown NY is expecting 6'.....yes feet.....
off of Lake Ontario......I'll pass.
The good part is that I got to show them my layout last night and they were both impressed. My brother-in-law agrees that I should have a larger layout to show of my talents and run more of my switcher fleet. Funny how he got the same dirty look that I do when he told his sister (my wife)......

I had my Reading 0-6-0t, Lionel Lionchief+ 2.0 and NYC 0-6-0, MTH PS2 running and they performed well. I even turned the Reading smoke unit on and almost obliterated the basement in about 30 seconds. That little engine can produce some serious smoke.
I have to give an honorable mention to my PRR Doodlebug that also saw action last night even though it's technically not a switcher.
Patrick- Sorry to hear that your MA and PA has died again. Hopefully Lionel will figure out what's wrong and repair it.

Enjoy the rest of the Holiday weekend. Time to break out the Christmas trains!

Bob

Good morning, SwSat Nation!  My busy holiday schedule required a trip to the archives today, but I found a beauty; my postwar Lionel Chesapeake and Ohio EMD NW2 no. 624.  I received it for Christmas about 1954.

I’m not concerned with value, so I modified this switcher with a few dabs of paint to make it look more prototypical (die hard collectors, please close your eyes!).  A trio of Lionel RDCs makes a nice backdrop while the 624 runs by.  The RDC1 is a postwar unit circa 1957; the RDC4s are postwar reproductions.

John

Patrick thanks, as always, for keeping us rolling every week.  Sorry to read about the Ma&Pa.

Bob, Time to break out the Christmas trains! , I was thinking the same thing as I was scrolling through this thread.  Good thing I started dismantling the intermodal yard before I came north.  I guess I'll get about a week of running beer trains to break in my new RMT offerings and then switch to Christmas when I get back home.

Terrific posts everyone!!

Steam Crazy - John your C&O NW2 switcher radiates a beautiful character that is distinctly owned by postwar Lionel trains and in particular switchers.  A few dabs of paint spruces up your 624 quite well!  I love how smooth it runs too!

MELGAR -  Your NYC 0-4-0 looks wonderfully right at home on your layout, even though it's not prototypically a NYC locomotive, as you point out in your very informative narrative.  Sometimes in our O gauge/scale world we have to overlook some of the fine ( and not so fine ) detail and let our imaginations do the rest.  Yep, NYC would never had Pennsy manufacture any of their locomotives for sure.   I'm surprised that MTH would have let that builders plate slide by.

Arnold - your NYO & W 44 tonner looks terrific pulling that colorful string of boxcars!  Someday I hope to own a MTH 44 tonner either in Western Maryland or B&O livery.  

Pennsyfan - Bob your 0-4-0 Christmas switcher looks pretty darn festive! ... as does its' consist!!

RSJB18 Bob -  When the Free State Junction MOW team heard the weather forecast for Watertown, they got busy with a practice run!!  Foreman C.W. Moss immediately laced up two GP9s to power the consist.  

Btw - your Reading 0-6-0 tank looks great!!  Also it's great you got some moral support from your brother-in-law!!!

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

MTH PS3 New York Ontario & Western 44 ton center cab diesel switcher hauling box cars and a caboose through a passing siding in upstate New York:

Arnold

Very nice Arnold that’s part of your layout that I don’t recall seeing before.

PW Lionel Erie #610 from 1955 have a Switcher of a Saturday

I'll add my PW 623 to the party today. I bought it used but these old Lionel trains never die. And these are particularly solid.

This one had a lot of miles on it judging by the rollers.

Bob

@pennsyfan posted:

Thanks for starting off Switcher Saturday Patrick. I had two engines on my home layout ready to be stars on SWSAT only to have my phone mess up. So here is my Lionel Legacy A5 0-4-0 in Christmas Livery. A METCA Custom order; running on the Equestra Trainclub layout in the Equestra clubhouse.

Bob, that’s quite a colorful festive train being pulled by one of my now favorite engines. Thanks for sharing.

Gene

Happy Switcher Saturday!

Today I am showing Lionel's 0-4-0 steam switcher (6-18662)

Take Care,

Ray

Here is my Williams Southern 44 T switcher, operating around "Small Town" on my layout.

Best Wishes, Don

@Genemed posted:

Bob, that’s quite a colorful festive train being pulled by one of my now favorite engines. Thanks for sharing.

Gene

Thanks Gene, our kick off this year will be next Saturday. The finishing touches will be done beginning of the week. I’ll be checking all the lines; 2 ON30 trolley lines, an HO dog bone, EZ Streets loop, 3 O Ga loops, 2 LGB loops, and an HO Monorail in the amusement park. My intention is to get  a complete video Friday evening.

I do hope that all of you enjoyed Thanksgiving.  My post pictures a small MTH 0-4-0 that seems to have run away from its usual inner city stomping grounds.   Have a great weekend.

@pennsyfan posted:

Thanks Gene, our kick off this year will be next Saturday. The finishing touches will be done beginning of the week. I’ll be checking all the lines; 2 ON30 trolley lines, an HO dog bone, EZ Streets loop, 3 O Ga loops, 2 LGB loops, and an HO Monorail in the amusement park. My intention is to get  a complete video Friday evening.

Sounds like a good time. I’ll be looking forward to the video.

Gene

Wow, there are some great looking switchers, cool videos, and @pennsyfan, I love your A5 Christmas colored steamer and the neat Christmas train cars, and a great video, Christmas is always a fun time to run our trains. Happy Switcher Saturday everyone…

Thanks, as always, for rolling us out "smooth and easy" this SWSAT, Patrick! I hope that little "doodlebug" is going to be OK! For my "Sunday Supplement," it's 2001's QVC Soo Line Transportation set consist with my GP38-2 on the point:

I got the QVC set "almost" NIB from Forum sponsor Trainz, but the previous owner had removed the single-motor Soo GP9, leaving the perfect box behind in the set. Trainz came through with a 50% refund and I was happy to get the rest of the set in NIB condition anyway, since I have the dual-motor GP38-2 from 1993's Soo Line Special service station set. Thanks to @Mark V. Spadaro for pointing out the QVC set on Trainz.

A closer look at the QVC consist:

The tractors on a flat:

One of the two flats each with a trailer:

Finally, the caboose which I'm almost certain isn't prototypical but fun anyway:

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving with family and friends!

@leapinlarry posted:

Wow, there are some great looking switchers, cool videos, and @pennsyfan, I love your A5 Christmas colored steamer and the neat Christmas train cars, and a great video, Christmas is always a fun time to run our trains. Happy Switcher Saturday everyone…

Love that Air Force switcher Larry, I wish I had pulled the trigger and bought one.

@Bill Swatos - Bill, excuse my ignorance but what is a "QVC" set?

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

@Bill Swatos - Bill, excuse my ignorance but what is a "QVC" set?

Don

I believe it's the TV network that sells cheap jewelry and other crap.....🤣🤣