Switcher Saturday 01-28-'23

Happy Switcher Saturday!

Lots of different power moving freight on my “Little Brother” layout this morning.  A little calf tagged along too!

Have a great day!

Happy switcher Saturday!  Today, our 44 tonner is taking possession of our newest boxcar, the Genco wood sided reefer, and integrating it into the supply train -

JHZ563,

Glad to hear you're on the mend.

MTH made 0-4-0, 0-6-0 and 0-8-0 steam switchers in its Premier line. My model of New Haven #3400, a USRA 0-8-0 switcher (20-3148-2 with PS2 and scale wheels), was advertised in the 2005 Volume 1 Catalog at an MSRP of $599.95. Although it doesn’t have traction tires, this engine easily pulls short consists through the Atlas O-54 curves of my 10’-by-5’ layout, but it’s not entirely smooth across the switches. It runs best on the outer loop O-72 curves of my 12’-by-8’ layout but it’s a better match for the scenery on the smaller layout. I would buy another Premier USRA 0-8-0 if MTH produced it in a New Haven, Boston & Maine or Boston & Albany livery. I believe that MTH sold its 0-6-0 tooling to Lionel.

#3400 was one of thirty-five Y-3 class USRA 0-8-0 heavy switchers built by Alco for the New Haven Railroad between 1920 and 1923. Although the Y-3 class was successful, the railroad’s next switcher purchase was sixteen Y-4 class three-cylinder switchers between 1924 and 1927. The last New Haven 0-8-0 switcher was retired in 1952.

The pictures and videos show #3400 pulling New Haven Dairy “Safe Milk” refrigerated car GICX300, New Haven steel boxcar #35238 (both by Weaver Models), and New Haven NE6 caboose C-681 (by Atlas O). Train speed in the videos is 18 scale miles-per-hour.

MELGAR

Tell me please, who makes that Genco Reefer?

@Richard Cuozzo posted:

Tell me please, who makes that Genco Reefer?

They were from Roundhouse South. Only a limited number were made, but they might have some extra on hand.

Happy SWSat!

This week we have the PRR B6 0-6-0 (Lionel PWC) spotting a few Long Island cars around the layout. First up is a load of ducklings from the east end of the Island heading to market.

Then the crew spotted a pair of cars at the transfer warehouse.

A load of fresh seafood from Two Cousins Fish Market and a general goods LIRR car.

Have a great weekend.

Bob

I see we have some videos showing switchers in action this morning. Very cool. I'm also on that wave length.

This is an MTH Premier NY Ontario & Western 44 ton center cab diesel dropping off Loonel Postwar operating mil cars on a siding where there in a Department 56 Diner:

Good morning SWSAT crew!

A local grain facility took advantage of a military surplus auction and picked up this small locomotive for use as the company switcher:

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Tom

@RSJB18 posted:

Bob, that two cousins boxcar looks awesome. I held off buying the pre order since I’ve never visited the place, but after seeing it on your layout, I’m starting to regret that decision.

Some shots from the vault.

@Strap Hanger posted:

Bob, that two cousins boxcar looks awesome. I held off buying the pre order since I’ve never visited the place, but after seeing it on your layout, I’m starting to regret that decision.

Give Nassau Hobby a call. When I posted it on the Buy anything cool thread, another member commented on the car and wrote that they still had a few left.

The LIRR car is the 75th anniversary car for Nassau Hobby. They had a stack of them on the counter.

Between you and me today we have just about covered the meals for the weekend. Roast duckling and lobster tail tonight, and Nathans Hotdogs and Budweiser for tomorrow's AFC and NFC Championship games.

Thanks

JHZ, I hope the MRI results for your wrist were favorable, glad your coming along.

tnkMarx, good looking switcher on a great looking layout.

Strap you've got a couple of gorgeous reefers there.

Mel that's a handsome brute of a switcher.  Good to see the New Haven keeping it clean and spiffy.  During your videos, I perceive the steam engines slowing, more audible than visual, in curves and while on bridges.  Knowing your attention to detail I was wondering if you were manipulating the throttle, as a real engineer may, for the conditions or if the engine was just re-acting to the track conditions?  Again it's more a change in sound than an actual slowing of the engine.  And as I said that's my perception and I know, contrary to current beliefs, perception is not reality.

Rob, some nice local "flavor" to the switching duties this morning.

Arnold, that train would look great on a "High Line" passing The Stadium.

U.S. Army #41 going to the Missile range.

Have a great SWSat…🚂😉

Happy Switcher Saturday…

Welcome back Rich.  The layout's looking great.

