Switcher Saturday 10-22-22

Happy Switcher Sat everyone!  Here are two of my favorite little switchers working in the yard -

Happy Switcher Saturday.

A little new view of my home layout. I have made a ramp to the upper level and a little road. The rail canyon looks really nice, the tunnel still needs a little finishing. I have also started building upper level buildings. Building the upper level is slow but I'm in no rush.

Good morning, SwSat Land!  Today your Yardmaster is featuring his favorite RR, the B&M.

B&M 0-8-0 switcher no. 613 is seen with a transfer run from the NH yard in So. Worcester, MA to the B&M yard in No. Worcester.  The cars will then be cut into a freight heading up the Ayer branch to be delivered to Portland, ME and other points in Northern NE.

John

Special delivery rolling in to town today.  Happy Switcher Saturday!

jhz563,

That is a very nice switcher. Do you have any more information about it?

I have never been to the York show and would like to have attended this year - but I'm at home. At least I'm not working today...

In my SWSAT post on September 17, 2022 about the New York Central S-2 electric motor, I wrote that “I would like to see more scale-sized O gauge models of small electric switchers, especially a steeple cab type.” The New York Central had seven Q-class steeple cab electric switchers that were used at Harmon and elsewhere. I think an O gauge model of a Q-class steeple cab would sell well. I had also forgotten that I already own an O gauge model of Long Island Rail Road DD-1 #352AB (MTH 20-5516-1), an electric motor shown in the 2002 Volume 1 Catalog at an MSRP of $599.95 and delivered in March 2002. At the time I bought this model, my 12’-by-8’ layout was under construction and not yet operable, so I couldn’t run the model, and it has remained on the shelf ever since.

Sixty-six DD-1s (thirty-three pairs of box cabs) were built by the Pennsylvania Railroad at Juniata and entered service with the opening of New York City’s Penn Station in 1910. They pulled trains through the newly completed tunnels and electrification under the Hudson and East Rivers between Manhattan Transfer in Harrison, New Jersey, Penn Station in Manhattan, and Sunnyside Yard in Long Island City, Queens, New York. The DD-1s were gradually transferred to PRR’s subsidiary, the Long Island Rail Road, beginning in 1924, and some were used to haul empty passenger cars between Penn Station and Sunnyside. Most were scrapped by 1951.

The DD-1s were run in pairs on 650-volt DC third rail. Each pair weighed 313,000 pounds and there was a 2,000 horsepower Westinghouse DC motor in each cab. The two-unit pair developed a maximum of 2,130 horsepower at 38 miles-per-hour and had a continuous rating of 1,580 horsepower at 58 miles-per-hour. The DD-1s were capable of speeds up to 80 miles-per-hour but limited to 65 miles-per-hour on the PRR and LIRR. The normal starting tractive effort was 66,000 pounds for the pair but as much as 79,200 pounds was recorded under favorable conditions. The motors were connected on each side to the 72-inch driving wheels through a rod, jackshaft with eccentric crank and counterweight, and side-rods to the wheels. This unique drive system and the third rail pickups on the leading trucks are visible in my photos of the model.

MELGAR

Yay SWSat is on!

@jhz563knows I like a good European switcher. ETS make some nice things and even in 2 rail O scale.

Here is my Hungarian 0-4-0T Steam tram engine or as they were known here steam dummy on the New York Society of Model Engineers layout in Carlstat NJ. The prototype still exists at a railroad museum in Hungary

For the time being this engine is acting as a stand in for a NY Elevated steam dummy for a project I am working on. I am making some early 1870’s elevated cars called Shadbellys. They had lowered centers to reassure riders that they would not tip off the elevated tracks.

I started to build the engine but have not gotten very far. Too many distractions.


Here is what the real trains looked like from a stereograph that I own that is old enough to have passed into public domain.

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

Andy,

Very nice work on the model.

MELGAR

@Silver Lake posted:

Yay SWSat is on!

@jhz563knows I like a good European switcher. ETS make some nice things and even in 2 rail O scale.

