SWITCHER SATURDAY 1/20/24 Edition!!

New York Central #8344 is an MTH Railking model (30-20816-1) with PS3 delivered in November 2021 at MSRP $359.95. In my opinion, MTH diesels with PS3 are the smoothest-running models that I have.

#8344 was one of 135 Alco RS-3s delivered to the New York Central Railroad between August 1950 and October 1953. These locomotives pulled commuter trains between New York City and its suburbs, some with “lightning stripe” passenger cars, and also ran on the Boston & Albany Railroad in Massachusetts. Their Alco 244 diesel engines developed 1,600 horsepower. Maximum speed was 65 miles-per-hour and tractive effort was 52,500 pounds at 9.5 miles-per-hour.

#8344 was built in September 1953 and was in NYC Class DRSP-6H. It was renumbered #5344 in 1966 in preparation for the Penn Central merger and retired by PC in July 1968.

Photos and videos show the model on the O-54 loop of my 12’-by-8’ model railroad running at about 11 scale miles-per-hour.

MELGAR

Happy SwSat!

Thanks for starting us off Pat! Your scenes are fantastic and the narrative is a hoot!

Here is my LIRR RS3 moving Jaws III into position to eat up that snow.

Patrick, I love the way you get us started in the wee hours Saturday  morning with Switcher Saturday. Your photos show your beautiful layout usually in glorious autumn colors except when they depict an artfully done snow scene.

Mel, your posts on Switcher Saturday also usually takes place during the same wee hours, your photos are also beautiful and we all love the historical prospective you provide.

The video below shows a switcher I haven't run in a long time. It's an MTH PS1 Erie Lackawanna diesel switcher crossing my George Wahingmachine Bridge hauling heavy freight:

Arnold

Happy Switcher Saturday everyone! This weekend I'm running some military trains on my layout, all powered by switchers. First, my custom painted USAF NW-2, codenamed "Archer", which provides the motive power for my Lionel missile train.

Second up is the #7, my WW2 era Whitcomb 65-tonner. This is an early 3D printed locomotive conversion.

Here's a video of both military switchers doing their thing on my layout.

Thanks for getting our engines warmed up and the switchers moving in the yard with a "streetcar" theme today, Patrick! My 2nd, 3rd, and 4th BEEPs hauling some treasures for the "Rancho Mirage Model Railway Museum:"

#2037 Adriatic with 243w tender:

And, inspired by Patrick's streetcar trouble, a couple of HO cable cars, a "San Francisco Treat," so to speak, on a #6262 flatcar:

Warm wishes from CA to all who are dealing with the cold this SWSAT!

Hello SwSat fans!  Patrick, great kickoff!  We’re really rollin today!

GE’s diminutive 44 ton switchers are SwSat favorites (and one of mine), so I thought I’d post some new photos/video of my D&RG no. 42.  She is seen pulling a string of empty ore jennies back to the mine.  Note she’s under the watchful eye of her new big brother, SP FM Trainmaster no. 8951.

John

Happy switcher Saturday!  We’re off to a great start with everyone’s posts.  Now that the Christmas tree layout has been dismantled, track power has been restored to my train rooms carpet central and our main occupants, the RMT Bang S2 switcher and the MTH conventional Hudson, are free to roam once again -

Here's a close up photo of the same MTH PS1 Erie Lackawanna diesel switcher shown in my above video today:

@Bill Swatos posted:

Thanks for getting our engines warmed up and the switchers moving in the yard with a "streetcar" theme today, Patrick! My 2nd, 3rd, and 4th BEEPs hauling some treasures for the "Rancho Mirage Model Railway Museum:"

#2037 Adriatic with 243w tender:

And, inspired by Patrick's streetcar trouble, a couple of HO cable cars, a "San Francisco Treat," so to speak, on a #6262 flatcar:

Warm wishes from CA to all who are dealing with the cold this SWSAT!

Nice video Bill I really like that turbine sitting waiting for the call to hit the rails is that a 671R? Mark

Jersey Central and Lehigh Valley local switching crews meet on a beautiful autumn day where the two roads interchange cars.  The CNJ switcher is a MTH RailKing EMD SW1...and the Lehigh Valley unit is a MTH Premier Baldwin VO-1000.  Both are "3-rail scaled" and weathered by me.

@CNJ #1601 posted:

Jersey Central and Lehigh Valley local switching crews meet on a beautiful autumn day where the two roads interchange cars.  The CNJ switcher is a MTH RailKing EMD SW1...and the Lehigh Valley unit is a MTH Premier Baldwin VO-1000.  Both are "3-rail scaled" and weathered by me.