Good afternoon fellow switcher fans!   Once again JHZ563 thanks for being at the throttle and getting us rolling this morning ... and thanks for keeping this wonderful thread goingWonderful pics, videos and info. from all of you!!   Great to see Rich Murnane back today   I hope you all have a most enjoyable weekend!  

Today on the FSJR Buzzie McAlester, Superintendent of Switching Operations ( SSO ,)  has been out on foot and cruising alongside the tracks in his 54 Buick Roadmaster observing the fleet and crews in action.  

Hogger Leroy Petrone  takes off his hat  as a " sort of salute "to the SSO.  

A GP 9 eases onto a siding.

A Baltimore & Annapolis SW9 slowly makes its' way over the grade at Patburg Ave.  The sanitation workers are popping open cold beers as their day is done.  Buzzie can't wait to pop open his own cold brew once his day is done.

Buzzie stops back at his office for lunch and observes this trio of switchers from his office window.  

Walking across the pedetrian bridge Buzzie sees a B&O SW9 with piggy back cars in tow.

Buzzie honks his horn and gives a friendly wave as he drives past  hogger Jake Skaggs and fireman Lenny Jenkins standing beside their Docksider.   They decided to stretch their legs a bit as they await their next assignment.

@Murnane posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday…

Nice baseball field, Rich, in background.

@coach joe posted:

Mel that's a handsome brute of a switcher.  Good to see the New Haven keeping it clean and spiffy.  During your videos, I perceive the steam engines slowing, more audible than visual, in curves and while on bridges.  Knowing your attention to detail I was wondering if you were manipulating the throttle, as a real engineer may, for the conditions or if the engine was just re-acting to the track conditions?  Again it's more a change in sound than an actual slowing of the engine.  And as I said that's my perception and I know, contrary to current beliefs, perception is not reality.

Joe,

The transformer throttle is set and both hands are used to hold the camera while recording the videos.

In my experience, no speed control is perfect. On both my layouts, the tables and track are level, the track sections (on straights and curves) are aligned, and there are multiple power-drops to the track. There is more drag and reduced electrical contact as an engine and train cross a switch, and the inertia of the train prevents the speed control from reacting quickly enough to prevent a slight drop in speed or change in sounds, especially when the entire train transitions from a straight to a curve. Steam engines have more internal friction than diesels due to the rod and valve mechanisms, so these effects may be more noticeable than on diesels. Any change in sounds is also more apparent on a steam engine with its rhythmic chuffing compared to the steady drone of a diesel.  Two other factors on this particular engine are that there are no pickup-rollers under the engine – only under the tender - and the narrow scale-width driving-wheels have no traction-tires. This engine, and some others by MTH, would benefit by adding a pickup-roller under the engine. It also helps if track is absolutely clean. Mine is not dirty but engines run best immediately after cleaning the track, wheels and rollers with 91% isopropyl alcohol. None of this is intended as an excuse. However, the speed and sound variations with this engine and train are quite small and seem normal to me. In my opinion, the best speed control is found on MTH diesels with PS3. I will run one next week and you can tell me what you think. I also think that MTH speed control on my steam engines is better than on my Lionel engines.

MELGAR

Well here is my American Flyer Type X locomotive from 1932 or somewhat later getting ready to handle the overnight push to move freight cars out of the yard and home or make trains ready for early departure.

Happy SwSat to everyone.  Best wishes.  jhz - glad you are healing up and getting better.

Don

@Murnane posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday…

Rich,

You did quite a job on Switcher Saturday over the years. We all owe you a big "Thank You."

MELGAR

Mel, thanks for the reply.  I sometimes see a slow down on my tight 0-31, 0-27 curves that I attribute to friction and inertia. Knowing you're a conventional operator I was thinking that was the cause of the change in tempo of the chuff although a visual change in speed wasn't noticeable.

@Murnane posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday…

Good to see you are still a switcher aficionado Rich!

Bob

Wow, there are so many beautiful pictures and videos this Switcher Saturday, January 28, 2023….. I actually mowed my yard and picked up the leaves, 60 degrees and sunshine here in middle Tennessee., that’s a first for me…. Here’s some switchers for your review, Happy Railroading Everyone

@coach joe posted:

Mel, thanks for the reply.  I sometimes see a slow down on my tight 0-31, 0-27 curves that I attribute to friction and inertia. Knowing you're a conventional operator I was thinking that was the cause of the change in tempo of the chuff although a visual change in speed wasn't noticeable.

Joe,

Speed control may function better with command control and 18 volts on the track, but I'm satisfied with how my layouts operate conventionally and prefer to avoid rewiring, electronic issues and the cost of command control. The additional features aren't important to me and I don't think it's necessary on my layouts where most of the curves are O-54 and O-72. Do you run speed-controlled engines on O-27 and O-31? Are there variations in speed and sounds? I'd be interested to see a video.