Here is my Hungarian 0-4-0T Steam tram engine or as they were known here steam dummy on the New York Society of Model Engineers layout in Carlstat NJ. The prototype still exists at a railroad museum in Hungary

I started to build the engine but have not gotten very far. Too many distractions.


Here is what the real trains looked like from a stereograph that I own that is old enough to have passed into public domain.

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

Andy - that's awesome!

Happy SWSat!

Honey-do's have me otherwise occupied so here are some shots from the archives. It's a good thing I take a lot of pix of my trains.

Lionel's 0-6-0 Docksider is one of my favorite locos and is almost always on the layout. Very nicely detailed and tough as nails......Able to leap off the layout and land safely on the floor in a single bound too!!!!!!

Have a great weekend,

Bob

In looking at some pictures I noticed some of the Rutland 4-6-0’s had footboards that looked added on. In other photos they weren’t there. The Rutland roster was pretty versatile as far as motive power. It seems like they used whatever was available to do the job. I knew the Rutland used a older 4-6-0 as a switcher in Bennington. Towards the end of Steam one of the later built 4-6-0’s took over the job.

I had an older TMCC off the layout I haven’t run in years. Figured it would be a good candidate for a switcher makeover. Made up a mount for the Kadee coupler. Steps were formed from brass. A piece of chain was added (not sure how it’s used). A pole was hung off the side of the tender duplicated with brass tubing and a backup light from a Shay. After many years of using Scalecoat Paint. I switched  over to Tamiya Laquer. The deck was painted with a color close to what l’ve seen in the few color photos I found. Decals are from Highball graphics. I numbered the light on the tender but in photos this doesn’t appear to have been done. I’m guessing the light was added from supply when the footboards were added. The engine in place is just for the photo. The one that goes with it is painted but waiting  for a ERR board.

@MELGAR posted:

jhz563,

That is a very nice switcher. Do you have any more information about it?

...

The DD-1s were run in pairs on 650-volt DC third rail. Each pair weighed 313,000 pounds and there was a 2,000 horsepower Westinghouse DC motor in each cab. The two-unit pair developed a maximum of 2,130 horsepower at 38 miles-per-hour and had a continuous rating of 1,580 horsepower at 58 miles-per-hour. The DD-1s were capable of speeds up to 80 miles-per-hour but limited to 65 miles-per-hour on the PRR and LIRR.

MELGAR

Mel,

I don't have anything specific about the mini-mallet other than I like it!  Like the real thing the rear drivers are fixed and the front swivel.  It is tinplate as are most ETS offerings.  They are slightly pricing for what you get but not by too much.   Amazingly you are able to basically order A la carte from ETS whether you want two rail, three rail, 4 choices of couplers, smoke or sound.  I was disappointed by the sound package so I don't recommend it but the loco is amazing, though a bit light.  One of these days when I have time to really play with trains I will get some weight added to it.  One of these days I will order one of there big Garratt style engines.

As for the DD-1, can you imagine going 65 mph in one of these?  I think the first few rides would be terrifying at those speeds! 

JHZ563

Have a fine Switcher Saturday, Some PW and MPC Lionel switchers moving some pickles.

Good morning SWSAT crew.

Penn Central GP9 7180 (Atlas O) leads a short freight train on the Killbridge secondary:

Last evening I was invited to an operating session on a local HO layout.  I have never participated in an operating session before.  Upon entering the train room, I was handed a wireless controller and given a brief tutorial on its operation.  The friend who invited me worked as my conductor/brakeman.  The gentleman who owns the layout uses a car card system, which was also explained to me.  We first had to run a couple of freights between various yards.  After familiarizing myself with the layout configuration we were sent out with a local freight.  This involved various switching moves throughout the layout.  We ended up running the trains for over three hours! I was so busy that I didn't have time to take a drink of water, let alone get any photos or videos!  I was invited back for another session next Friday night.  I hope to have some photos/videos for next weeks SWSAT.

