Switcher Saturday: 2015-Oct-17

Another picture, not sure which one I like better...Rich

 

 

Spokane International RS-1 by Atlas working the rails of the Seattle & Yakima RR

 

 

     Bill T.

A lot of folks like the Chessie System paint scheme so this week I present some Chessie switchers. The Baltimore & Ohio and Chesapeake & Ohio rostered a variety of EMD SW and NW series types, many of which were repainted into Chessie colors prior to retirement. Even a few B&O ALCo switchers, one of which I've included, wore the Chessie scheme. Also take note of the cabless EMD unit.

 

Bob

 

Everyone has to have one of these, some time, somewhere, in some scale, at least once in their life:

 

It's the law.

 

Rusty

Mr. Brown dropped these off for me this week. Two Lionel Buffalo Creek railway switchers which I added to my MTH one. Now there are three........Paul

My Montour SW's and a crash victim from a friend, that is seeing a second life

.

 

Rusty - You are right.  Mine was an H.O. Varney one and I loved it. 

 

Art

Yay! SW Sat is on!

 

This week I am posting images of Whiting Track-mobiles ( and a couple predecessor PRR 1912 Buckwalter track mobiles because they look amazing).

 

The Whiting Company started making Track-mobiles in 1947 as a way to switch and spot cars at plants without having to get the Railroad to bring in a switcher every time. They have the ability to drop down road wheels and drive on roads as well as flanged wheels. Over time as they grew larger the designs switched from one where the tractor drove prependicular to the track to one where the flanged wheels and the road wheels were in the same plane. They seem to mostly be painted in Safety yellows but sometimes they get the full railroad livery. 

 

Lionel makes a nice model of a late model Whiting Track-mobile that look suitable to any time since the late 1980's.

 

 

Here are are some images of some older PRR Buckwalter rubber tired switchers that worked in a similar way in several eastern urban port areas.

 

Sorry everyone I just reread what I posted. I had a senior moment. I meant to say South Buffalo switchers................Paul

Good stuff this week as always!  Here are a few shots of my recently-completed project: MTH R/K SW1 (now sporting fixed pilots, scale couplers and weathering, of course) performing switching duties (of course!) on the WIHABL Railroad...

 

The D.A.R.E. Model Railroad Club's MTH SW9 spots a hopper at the mine. Recently, I encountered a pair of old switchers at Valley Forge.

Love the pic's this week, sorry none this week either as my partner had a heart attack 11 day ago,3 stents & finally home.

Trains next week maybe. James   

I had pulled pictures for another thread early this week.  There were track mobiles used to move continuous rail as part of the Montour RR rebuild of the Westland Marcellous Shale Gas siding.  Rail pictured dates to the mid 1960's  Pieces are 1/4 mile long.

The bicycle is mine. When I review these pictures, it always amazed me that I was allowed, such close pictures of a relatively dangerous occupation/business.

Nice pictures everyone! 

 

Tom

 

New equipment for power plant rebuild arrives

great shot tom, and Sliver i'm liking those last two!

 

 

what would the rings hanging from the stacks be?they look open, so they couldn't be a cap. maybe there is a screen, but what for?

Those are spark arrester screens. They reduce the amount of sparks coming out of a stack they were used in close clearance areas where there was a greater chance of accidental fires caused by sparks from the stacks. Also they were very popular in heavily wooded areas or logging RR's where the livelihood of the RR depended on the safety of the trees.

 

The ones in the picture are tipped open usually they fit right on top. 

 

The Lionel General and the K-line Porter 0-4-0T switcher model these screens. The General has it molded into the top of the stack and the Porter has a removeable metal screen.

 

Some household fireplaces have similar firescreens that serve the same purpose.

see that's what I thought they were, but never knew they were used by the Pennsy.

thanks

Good explanation by Silver Lake...I agree. Seen them on so many Pennsy switchers, I don't recall any toy train manufacturer ever making with their locos. Nice pictures Dave that they are so visible. 

 

Dave, when in use, and not dangling like these you would not be able to tell they were there.

 

Tom 

Got nothing new to add this Saturday.  I either recycle some old pics or wait until I'm back from the train show tomorrow.

 

Bruce

These two are standing guard in Portland Or. in Oct. of 15. 

Is this unit ex-RF&P? It looks like a variation of thier paint scheme. I know there are a few of thier switchers still kicking around.

Back before my CN 0-6-0 was a PRR 0-6-0, it was a Bethlehem Steel 0-6-0.  Still the best little scale loco for the money.

 

 

The 2 rail Mogul is an old kit of some type, probably from the '40's or '50's.

 

Bruce

Awesome Switcher Saturday Everyone!  Thanks to all of you for making this so much fun!

 

Best...Rich

Had trouble posting this before and I don't think I posted this before...

This is a picture I bought on eBay earlier this year. Three Pennsy switchers are lined up on a dead line, already missing their headlights. The housing on the hill reminds me of typical Western Pennsylvania housing.

 

Tom

Hey Tom, great picture, I haven't spent too much time on the bay looking for pictures, perhaps something I should do!

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Best...Rich

Rich,

In the last 2 years, I was lucky to be able to snag 2 collections, one of 400+ pictures and another one with 200+ done by a a Reading Railroad employee. The 200+ pictures were in an album that has the pages literally falling apart, but the pictures are fine. All are of a 1950's Pennsy, 90% steam, lots of the B-6 switchers and some A-5 switchers. Ocassionally, there will be a nice single image, like this one that I could not pass up.

So, these collections come up from time to time. They are worth looking out for.

 

Tom 

 

 I've got some idea here of how to letter my 0-4-0 now.

I also have some switchers laying around that were waiting to be converted to 2 rail. I've decided to just add some 3 rail track for them.

The Geeps are gathering in protest.