Switcher Saturday 05-07-22

Happy Switcher Saturday, everyone!  Here is an RS-1 hauling a load through downtown.  

on a side note, the MTH RS-1s really are one of the best values in Ogauge.  Great detailing and sound at railking prices.

Ah, yes!  The Lionel #41 gas turbine switcher!  I have one that was given to me as a gift.  I use it as a company switcher at a grain elevator. (It was acquired as Army surplus)

I find that it actually is a good photographic subject:

Here is a photo of a real gas turbine switcher ( Museum of Transportation, St. Louis)

As for being noisy, yes they are.  They also don't have much pulling power.  Here is a short video of my 41 moving a couple of hoppers.  It struggles a couple of times, but it gets the job done.

Tom

An Atlas SW9 that, unfortunately hit the floor.   

Burlington SW9   

Canadian action today.

Happy Switcher Saturday!

Happy SWSat!

I'm with Strap on the RS-1's. Great loco's and excellent runners.

With deference to John @Steam Crazy, may I present the RSJ&B's own performance of "Tales of the Docksider"

Railroad management recently attended a well-known equipment auction in PA looking for more motive power for their yard operations. Unable to locate a ready to run loco that was within budget, they opted for a pair of projects instead. They purchased a nice ALCO S2 and chassis at reasonable prices with the intent to build one complete switcher from the assembled parts. First they found a nice loco that the New York Central sold off that had been stripped of it's prime movers. Luckily they also found a chassis that the SOO line was selling that had the prime movers that they needed. With some time, and the necessary parts, the RSJ&B will have another capable switcher to dispatch. Shop foreman, Smitty Smitherson, even suggested using the spare chassis as a yard slug which would be a nice bonus.
Since the auction yard is close to their home yard and shops, they dispatched the crew on NYC 9998, an 0-4-0 tank engine, to retrieve their new purchases.

Rounding the bend to the engine yard with a pause for a glamor shot for the company news letter.

Finally 9998 backs 8524 on to track 1 in the engine yard. Several projects are already in the shop so this will wait a while.

The chassis will be shipped to the yard as soon as a flat car is available. The crew will be happy to get a roof over their heads again!

Everyone have a great weekend!

Bob

It’s SWSat day…have a great one…🚂😉🙀

Have a nice Switcher Saturday, U.S. Army #41 getting a workout,

On this Mother’s Day weekend, Trainworld had me guffawing with this little video that just hit. It’s not  all switchers, but I thought I’d share it with you guys anyway. Here’s to the ladies in our lives, particularly the Mothers -

https://www.instagram.com/reel...?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

Small engines and short trains look best on my small model railroads, so that’s what I run. Photos show Atlas O Trainman model (20033012) of New Haven Railroad ALCo RS3 diesel switcher #531 and MTH Premier model (20-20549-1) of New York Central Railroad EMD GP-9 #6001 from the 2015 Volume 2 catalog. MTH Boston & Maine ALCo S2 diesel switcher #1274 also can be seen in the video. On my 12’-by-8’ model railroad.

MELGAR

                                                          CNJ action...

TALES OF THE DOCKSIDER

You asked for it, SwSat fans, NYC shop switcher X-8688 is back!  Today she is moving another shipment of military vehicles destined for Fort Devens in Ayer, MA to the B&M yard.

The flatcars in this consist, with one exception, is comprised of painted and detailed postwar Lionel cars that I bought at a show for $5 apiece.  I believe it shows you can put together a realistic looking train on a small budget and have fun in the process.

RJSB18, I’m glad I inspired you to post your own Tale and I enjoyed it.  I welcome any SwSat guy to post their own Tale.  Let’s see your Docksiders!

John

Wow! lots of fun on SWSAT this week. Ya gotta love that LEGO caboose.

Strap I know we've seen that consist before but I've got to ask.  It looks like a great LIRR work train than we get the Domino boxcar and then Nathan's and Budweiser, now I love me some hot dos and beer but I'm trying to figure out how some paying freight got mixed into a work train?

Tom I've got an Alaska RR switcher that is just as noisy.  I guess they both have the same coffee grinder under the hood.

Bob, just what you need more projects.  It was a good day at the auction for your railroad.

Mike CT, it doesn't look to worse for the wear. A little love to the handrails the next time it's in the shop and management will never know.

CN colors are striking this morning.

Mel, I was trying to figure out if Boston & Maine ALCo S2 diesel switcher #1274 was in a spur or a siding then I saw the caboose all the way back on the bridge.  Do the mains it is on and the one NYC GP9 is on share a straightaway on the back side?

SIRT, as I thought "Unbelievable" as I looked at your pics I had to stop and correct myself, "Totally believable."

