Switcher Saturday 01-14-23

OMG, I think I'm coming down with a bad case of Switcheritis, which seems to hit me early Saturday morning most every week. Better keep my distance, it's  contagious LOL.

Here is a short video showing an LC+ Delaware & Hudson hauling freight and an MTH Proto 3 NY Central RS3 hauling passengers through My Little Town:

This video shows a close up of an LC+ Erie Camelback steamer switcher hauling freight including 2 highly detailed Atlas reefers and Lionel Erie smoking caboose (with smoke shut off):

Notice the figures in the engine and caboose.

Happy SWSat!

Thanks for opening up the yard this week Mel!

Nothing new this week but I'll see Mel and Arnold's NE roads and raise them a few!

Have a great weekend!

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Happy SWSat!

Thanks for opening up the yard this week Mel!

Nothing new this week but I'll see Mel and Arnold's NE roads and raise them a few!

Have a great weekend!

Bob

Lookin' real good, Bob!

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Lookin' real good, Bob!

Thanks Arnold. I liked your pair of RS-3's passing each other. Can't go wrong with the NYC and D&H on the rails!

Bob

Happy Switcher Sat everyone and thanks to Mel for kicking things off in JHZs absence.  Here is my little scale LIRR box cab. She may have an undersized speaker and some of the most muted sounds in my fleet, but she runs and looks fantastic. Here she is doing a little work on my mainline -

Good morning SwSat nation, and thanks, MELGAR, for taking the throttle!

I bet some of you guys, like your Yardmaster, have perfectly nice engines you rarely run.  In my case, it’s a MTH Sante Fe NW2, no. 2419.  It’s an early economy model from Mike, equipped only with a horn that sounds like a buzzer.

To remedy this oversight, no. 2419 has been given the honor of pulling all fifteen of the custom flatcars in your Yardmaster’s collection.  Photos/videos of some of these cars have been posted before, but not all at once.  All but three are postwar Lionel red flatcars purchased at train shows for $5.00 or less.

No. 2419 had no problem pulling this heavy consist, but some of the antique couplers on the old flats weren’t up to the task.  Several breakaways were stopped, fortunately, before a serious collision occurred!  Your Yardmaster had to shuffle some of the heavier cars to the front several times before the train would stay coupled for the video run.

Lettering the cars is still on the to do list.  Your Yardmaster suspects he may have to get S or even HO decals to fit the small cars (any suggestions?).  He’s not holding his breath until this project is done!

John

Yay SwSat is on the track!

It is nice to see some familiar faces starting us off this weekend. There seems to be a New England theme this morning which I will meet with some Old England. I’m Posting my 2 Rail O scale London South Western Railway G6 0-6-0T in its later British Rail black #30268.

This was a class of 34 units designed by William Adams for the LSWR in 1893. They were built in several groups at Nine Elms Works in London from 1893 to 1900. Everything above the running boards was copied from his successful design of the LSWR O2 a small 0-4-4T passenger engine. The new wheel arrangement worked well and the G6 were used all over the system in switching and light train movements. They all survived into the post WW2 consolidation of British Rail and the last was retired and scrapped in 1962.

My engine will eventually be returned to LSWR light green but that project is way back down my very long list.

I am planning to visit the big Springfield show and would be happy to meet any SWSaters. Send an email or PM if you are going and would like to meet up.

Have a great weekend. I can’t wait to see what you post.

@MELGAR, thank you for taking the helm this beautiful Saturday morning and kicking off one of our favorite threads, Switcher Saturday. Your layout and videos are fun to review. Awesome. Everyone nice pictures and videos. Happy Railroading Everyone

It's such a treat to see the photos and videos of the switchers that all of you Forum folks post on Saturdays.

Arguably one of my best switchers is my Lionel Legacy Susquehanna diesel switcher shown hauling a mixed consist in the video below:

I got this switcher about 9 months ago in a trade with a local model railroader buddy.

I learned from Googling the Susquehanna Railroad that it's official name was the New York Susquehanna and Western Railroad, that it was in 3 states: New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and it is now part of the Norfolk & Southern and CSX Railroads.