Gorgeous

Happy SWSat!

We had snow yesterday, but nothing to shovel...... but it's darn cold!  A balmy 18 deg with a wind chill temp of 3.......

Thanks for starting us off again Patrick. Hopefully the boys in the shop can get that trolley repaired.

Found a little time to run some trains this week. The NYC and it's successor Penn Central are working the rails once again. My new H-16-44 is a really nice engine. Unfortunately, PC 2406 has developed a static issue with the sound set and will need to go back to the shops.

Stay warm this weekend. Good time to stay inside, play with our trains, and watch some football.

Bob

Good morning Switcher Saturday friends.  We have received snow over past 2 days, so CN is out clearing the track.

Have a great day!

Premier, masterfully custom painted and decaled by @Ron045, from a B&M model, bought from a fellow forumite.

Good morning SWSAT crew!

Penn Central SW8 8616 (Atlas O) is about to pass through Killbridge Junction with a short train in tow:

Have a great weekend everyone!

Tom

SWSat rolling along with great photos and videos.

Some pics from the files.....................................................74 year old Lionel.

MTH passing over the mountain.....................................

MTH waiting in the yard for assignment........................

................gonna hafta get ta da layout fo a new pic.

SwSat greetings, everyone! You folks back East are getting hammered with snow, etc., I see. Good time to run those trains!

Out here on the Left Coast, SoCal is getting some much needed precip, too; snow in our mountains and rain on the plains (and valleys).

I put away my holiday train this morning and substituted some new Christmas presents: two Pennsy beauties: one old postwar fave Gp7 and a brand new Lionel hopper.
I picked up the geep off Ebay and it runs like a champ. The hopper from my local store, The Train Shack, in Burbank.

Wherever you may be, stay dry and have fun.

@trumpettrain posted:

Hello fellow switcher fans!!   Welcome to Switcher Saturday!!!  This is the thread that celebrates everything switcher related.  So if you love the locomotives that get "no respect" ( to quote Rodney Dangerfield ) as opposed to the glamorous road locomotives ... that seem to garner all the respect ... you have come to the right place.  SWsat gives switchers their due respect and lots of it too!!!  Switchers of all persuasions ... steam ... diesel .. electric .. are welcome in all scales from Z - G  ...   AND we welcome 1:1 scale real life switchers too.  

We have two rules for posting: 1.) Be nice, have fun, and enjoy!   2.) Strict adherence to copyright law.  Post only photo that you personally have taken.  Do not post photos taken by others, off the internet, or from websites unless you have express permission in writing by the photo's owner.  Posting copywritten photos is in violation of copyright laws and anyone posting a copy written photo is subject to legal liability,  costly litigation & a substantial fine, plus loss of OGR Forum membership.  For more information regarding posting of copywriten photos refer to the OGR TOS at the top of this page.  

Btw - It's been snowing this week in central Maryland where I live.  It's nice to see snow again after not seeing any at all last year.  I hope wherever you are right now you are toasty warm and safe!  

I'm really excited to see what all of you post!   Every Saturday I learn so much from all of you!! Thanks so much for your participation and remember it's all of you who make this thread one of the most enjoyable threads on the OGR Forum. Have a warm toasty, and safe weekend you'al!!!  So without any further ado let's notch out the throttle and get rolling.

So why the heck am I showing a photo of a big hook and a trolley that has left the rails?  Well, when life goes off the rails it's always nice to have a wonderful friend to help put us back on track.  

AND of course behind every wonderful helper of a friend is an even more wonderful switcher!  ... Here we see engineer Chester Witherspoon who slipped out the backdoor of his Plymouth 25 ton switcher.  He's thinking it's going to be a long day up here on the EL but he's thrilled that his 25 ton switcher provides the power to mobilize the big hook.  As Chester puts it, " It's the little guys that get the real jobs done! Without the little guys this railroad would come to a complete standstill."  Looking at the situation here with the trolley o'l Chester seem to make a good point, because ain't nothing going to move on the EL till that trolley is back on the tracks!  

MOW boys Hipshot Riley and Crewcut Sgruggins are on the EL assessing the damage. Those dag darn fellas climbing the rocks don't even seem to notice all the  hoopla!

Meanwhile way up yonder in the higher altitudes of the Mountain Division a fierce snow storm has been giving the MOW crews a heckofah challenge!   A  B&O GP 9 is about to take on fuel from a tank truck. That GP9 must have gotten a good wax job ( who the heck waxes a locomotive anyhow!? ) cause there ain't much snow sticking to it.   Tank truck driver Nubby Frazier is about to make some yellow snow  ... I think??