Tom

A visit to the Norgrove RR in Aroyo Grande, CA last week:

Well happy SwSat everyone!  The pictures and posts are really great, thanks for showing us them.  I will admit that Silver Lake's steam dummy and description of the NY elevated steam train and "Shadbelly's" was very new to me although I lived much of my life in the NY area.  Stangtrain's real life switchers were also a unique item at least to me.

Today I have some pictures of my hard working WbB GE 44 ton SRR switcher helping to make up a train for her big sister, Lionel 8955 U36b road switcher, to take north.

Well here are the fellows, taking 1951 out of the yard and moving her into postion to put a "home rails" empty box car into a train headed North .  They will have to cut the box car out of a train that arrived last night and is currently in the yard.

Well the crew has coupled up to the box car that needs to be cut into the train headed up the line and now they are moving it out of the yard and into position on the main.

Here the job is almost finished.  The 44 Ton will pull the box forward then push it backwards to hook onto the train now sitting to the right.  It will then take itself back up into the yard and allow the road switcher to couple up to her train and be on her way.

Well that's it for me this fine Saturday.  Best wishes to everyone.  Hope your weekend goes well.

Don

@Tom Densel posted:

Good morning SWSAT crew.

Last evening I was invited to an operating session on a local HO layout.  I have never participated in an operating session before.  Upon entering the train room, I was handed a wireless controller and given a brief tutorial on its operation.  The friend who invited me worked as my conductor/brakeman.  The gentleman who owns the layout uses a car card system, which was also explained to me.  We first had to run a couple of freights between various yards.  After familiarizing myself with the layout configuration we were sent out with a local freight.  This involved various switching moves throughout the layout.  We ended up running the trains for over three hours! I was so busy that I didn't have time to take a drink of water, let alone get any photos or videos!  I was invited back for another session next Friday night.  I hope to have some photos/videos for next weeks SWSAT.

Tom

Tom,

Sounds like you enjoyed it. Given your excellent switching moves and videos on SWSAT, I'm not surprised that you were invited back for next Friday. Just be careful. Those HO guys may be trying to convert you. But, seriously, let us know what you think of switching in HO vs. O gauge.

MELGAR

Good afternoon switcher fans!  There are a lot of fabulous pics, movies, and information  up today so far Of course I'm not surprised because you all never disappoint   Here are my switcher photos for today.

Canton Railroad SW1500 passes a MOW crew as it exits the north portal of Westend Tunnel.  

Brakeman Leo Scovitch rides the back deck of Kennecott Corp MP15.

Meeting of the switchers. Photographer Wallace Rooney, at bottom left ,snaps a pick of his cousin  Zoot Lumis ( bottom right ) as he stands on the front step of 0-8-0 number 75

@MELGAR posted:

Tom,

Just be careful. Those HO guys may be trying to convert you.

MELGAR

No worries there.  Most of them were complaining about not being able to see the small details and having trouble re-railing cars.  I especially liked it when the Kadee couplers would not cooperate and the 0-5-0 had to be utilized to break a train.  I was touting the virtues of O scale like excellent detail, reliability and electro-couplers, amongst other things.  Didn't get much of an argument!

Tom

@trumpettrain posted:

Good afternoon switcher fans!  There are a lot of fabulous pics, movies, and information  up today so far Of course I'm not surprised because you all never disappoint   Here are my switcher photos for today.

Brakeman Leo Scovitch rides the back deck...

Photographer Wallace Rooney, at bottom left , snaps a pick of his cousin Zoot Lumis ( bottom right ) as he stands on the front step of 0-8-0 number 75

Patrick,

Leo Scovitch - Wallace Rooney - Zoot Lumis? How do you come up with these? But - fine photos - as usual.

MELGAR

Oh what a fun thread, there’s always something new to see, neat layouts, neat videos, always fun to review. Happy Railroading Everyone

Greetings fellow SWSAT fans. Here are photos of my new (to me) MTH Maryland & Pennsylvania SW9 switcher, calf & 4-bay hopper courtesy of Jim Mason. I picked these up yesterday at the York meet.