My Legacy model IMO runs, sounds and smokes well, is a very good puller and makes a very nice appearance.

There is a weird problem with it that an authorized technician was unable to fix. Specifically, when the first car is a freight car coupled to the rear coupler of the engine, the front truck of the freight car derails going through 031 curves.; but when the 1st car is a passenger car, the truck of that car doesn't derail going through 031 curves.

To remedy the problem, I either have the engine pull passenger cars or a mixed consist in which the 1st car or two are passenger car(s) and the rest of the cars are freight cars. I understand from reading posts on another recent thread that numerous real railroads ran such mixed consists. Arnold

Good morning SWSAT crew!  Thanks, Mel, for getting things rolling this morning.

A couple pulls off the road to watch AC&Y H16-44 202 as it passes through Killbridge Junction:

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Tom

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Arguably one of my best switchers is my Lionel Legacy Susquehanna diesel switcher shown hauling a mixed consist in the video below:

I got this switcher about 9 months ago in a trade with a local model railroader buddy.

I learned from Googling the Susquehanna Railroad that it's official name was the New York Susquehanna and Western Railroad, that it was in 3 states: New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and it is now part of the Norfolk & Southern and CSX Railroads.

My Legacy model IMO runs, sounds and smokes well, is a very good puller and makes a very nice appearance.

There is a weird problem with it that an authorized technician was unable to fix. Specifically, when the first car is a freight car coupled to the rear coupler of the engine, the front truck of the freight car derails going through 031 curves.; but when the 1st car is a passenger car, the truck of that car doesn't derail going through 031 curves.

To remedy the problem, I either have the engine pull passenger cars or a mixed consist in which the 1st car or two are passenger car(s) and the rest of the cars are freight cars. I understand from reading posts on another recent thread that numerous real railroads ran such mixed consists. Arnold

Arnold- The engine has fixed pilots. On tight curves, the coupler moves so far off center that it's pulling the freight car off the rails. Passenger cars have longer draw bars (typically) so they make it through the curves.

I have the same problem with a few of my engines. Especially my WbB Rutland 70 tonner. I modified the couplers on the engine and removed the centering springs to allow more swing which helped a little. This post war coach works fine but many freight cars will derail. Adding weight to light cars helps too.

Bob

Have a fine Switcher Saturday all. PW 2328 Burlington GP7 from 55 / 56 fine pulling diesel

Thomas, on loan to the D&H, helping out…..

Have a great weekend, folks!

Peter

@RSJB18 posted:

Arnold- The engine has fixed pilots. On tight curves, the coupler moves so far off center that it's pulling the freight car off the rails. Passenger cars have longer draw bars (typically) so they make it through the curves.

I have the same problem with a few of my engines. Especially my WbB Rutland 70 tonner. I modified the couplers on the engine and removed the centering springs to allow more swing which helped a little. This post war coach works fine but many freight cars will derail. Adding weight to light cars helps too.

Bob

Bob, thanks for the advice. However, you're far more advanced mechanically than me. I'm not about to attempt that repair on my own. The authorized technician attempted the repair by replacing the rear electrocoupler with a longer one, but the front truck of the 1st freight car still derails through 031 curves.

Now, I'm fine with running this Legacy diesel by having it pull passenger trains or mixed consists of passenger and freight cars in which the 1st car is a passenger car. Arnold

Arnold and RSJB, I have the same problem with my Rutland 70 tonner.  Lionel cars must have slightly longer drawbars, because I’ve found they’re less likely to derail than my MTH and K-line cars.  Give Lionel a try.

Arnold, you need a Susie-Q boxcar to pair with your engine!  My MTH model is a recent train show acquisition.

John

Good morning switcher aficionados! Mel thanks for taking the controls this morning, you've done a terrific job once again.  My son and his girlfriend were down for a visit last weekend so I missed the last installment and haven't had the opportunity to catch up but i wasn't going to miss two in a row.

The B&M maroon and gold livery on display in several posts is a most handsome combination.

Strap, I think the sounds from your boxcab are incredibly interesting and tone and volume leave nothing to be desired.

John HO decals look fine on those old Lionel flats.