One further point on New Haven #3400 with scale wheels. MTH says it "operates on 42-inch radius curves." Mine is running on 27-inch radius curves and switches.

MELGAR

@MELGAR  Mel- I have found that TMCC and PS 2-3 engines do run better at 18v under command control.

As a 027 power user, I can attest to the improvement. 🤣🤣

Bob

Still dumping coal on the On30 Utacolzona R.R.
From the narrow gauge to the standard gauge below.

Thanks for looking.       Dennis.

Utacolzona Railroad in On30 (built 2020 - 2022) Last Update 1/29/23

Getting this one in just under the wire! I acquired it from an estate lot I purchased recently. It was sitting forlornly covered in dust with a bunch of other equipment that I'm cleaning up. It's a 2008 vintage Protosound 2.0 model. I charged the battery up for a few hours and gave it a spin, runs great! The only thing that drives me a little nuts is the "Lines" addition to the Southern Pacific lettering. To the best of my knowledge, this was dropped before any tiger stripe locomotives were painted. Oh well, It would be easy enough to correct with some Microscale decals, just weird that MTH didn't notice or care that this is not correct for these locos.

Happy Switcher Saturday!!! We love the switchers, steam and diesel. Here, a Southern Pacific SW1 working on a Saturday.

@coach joe posted:

Mel, thanks for the reply.  I sometimes see a slow down on my tight 0-31, 0-27 curves that I attribute to friction and inertia. Knowing you're a conventional operator I was thinking that was the cause of the change in tempo of the chuff although a visual change in speed wasn't noticeable.

A while ago, I posted this explanation of why traction tire-equipped locos slow down more the tighter the curve:

https://ogrforum.com/...9#165010489557025999

This is also true for locos with no traction tires since wheel slippage must still occur in curves, even if some of it occurs on the outside wheel. The reason slowing is less pronounced in locos without traction tires is that the rail to wheel coefficient of friction is lower when no traction tire is present.

Another factor that comes into play is rail profile. FasTrack curves have flatter railheads vs. tubular track curves resulting in greater frictional load on FasTrack curves vs. tubular track curves of the same radius.

@coach joe posted:

Welcome back Rich.  The layout's looking great.

Thank you Joe, the layout is the local club's layout (Rappahannock Model Railroaders), spent some time there yesterday morning and really liked that picture.  I keep up with this SWAT every once in a while, thankful you all (esp @jhz563) have kept it going.  He's probably been running the train now longer than I did all those years ago.

@RSJB18 - hey Rob, yeah, still love my switchers :-)   & @trumpettrain - you're pics and stories continue to bring smiles to our faces!

@MELGAR - my pleasure!  I'm glad it survives and I love seeing your layout and switchers, though I get credit for starting SWSAT back in 2015 there were a bunch of us that kept it running back then, just like nowadays.

@Arnold D. Cribari - the baseball field is my favorite section of the club layout, it was created before my time in the club and I believe the players were purchased at York over a decade ago.

All the best to you everyone...Rich

Hello, SwSat crew!  Your Yardmaster is late to the party due to attending the Springfield show (great, got a new switcher, will post next Sat) but - hopefully - better late than never!

Last Saturday Arnold and I talked about mixed trains, so I thought one would be a good subject for today’s post.  B&M RS3 no. 1509 is seen with a mixed train on the B&M Central Mass branch, near the village of Oakdale, in West Boylston, MA.

The predecessor to B&M on this branch was the Central Mass RR.  This line was expected to be a major East/West artery from Boston by its founders in the 1870’s, but was doomed to failure by existing East/West competition;  B&A to the South and the Fitchburg RR (later a B&M branch) to the North.  Today, much of the old branch is a popular rail trail.

John

John - @Steam Crazy,

I'm intensely curious to see the new switcher! Can't imagine what it might be.

MELGAR

Sorry, Mel, you’re going to have to wait until Saturday to see it!

John

Bob,

Message I got is "not found on server."

MELGAR

Same here.

@MELGAR posted:

Bob,

Message I got is "not found on server."

MELGAR

@Richard Cuozzo posted:

Same here.

Sorry guys. I'm using Google Photos to share videos that are too big to post on the forum, because I don't have a youtube account. I will check the settings and repost if I can.

Bob,

Still same error on my system.

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

Bob,

Still same error on my system.

MELGAR

Sorry Mel. I took the post down. I will try and edit the video to under 100MB and post it to the forum.

Bob