Charlie

SAL

FW&D

@Tom Densel posted:

No worries there.  Most of them were complaining about not being able to see the small details and having trouble re-railing cars.  I especially liked it when the Kadee couplers would not cooperate and the 0-5-0 had to be utilized to break a train.  I was touting the virtues of O scale like excellent detail, reliability and electro-couplers, amongst other things.  Didn't get much of an argument!

Tom

+ @MELGAR

I guarantee that if Mr. Cowan had gone with 2-rail DC we wouldn't be having this conversation. I guess he was a Tesla follower, not Bell.

Tom- You mentioned a "wireless remote". I thought DDC was wired? No? I'm an HO kid so.....

Bob

@Rob Leese posted:

FW&D

Very nice Robert! You're in the right state for that paint scheme.

@RSJB18 posted:

Tom- You mentioned a "wireless remote". I thought DDC was wired? No? I'm an HO kid so.....

Bob

Bob,

I have no idea what operating system was being used.  They were throwing all kinds of names out there.  Too much for me to digest.  I do remember that there were several ports that a hand held controller could be plugged into.  The wireless remote didn't have all of the capacities of the plug in controller according to the owner.  I'll try to get some pics of the controllers next Friday if I make it over there.

Tom

@Tom Densel posted:

Bob,

I have no idea what operating system was being used.  They were throwing all kinds of names out there.  Too much for me to digest.  I do remember that there were several ports that a hand held controller could be plugged into.  The wireless remote didn't have all of the capacities of the plug in controller according to the owner.  I'll try to get some pics of the controllers next Friday if I make it over there.

Tom

Thanks Tom.

Always interested in what the other scales are doing.

Bob

Please excuse the poor lighting, but here is aNHRR S2 in action entering Manchester to complete local switching.  The railroad is a waybill driven operation.  The locomotive is one of my painting adventures, using Rustoleum primer and Tamiya green ( and Testors orange.  Decals are MicroScale.  

@Sitka posted:

Have a fine Switcher Saturday, Some PW and MPC Lionel switchers moving some pickles.

Is the pickle car sweet gherkins? I love sweet gherkins!

Ok, so I'm a day behind.  I've been participating in Mopars at the Beach events here at Myrtle Beach this week and Friday and Saturday were early and all day events.

JHZ that ETS mini Mallet is sweet.  Even though it's tin plate it doesn't scream Tin Plate and looks right at home with traditional O gauge trains.

Johan, you must have the friendliest RR employees, they all seem to give a big wave Hello as they pass by.

Andy your models of the el trains look good.  Are you 3D printing or using traditional modelling techniques and plastic sheet?

Mel, thanks for the history lesson on the DD-1.  I remember when they were cataloged by Lionel and MTH.

Sitka I too have pickle vat cars but of the Vlassic variety.  I have one enclosed like yours and one open for some variety.  I always thought those K-Line enclosed vat cars brought an interesting profile into a train, especially with the sign mounted up top.

Stang Norgrove has some mighty interesting critters running around their yard.

Bob docksiders are always a good go to for SWSAT.

Patrck always busy on the Freestate Junction in Patsburg!

Don that little 44 tonner is really earning it's keep.

Larry, from an 0-6-0 from the age of steam to today's modern genset switchers your rail road puts them all to work.

Thanks for another great SWSAT all.

@coach joe posted:

Ok, so I'm a day behind.  I've been participating in Mopars at the Beach events here at Myrtle Beach this week and Friday and Saturday were early and all day events.

Mopars at the Beach? I can see the Superbirds cruising the Grand Strand now!

I had opened SWSAT late afternoon following a day at the car show but before a night at a wedding and failed to reload before I looked at it this morning so I failed to see anything after Larry's post until I refreshed a minute ago.  So I have to add kudos to SIRT and Rob Leese for a couple of fabulous looking switchers and to Don for sharing his NHRR "painting adventure".

@coach joe posted:

Andy your models of the el trains look good.  Are you 3D printing or using traditional modelling techniques and plastic sheet?