On30  Utacolzona & URR
Dumping coal.

Utacolzona Railroad in On30 (2020 - 2022) Update 5/1/22

Thanks for looking.
Dennis

@coach joe posted:

Wow! lots of fun on SWSAT this week.Ya gotta love that LEGO caboose.

Strap I know we've seen that consist before but I've got to ask.  It looks like a great LIRR work train than we get the Domino boxcar and then Nathan's and Budweiser, now I love me some hot dos and beer but I'm trying to figure out how some paying freight got mixed into a work train?

It’s called a consist of memories, Joe, and I plan to keep adding to it. It’s going to be a very long and special train, LOL! Hey, love those cars you posted on the other thread from the dollar general store.  I remember them well back in the day, particularly that 1969 goat. In fact, if I had a spare flat car, they would be mounted and added to my train, LOL!

Good morning fellow switcher fans!  Thanks JHZ 563 for notching out the throttle and getting us rolling yet again!  Your early morning efforts are much appreciated all of us I assure you!!  There are great posts by everyone ... thank you ALL!!

Today on the Free State Junction Railway the company photographer posts photos taken in his weekly trek around the railroad.  Here we see FJSR switchers in action doing their thing.   Have a terrific weekend everyone!!

Brakeman Hank Mobley rides the rear deck of a Kennecott Copper switcher.

Ma & Pa SW1 gives a Peabody Coal hopper a shove while an 0-8-0 stands by on the adjacent track.

In the countryside of the Mt. Division a Docksider and caboose run lite.  They will soon pick up some loads of timber to be transported to the lumber mill.   Farmer Scruffy Wiggins keeps on hoeing and takes no notice of the passing train ... perhaps all his attention is focused on what his brother Buffy is saying to him.  

Brakeman Luke Karns  rides the step of a  B&O caboose as Sw9 pushes the caboose and several gondolas of scrap.

Maryland Short Line power trio ... Baltimore & Annapolis, Canton, and Ma & Pa.  Incidentally the Canton RR is still very much in operation in Baltimore City to this very day ... the other two roads are long gone as is B&O, Pennsy, and Western Maryland, all of which served the city of Baltimore at one time.

With loads of timber in tow, B&O Docksider number 97 smokes it up as it  trundles across the Bollman bridge getting ready to head into the tunnel which takes the line under Mt. Randolph.  ( Incidentally the Lionel aircraft beacon, just to right of bridge,  is from Christmas 1958 or 59 ... still operates beautifully!  ... Also, the cliff which shows on the underside/behind the bridge is made from heavy gauge aluminum foil crumpled, painted, with an application of ground cover applied in various places. )

@coach joe posted:

Mel, I was trying to figure out if Boston & Maine ALCo S2 diesel switcher #1274 was in a spur or a siding then I saw the caboose all the way back on the bridge.  Do the mains it is on and the one NYC GP9 is on share a straightaway on the back side?

Joe,

Correct. The layout has three independent loops. In the video, NYC #6001 and B&M #1274 are on the middle loop. The main for the middle loop is at the right side (back) of the layout as seen in the video. It passes under the coal tower chutes and to the left of the LIRR passenger cars. The attached picture shows the NYC and B&M diesels and the switch where the tracks merge onto the back side straight…

Not a very creative track plan, but I prefer to have the largest possible curve radii. Outer loop is O-72, middle is O-54, inner (with New Haven #531) is O-36.

MELGAR

Happy Switcher Saturday. Nothing new this week, so lets go with the old pictures.

Happy Mother’s Day to all!  Great pics today.

Beautiful pictures of your switchers fellows, here’s one of my oldies but funbies to operate once in awhile, it’s TMCC, it’s a remake of the older Army, Navy, conventional switchers from the post war era…. I know my Texas friend will chime in soon. Happy Railroading Everyone

Strap I thought there was some personal reason for that combo.

Johan I miss Shark Bay.  Is it still at the club?

@coach joe posted:

Strap I thought there was some personal reason for that combo.

Johan I miss Shark Bay.  Is it still at the club?

Joe.

Thank you. It will not go away and will certainly expand in the future.

Johan

Looking great everybody!

I thought it was only fair to show the army 41 doing it's thing.  Not all army experiments work out, while the turbine proved to be underpowered and super loud.  Nonetheless the shortline to nowhere couldn't pass up a good deal.

It does seem to be a little quieter at higher speeds,  but maybe that's wishful thinking on my part🤔.

A switcher video ... 0-8-0 shoving freight cars.

JHZ, just think, you don't have to add a railsounds car to the consist.  Love the tinplate caboose.