Nope! No yellow snow makin!    O'l Nubby is talkin to locomotive engineer Spry Young.  Spry tells Nubby to top off the tank cause it's going to be a loooong day pushing the plow.

Wow, those trolley passengers must have gotten the scare of a lifetime! Another foot or so and it would have been ugly.

Happy Switcher Saturday,

K Line's Western Lumber Porter (K2631-10)

Take Care, Ray

OK, RayKay, I'll bite, what does "FIDO" mean?  These K-line Porters are great little engines, but, alas, my A,L,H &P (Astoria, Light. Heat & Power) model has stopped moving, but still smokes great.  I have to look into that problem.

John

@RayKay posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday,

K Line's Western Lumber Porter (K2631-10)

Take Care, Ray

I really like this little steamer and must have one now. Looks like this little jewel might share the same drive chassis as their Plymouth switcher. Does it have "K2625" cast into the base?

@Sitka posted:

Nice video Bill I really like that turbine sitting waiting for the call to hit the rails is that a 671R? Mark

She's got a 671R shell for sure, as the rubber-stamped lettering is silver and the Lionel "L" decal stating "electronic control" looks to be original. I don't think the chassis is an original 671R, though, as it has the earlier 671 smoke bulb. The 671R would have had a heater-based smoke unit and a control unit for it. Perhaps not worth much as a "shelf queen" collectible, she runs like a champ and I love her!

WOW!!! You guys are knocking it out of the park  with your info, photos, and videos!!  Fabulous content everyone

MELGAR- Your NYC ALCO RS 3 with PS 3 looks great!  I must agree my MTH PS3 locomotives are the smoothest running I own too.   As always wonderfully detailed historical info!  Love it!!!

Pennsy Fan - Bob your LIRR wedge plow is beautiful as is the LIRR RS 3 that provides the power!  

Arnold - I really appreciate your very kind words ... thank you!  Your Erie Lackawanna MTH PS1 looks and runs fabulously!  Great looking consist of freight cars too!  AND I just LOVE the George Washingmachine Bridge

Trainguy Ken - Nice looking USAF NW2!   The Witcomb 65 tonner is awesome!!  Early 3d printed too! WOW!  I live close to Ft. George G. Meade and as I teen I remember the US Army had a Whitcomb 65 tonner that serviced the base.  Very cool!

Bill Swatos =  3 Beeps ... two leading and one pushing with a steamer mixed in.  Very neat consist!!

Steam Crazy - Got to love a 44 tonner in Rio Grande livery.   I also like the SP Train Master!!

Strap Hanger -  Your Carpet Central is alive and well with the Bang S2!!  And the steamer too.

CNJ #1601 - What a gorgeous scene!!  I love the interchange between the CNJ and LV.  Lovely locomotives with great weathering!!  Nothing like seeing a SW1 and VO 1000 together!! Well done sir!!!

RSJB18 - Bob glad your H - 16 -44 is in good working order and you are enjoying it to the max.!  

Dave Warburton - Very nice Ebay find .. your Pennsy GP7 looks great!

tnkMarx - Nice looking GN plow and FM H 10 - 44!

Mark Spadaro - Gorgeous custom CR 44  tonner!  It looks splendid !!

Tom Densel - I love your PC SW8 and the black and white photo is fabulous!!

Dallas - 74 year old!!  WOW!!!  Still running and looking great!!  Those Canadian Pacific switchers are beauties too!!

Pennsy Nut - I love that B6!!  The bell sounds fabulous and it's pulling a great looking consist of freight cars too with caboose directly behind the loco.!

NYC Fan = Got to love a Plymouth switcher!!

Ray Kay - Wow! It's been a while since I've seen a K line Porter ... and yours looks terrific!!

Let's keep posting!!  The switcher party is never over!!

@Dave Warburton posted:

Wow, those trolley passengers must have gotten the scare of a lifetime! Another foot or so and it would have been ugly.

Yes indeed Dave, it was a very close call for sure!  I'm happy to report that all the trolley passengers disembarked the trolley without a scratch, however o'l Fritz Willis, the motorman, soiled himself big time!  Indeed he did!

B&O Docksider number 97 about to take on water.  Conductor Earl Yates stands on the deck of the caboose eyeing up that black bear.  He thinks to himself,  " As long as that bear stays on this side of the train everything will be okay.  The second that bear walks to the other side of the engine fireman engineer Billy Horton is going for his rifle and things may not end well for the bear."