Hey Joe! The only MOPAR I have ever had was a 1989 Plymouth Voyager Turbo Minivan. I’m sure it would have gone over real well at your car show.

My cars are built out of plastic and wood purely old fashioned style. I did cheat a little and use a Cricut cutter to cut the plastic sheet because it has a lot of windows. The floor of the car is 1/4 inch plywood. A struggle I have had with these is that there are no accurate drawings to go off of. The car in this picture is based on one lithograph I found in a book on Victorian lithography and I knew the length of the car.  

Unfortunately after I got as far building this much of the car really looked at it and realized it is two windows short on each side. There should be 4 windows on each end before the dip in the car side. In my car there are three. So the drawing I had was not as the cars were built. Annoying. So I redrew the car fitting everything in at the right dimensions and remade them. I have two more, now accurate cars begun but still in “flat” stage.

I think I need to get back to working on these maybe this winter.

Thanks for asking Joe.

@coach joe posted:

Ok, so I'm a day behind.  I've been participating in Mopars at the Beach events here at Myrtle Beach this week and Friday and Saturday were early and all day events.

JHZ that ETS mini Mallet is sweet.  Even though it's tin plate it doesn't scream Tin Plate and looks right at home with traditional O gauge trains.

Johan, you must have the friendliest RR employees, they all seem to give a big wave Hello as they pass by.

Andy your models of the el trains look good.  Are you 3D printing or using traditional modelling techniques and plastic sheet?

Mel, thanks for the history lesson on the DD-1.  I remember when they were cataloged by Lionel and MTH.

Sitka I too have pickle vat cars but of the Vlassic variety.  I have one enclosed like yours and one open for some variety.  I always thought those K-Line enclosed vat cars brought an interesting profile into a train, especially with the sign mounted up top.

Stang Norgrove has some mighty interesting critters running around their yard.

Bob docksiders are always a good go to for SWSAT.

Patrck always busy on the Freestate Junction in Patsburg!

Don that little 44 tonner is really earning it's keep.

Larry, from an 0-6-0 from the age of steam to today's modern genset switchers your rail road puts them all to work.

Thanks for another great SWSAT all.

Joe. I have tried to train them well. Yes, it gives a better image of the railway company when employees wave at people instead of showing the middle finger. 😉

Johan

Andy, a mini van is what started my trip down the Mopar rabbit hole.  A Chrysler Town and Country with Stow and Go seating.  But the whole Mopar discussion is for another time.

Johan they get an "A" for effort for following company orders!

@Bill Swatos posted:

Is the pickle car sweet gherkins? I love sweet gherkins!

Thanks for the part# on the dockside spring, sent you a email was sent back, Thanks again

@Sitka posted:

Thanks for the part# on the dockside spring, sent you a email was sent back, Thanks again

That's kind of strange, Mark, as I've gotten your previous emails. Did you get that "daemon" message on your returned email? I'll add you to my contacts list, as I would have anyway, and that might solve the problem. Your emails have been helpful as I set up my office room pike.

@Silver Lake posted:

Hey Joe! The only MOPAR I have ever had was a 1989 Plymouth Voyager Turbo Minivan. I’m sure it would have gone over real well at your car show.

My cars are built out of plastic and wood purely old fashioned style. I did cheat a little and use a Cricut cutter to cut the plastic sheet because it has a lot of windows. The floor of the car is 1/4 inch plywood. A struggle I have had with these is that there are no accurate drawings to go off of. The car in this picture is based on one lithograph I found in a book on Victorian lithography and I knew the length of the car.  

Unfortunately after I got as far building this much of the car really looked at it and realized it is two windows short on each side. There should be 4 windows on each end before the dip in the car side. In my car there are three. So the drawing I had was not as the cars were built. Annoying. So I redrew the car fitting everything in at the right dimensions and remade them. I have two more, now accurate cars begun but still in “flat” stage.

I think I need to get back to working on these maybe this winter.

Thanks for asking Joe.

Um, all I can say is you seem to be the "Leonardo da Vinci" of the x-acto knife!