Larry a very colorful selection of switchers this morning.

Arnold very nice contributions this morning.

Andy, seems like your posts are following Mel's example, very informative.  I like it!

I haven't noticed any problem with my WbB GE 70-tonner running on my O-54 layout. I shall check it this week and report on it next Saturday.

MELGAR

Well good morning everyone, and thanks Mel for helping out jhz and getting us started today.  In keeping with what seems to be a "New England" theme this morning, I am showing a Lehigh Valley, GE 70 ton switcher by Marx from 1974-1976 so its a relatively late product for Marx.

Here she is pulling up to the yard lead to pick up a Seaboard gondola that needs to go home.

Getting ready to pick up that Seaboard gondola.  Note the brown exterior 6" gondola is a bit unusual and it is equipped with plastic knuckle couplers vice tab/slot.  It dates from 1957.

Here is this little train about to depart and move up the line.  The matching LV caboose is a lightweight 4 wheel car with black truck facade's painted on the frame.  It dates from 1974.

Best wishes everyone.  Great pictures and video's today, thanks for posting.

Don

Good morning fellow switcher fans!!  This thread seems to get better each week with all the wonderful pics, videos, and information.   MELGAR thanks for jumping into the engineer's seat, notching out the throttle and getting us rolling this morning!   Wishing JHZ563 all things good in his endeavors today!   Also I wish each one of you switcher lovers a wonderful weekend!!  

Today the Free State Junction Railway pays tribute to General Motors EMD who produced many switchers resulting in 4 basic designs over the years.  I don't have a center cab EMD switcher, however, I do have the three other basic designs.  

First up is the BL2 of which the Western Maryland purchased two.  When arriving new on the property the WM put their BL2's in helper service.   Eventually both locomotives spent most of their years doing yard duty in Hagerstown, Md.  A company made slug trailed each locomotive during those years.  A single BL1 preceded the BL2 ... the only difference being that the BL1 lacked M.U. capability.  Later the BL1 was retro fitted for M.U. operation.   Only a few handfuls of the BL2 type locoswere produced in 1949 then production was stopped.  This design did not bode well for EMD as the ALCO RS series of locomotives were outselling the BL2 at that time.   EMD sold the BL2 with a passenger train option/heating boiler.

Some folks behold the BL2 designas being an ugly duckling.  I find the BL2 design very appealing to my eye.   Of course the WM livery does nothing to show the beautiful lines of this locomotive.  Other roads who purchased the BL2 such as the C&O, Monon, Bangor & Aroostok  , Boston & Main,  Florida East Coast, all had liveries that allowed the lines of this locomotive to pop!   MTH and Williams were the only O gauge manufactures to produce the BL2.  This is a MTH Premier model.  

The SW & NW series of locomotives were end cab switchers.  Here a SW9 exits the north end of the  Westend tunnel.

Switchers provide the backbone of railroading IMHO.  They are often assigned tasks in the more seedy parts of town.  

SW9 doing what it does best ... switching!

The GP series of locomotives were designed as General Purpose locomotives ... they could do it all ... yard switching ... local freights ... road engines ... helper service ...  work trains .. local passenger trains ... long distance passenger trains.   Here a passenger equipped B&O GP9 with 1750 hp is serviced before a run.  Passenger equipped GP locomotives  had their air tanks mounted on top of the locomotive.  Doing so allowed for a water tank,  used for passenger train steam heat,  to be  mounted underneath the locomotive.  The steam generator was located inside the short hood.  The B&O always ran their GP locomotives long hood forward.  

Mel, with the larger radius curves you have I don't believe you'll experience any issues with the 70 tonner.

Mel, I only have the problem on my O-31 inner loop.  The lead car, regardless of make, doesn't derail on my O-42 outer loop, so you shouldn't have a problem.  My Williams 44 tonner has fixed pilots too, but handles O-31 with ease.

John

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Bob, thanks for the advice. However, you're far more advanced mechanically than me. I'm not about to attempt that repair on my own. The authorized technician attempted the repair by replacing the rear electrocoupler with a longer one, but the front truck of the 1st freight car still derails through 031 curves.