A Reading Train Master exits East Tunnel with a commuter train.  The train is on slow orders as it passes the trolley wreck.  The diminutive Plymouth switcher stands by dutifully always prepared to move the big hook as needed.  

@Bill Swatos posted:

I really like this little steamer and must have one now. Looks like this little jewel might share the same drive chassis as their Plymouth switcher. Does it have "K2625" cast into the base?

Bill,

I have the Kline Raritan Copper Works Porter. Yes it does have the K2625 stamping.

Patrick, you aren't just the SwSat Yardmaster, but also the SwSat Head Cheerleader!  Thank you for your leadership!  SwSat is definitely the best thread on the Forum!

John

@Steam Crazy posted:

Patrick, you aren't just the SwSat Yardmaster, but also the SwSat Head Cheerleader!  Thank you for your leadership!  SwSat is definitely the best thread on the Forum!

John

Well said John! I’ve acknowledged Patrick’s talent in his well versed story telling and every week he never seems to disappoint!

Gene

@Genemed posted:

Well said John! I’ve acknowledged Patrick’s talent in his well versed story telling and every week he never seems to disappoint!

Gene

Steam CrazyOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

Switcher Saturday has had a big effect on the types of model locomotives that I've been buying since I began posting to SWSAT - which are mostly switchers these days. Don't worry - I still buy and run road locomotives, but not the large, expensive steam locomotives and ABA diesels. Switchers are a better fit on my layouts and appeal to me in a way that huge locomotives do not. And, aside from that, they cost a lot less. To me, the essence of railroading - real and model - is a small steam switcher pulling one or two boxcars and a caboose. Just my opinion.

MELGAR

Thanks Patrick for the kind words. I've also been here almost from the beginning. And thanks to Mel who included me in the conversation when John had to leave too.

SWSat has driven my engine purchases in a big way. Since I have a 027 layout, I really don't have a choice, but that's fine with me. One day a bigger layout will replace this one and I can start to feed my Hudson obsession........(yea, that's right)......

Party on Wayne....Party on Garth!

Bob

@Bill Swatos posted:

I really like this little steamer and must have one now. Looks like this little jewel might share the same drive chassis as their Plymouth switcher. Does it have "K2625" cast into the base?

Sorry for the delay, Yes it does.

also,

the size of the Porter is like G scale!

@Steam Crazy posted:

OK, RayKay, I'll bite, what does "FIDO" mean?  These K-line Porters are great little engines, but, alas, my A,L,H &P (Astoria, Light. Heat & Power) model has stopped moving, but still smokes great.  I have to look into that problem.

John

Steam Crazy,  I don't know why its named "Fido"  maybe its a nickname like they did with

WW 2 airplanes.

RayKay, maybe the engineer named it after his favorite dog?

John

@RSJB18 posted:

Thanks Patrick for the kind words. I've also been here almost from the beginning. And thanks to Mel who included me in the conversation when John had to leave too.

SWSat has driven my engine purchases in a big way. Since I have a 027 layout, I really don't have a choice, but that's fine with me. One day a bigger layout will replace this one and I can start to feed my Hudson obsession........(yea, that's right)......

Party on Wayne....Party on Garth!

Bob

Bob - WOW!  That is quite a vast fleet of switchers!!  I LOVE it!!!

@RSJB18 posted:

Thanks Patrick for the kind words. I've also been here almost from the beginning. And thanks to Mel who included me in the conversation when John had to leave too.

SWSat has driven my engine purchases in a big way. Since I have a 027 layout, I really don't have a choice, but that's fine with me. One day a bigger layout will replace this one and I can start to feed my Hudson obsession........(yea, that's right)......

Bob

@RSJB18,

Bob,

Your comment about a "Hudson obsession" struck a chord with me. I can understand it. I have several scale-sized Hudson's, but the only one I run is a Boston & Albany version by MTH. It's also the largest engine that I run, although the New Haven EP-3 is a close second, but I also have the bigger ones and don't run them. Yes - the Hudson is larger than a switcher but nothing like the large and very expensive engines people seem to want these days. Your switcher collection is formidable.

MELGAR

@RayKay posted:

Steam Crazy,  I don't know why its named "Fido"  maybe its a nickname like they did with

WW 2 airplanes.

FIDO" is a military acronym that stands for "Forget It and Drive On." It is used to encourage soldiers to move past a problem.
Taken from Siri