Switcher Saturday: 2016-Aug-27

Update #1 of 2:  Found this website one night this week which you guys might like, it's about the NY Dock Railway, I'm guessing maybe SilverLake/Andy has posted this here before, but I can't remember seeing them (so many switchers, such a bad memory!).

http://members.trainweb.com/be...dloco/nydphotos.html

If I had the space and time I'd build a real "dockside" layout no doubt!

Update #2 of 2:   Somebody at some point in time posted this video, but it's been a while and I stumbled on it again this week and thought I'd share again in case someone hasn't seen it, or in case someone out there has forgotten about it.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7d7t_4dZko

The Coopersville & Marne Railway - Diesel Locomotive Basics

Yay SWSat is on!

Summer seems to be winding down and the heat has broken. Here are a few shots of my switch layout and my Williams B&O NW2 getting some commuter trains ready for the morning rush. 

I am in the process of joining the New York Society of Model Engineers model railroad club in New Jersey which claims to be the oldest club in the US starting in 1926. Conveniently it is easy to reach by Port Authority bus from Manhattan where I live without a car. I've been helping around on small projects and this past week I was shown the control area and let to help run some trains. The o scale layout is two rail and depicts several branches of the Erie Railroad. I took a few iPhone shots of the yard and a nice Susquehanna switcher.

The prototype images I'm showing this week are of the Railpower Green Goat or GG20B. The engine has a small Caterpiller diesel that charges a large bank of batteries. There have been 55 of these built starting in 2004 with some significant variations included. BNSF even has a cabless variant. Lionel has made a model of this engine.

I really like these demonstrator schemes esp the little cartoon goat. It reminds me of "Rocky " the Great Northern goat.I found this image helpful to u derstand what was going on under the hood.

This cabless one is interesting. It looks like it even is a remote controlled unit. I think that is what the red marking under the number states. 

Have a great weekend everyone. Let's see some great switchers. 

Murnane posted:

So cool Rich! No I can't remember posting any New York Dock images. I love the look of those huge metal storm shutters. I used to work in Red Hook Brooklyn and the building had those. They have such a specific Civil War era look to them.  I would love to see someone offer a nice side tank engine like this one in O scale.

I love the bottom electric motor as well. My youngest was shoulder surfing and she said "I have that one". They are playing with thier Thomas /Brio as I type this. She ran over and got this and she insisted that I post it. 

Ok now before you guys say "Hey that isn't O scale!". You are right it is not Oscale but it is O Gauge.  

Bob CNJ3676 I have to claim to be a huge W&OD fan as well. I grew up in Alexandria Va where the RR interchanged with the RF&P after it lept over Potomac Yard on its big trestle. 

CNJ/Bob - I always really love the "history" you bring to the table each week, great pictures and great stories to go with the pictures, thanks for sharing.

SilverLake/Andy - That NW2 looks sharp on your shelf layout!  Are you enjoying the new club?  Please thank your little one for sharing the Brio switcher with us!

Best...Rich

Happy Switcher Saturday! Great pictures everyone.

I found my contribution "Googling around" this morning. It is a apparently an ex-Pennsylvania Railroad class A3 0-4-0 switcher carrying on another life, operating for Central Islip State Hospital (Long Island). The locomotive was built by Juniata in 1905. 

Tom 

Wow, Tom. What a superb post. You certainly don't see something  like very often. That's a truly unique item!

Thanks for digging that one up to share with the rest of us.

Bob

Great find MNCW/Tom, I'm a native Long Islander (well, Queens and LI) and your post certainly made me smile.

I'm still couch surfing (well, lazy boy surfing to be honest) and stumbled upon this one:

John Carbutt, Boston & Maine No. 47 “Achilles” 0-4-0, located outside of Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1871.  http://legrandcirque.tumblr.co...maine-no-47-achilles

congrats Silver Lake on joining the New York Society, they seem to be one of the premeir groups and have an outstanding layout. Have a great Saturday guys.

Great photos everyone! It doesn't take long to fill a page on SS. I guess I have to get some more switchers, or start going out and photographing some. I do need a CNJ steam switcher for a diorama I want to make of the Ashley yard for the Minors' Memorial Park.

Don 

I found a picture of MNCW/Tom as a kid, now we know how far back his love for PRR Switchers goes!

