Switcher Saturday: 2015-Jul-11

rich...the image you posted looks just like a "vintage postcard"...

howard...

great thread.

Murnane,

     As you already know this is one of LIONEL's cheapest switchers. We received this one in great running shape so we decided to see just how far we can up grade it.

     We are thinking four wheel traction plus a lot more weight added. Should be a super puller.

     Of course LED up grade and maybe an electronic reversing unit.

     Photos will be shown here as the work progresses.

     This unit when finished will go to our auction site unless we decide to keep it.

Dave, LBR

Here is another switcher we did earlier that went to our auction.

Dave, LBR

Here's some of my switcher photos from the 1980's.

The BN is from Eola, Il and the Belt Railway is from Bedford Park, Il at Central ave.

These are scans from photos so quality is so so.

franktrain

Yay!Switcher Saturday! Now the ad's are done I'll post some pics of my Favorite K-line engines the Plymouth and the Porter. These were made late in the Flame-out finish of K-line but I think they are strong contenders for the nicest engines K-line ever made.

Now the Porter which I think looks better with the 19th century era Ore Jimmies that came with the Plymouth.

Here is a little pre-view of a project I started. Building a Fireless Switcher from this flea market find Lionel James from Thomas the tank engine.

Last at but not least if there is such a category as Water Based Switch engine restored Lehigh Valley Tug Cornell would qualify. It was converted by LV to Diesel power in the 1950's. It is tied up on the Hudson River in Mahattan on Pier 24 in TriBeCa. I took these pictures yesterday.

SWSAT time!!!

Here's my model pic (HO scale) for this week...

"It's the early 1960s as KC&G NW2 #136 heads off for the sprawling Sunshine Biscuit Co facility to spot a couple of "hot" spotters (inbound sacks of yeast). Sunshine Biscuit is one of the KC&G's largest customers, and it is not uncommon for the KC&G to make a special move in order to keep one of their best customers taken care of.  Thus, "Bottoms Job 2" has left off what they were doing, grabbed the two just-received boxcars of needed yeast, and off they go to Sunshine Biscuits."

 (Note: Can you spot the anachronisms in the above pic that did not exist in the early 1960s?  I gotta' remove 'em "eventually" so I can better reflect the early 1960s.)

And now for my "Proto Pic" for this week's SWSAT:

"The crew has gone on spot, having tied down Frisco Baldwin VO1000 #228, to take a short break from switching down near the depot in Springfield, Missouri, circa early 1960s."

Good pics this week... keep 'em coming!

laming

I think I figured it out.The KarTrak ACI bar codes on the boxcar sides. (I had to look up what they were called) 

And we have a WINNER!  Tell him what he won, Rod...

I'm not Rod, but I can tell you that, unfortunately, you didn't win a thing!

HOWEVER... you are indeed correct. The ACI bar codes are on the boxcar sides on account of way back in the late 1990s I modeled the KC&G as it would have appeared in 1970. To better reflect the "early 1960s" era, those should not be present on a boxcar being switched in the early 1960s. Therefore, I will need to remove them in order to use the boxcars on my upcoming "new and expanded" early 1960s version of the "KC Lines: West Bottoms" HO layout.

Good eye Silver Lake!

Montour SW9s on my home layout. Also some pictures of a Lionel? 0-8-0 and the Montour SW9s on the club layout.

They'd better hope they can block that engine back up to the rail and it can re-rail itself... ain't no way that diesel switcher is going to nose couple to it.

Lionel Northern Pacific Postwar 44 tonner

     Bill T.

This arrived today 

LIRR

What the heck... here's another switcher pic (HO Scale) for this week's SWSAT!

"It's a hot, humid, and hazy day in the West Bottoms industrial district of Kansas City in the early 60s as we find a Kansas City & Gulf RS-3, this time #255, burbling at idle. The crew is taking a short break in the Switchman's Shanty as they drink a round of cold Coca-Cola's along with munching on some Sunshine Hi-Ho crackers while playing a rather intense round of dominos.  In a bit, it will be back to work and they will pick up where they left off, recommencing to thrash the cars in the 12th St. Yard."

"We shouldn't, but we can't resist it: Climbing up the nearby sanding tower, we shoot a down-on shot... just as KC&G NW2 #136 ambles by in the background. Fortunately, the KC&G's crews are pretty laid back and welcome the occasional train enthusiast that happens by. Why shucks, I've even been given cab rides by them!  Yup, the KC&G is one laid back operation."

Okay, 'ya gotta use your imagination to "see" the story line in the above pics. There ain't no sand tower, no Switchman's Shanty, and obviously the layout is pretty much only painted homasote with some loose Peco code 83 flex slapped here n' there.  But hey... it's gonna' have to do until I can get my "next" KC Lines layout underway!!

I took a trip out to Sunset Park Brooklyn today for a visit to a big comic shop because I couldn't go to San Diego Comic Con. The shop is directly across from a pretty famous cut corner building on 30th street.  The weather was so nice I waliked up the hill to the subway yard on a long walk. I caught some switchers shifting work trains but it is really hard to shot pics through the fence.

Here is the subway yard full of work trains.

Here is is a view of the fuel facility and engine house.

Here are our two switchers running at the North Penn O Gaugers Open House today. 

Great pictures this week, thanks to all for participating!

Best...Rich Murnane