Now, I'm fine with running this Legacy diesel by having it pull passenger trains or mixed consists of passenger and freight cars in which the 1st car is a passenger car. Arnold

Forgot about the electro-couplers. Yes, modifying them would be more complicated.

A mixed consist it is then!

Bob

@Steam Crazy posted:

Mel, I only have the problem on my O-31 inner loop.  The lead car, regardless of make, doesn't derail on my O-42 outer loop, so you shouldn't have a problem.  My Williams 44 tonner has fixed pilots too, but handles O-31 with ease.

John

The 44 has a different coupler. Mine tolerates 027 curves better as well.

Boy oh boy, what I said earlier sure came true today: Switcheritis is contagious! LOL.

I have a hopeless case of it; want to buy every O Gauge switcher that I don't have and see on this thread. Better put my wallet and credit cards under lock and key.

I also wish to join in and thank Melgar for getting us started, and also thank everyone for their posts today.  IMO, they are all outstanding.

Lionel #41 Army switcher with new RMT Army tankers.

@DMASSO posted:

Lionel #41 Army switcher with new RMT Army tankers.

Like so many of us, the Lionel #41 US Army switcher was my first. Got it for Christmas when I was 3 years old. Still runs just fine.

It is late 1949 and an ES10 is doing some shifting in the north yard before lunch.  The crew is going a bit fast because they don’t want to miss the biscuits and gravy lunch special at Mom’ Diner.

The Pennsy had 32 EMD Switcher 1000hp switchers.  They had one Phase 1 from 1941 and the rest were Phase 4, purchased in 1945 (5) and 1948 (26).  Unfortunately, the Lionel NW2 above is a Phase 5 with the sloping hood.  Oh well, beggars can’t be choosers.

Happy Switcher Saturday!

Retired last year, Mrs. this year and we are moving out of New England to Norfolk Southern Territory!  Looking forward building a new layout in its own room, not a basement!

@RayKay posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday!

Retired last year, Mrs. this year and we are moving out of New England to Norfolk Southern Territory!  Looking forward building a new layout in its own room, not a basement!

Congrats on the retirements. Good luck with the move and keep us posted on your new layout build.

Bob

Here is my NH 0-6-0 switching a couple of B&M Woodside coaches at some unnamed shared location   The responses today have been amazing. So humbling to see so many beautiful layouts!

Here is video I meant to send. Sorry. I have to find out how to retract sent replies

Going through Switcheritis withdrawal. Got to get my fix and see or post another switcher.

Here's my 2nd switcher, purchased by my father for me at Telly's Hardware in downtown Mt. Vernon, NY around 1962 when I was 10 and one-half years old:

It's  a Lionel #626 Baltimore & Ohio 44 ton center cab diesel. I believe it was made around 1958 or 1959. It still runs fine after all these years.

It's got a headlight; no sounds, horn, whistle or bell; and it has a single motor and Magnetraction.  It's a peppy, no frills engine.

Arnold

@Wvm posted:

Here is video I meant to send. Sorry. I have to find out how to retract sent replies

Gorgeous switcher, love everything New Haven. I know I'm not alone.

I have a late entry in the Switcher Saturday Sweepstakes. The line is embargoed due to some tracks being blacked as we work on a village along the line. So it will be a still picture.  We have a Lionel fifties vintage  0-6-0  steam switcher in New Haven Livery setting out two boxcars, one each for the Keeler Bakery and the other for the Connecticut Hard Rubber Company in the New Haven section of the layout

Arnold - here is a video of the Lionel New York Central Passenger/Freight Service Station Set from 1994 (I think). I swapped out the original Lionel RS3, and passenger cars for analogous MTH products. Lionel also produced an additional 4 car set of passenger cars, and a Lightning Stripe Bay Window caboose to go with this set. Apologies for lousy video.

No. 8688 has spotted a trailer on flatcar for unloading at the Depot, and is now sitting at the throat of the yard. Meanwhile, in the foreground, a local freight passes.

@RSJB18 posted:

Congrats on the retirements. Good luck with the move and keep us posted on your new layout build.

Bob

Thanks Bob, will do.