:-)    

Retail railroading CTR Trains

and I took the picture, then we walked down to Isley's for an ice cream cone.....

Murnane posted:

Update #2 of 2:   Somebody at some point in time posted this video, but it's been a while and I stumbled on it again this week and thought I'd share again in case someone hasn't seen it, or in case someone out there has forgotten about it.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7d7t_4dZko

The Coopersville & Marne Railway - Diesel Locomotive Basics

 

This is a great video!!!! Very informative! Thanks for posting Rich!!

CNJ 3676 posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday to my brothers on the thread!

When Canadian National made the decision to dieselize its operations on Prince Edward Island in 1947, an order was placed with the Canadian Locomotive Company for 18 75 ton end cab locomotives to be built under license from Whitcomb.Powered by a 650 horsepower Sterling engine, deliveries began in 1948. Unfortunately, the units proved notoriously unreliable to the point the railroad refused to accept final delivery.

Stuck with the unwanted locomotives, CLC sold them to Whitcomb at which point they were rebuilt with much more reliable although slightly less powerful Caterpillar equipment. The bulk of the units were subsequently acquired by the Rock Island where they enjoyed productive careers with some lasting into the decade of the 70s. One unit even ended up in the service of the Washington & Old Dominion! Rich and Patrick will like that for sure!

Enjoy,

Bob

Thanks Bob!! Most enjoyable bit of history on this locomotive.  If I ever expand my railroad name to Free State and Potomac ( which I do think about from time to time ) I'm definitely going to include the Washington and Old Dominion.  As it stands now I model 9 different railroad of post WW2 Maryland which is about all my budget can withstand. 

Thanks again Bob, I love that one of these 70 ton Whitcomb's stomping ground was so close to me!

Good morning fellow SSWAT friends!!  I soooo look forward to this thread every Saturday morning! Thanks for all the great pics/video and information!  I learn so much from you guys!   Here is my contribution from the Free State Junction Railway.  

CNJ 3676 posted:

Enjoy,

Bob

I have sometimes wondered if the prototype of the Marx Switcher that collectors refer to as the 70 tonner was actually based on this model of Whitcomb. 

With the sloped front it looks more like it than a GE. 

Andy:

I agree with you. Despite the prevailing belief the Marx model is intended to represent the GE 70 tonner, I've long been of the opinion these CLC/Whitcomb units were the inspiration for its development. In fact, I had intended to carry my post a bit further to discuss the Marx locomotive's similarity to them but my 588 is not readily accessible at present  

Bob

Happy Switcher Saturday to all. This week i send pics engine what is here in Finland. It`s narrow gauge steam engine 0-6-0T (750mm). Locomotive built by H.K.Porter Company Pittsburgh USA No:2313 1901. It served The ÄSR until 1943. Really beauty.

Short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD-gOGe__44

that is a beautiful little locomotive, thanks! and i like the three rail track too,,,,

Steamer posted:

that is a beautiful little locomotive, thanks! and i like the three rail track too,,,,

Dave: Thanks  

-Johan

I guess these guys fit the bill....I have never seen them used together before.....

Peter

Murnane posted:

I found a picture of MNCW/Tom as a kid, now we know how far back his love for PRR Switchers goes!

:-)    

Retail railroading CTR Trains

In a scene far removed from today’s unit and intermodal trains, a small boy watches as a shipment is loaded aboard the Union Transportation Co.’s daily train at New Egypt, N.J., in September 1958. The short line used locomotives and cabin cars leased from the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Aaron G. Fryer photo

 

Rich,

Boy, do I wish that was me! Besides the important history involved here it would also mean I would most likely be retired by now! Unfortunately, I wasn't even born for another 2 years!

Kudos to the handful of great photographers who were at the right place at the right time to document twilight of steam, in this case, Aaron G. Fryer. I believe this was B6sb #5244, the very last active Pennsy steamer. She would linger on for less than a year operating under lease for Union Transportation, before being retired in July 1959.

On the other hand, if that was indeed me I think I would have asked/begged/cried for a ride in the locomotive! 

Tom  

I love this thread.....it's always so informative!

Peter

Rich Murnane. While I have not posted any New York Dock images to SWSat I did find myself on Governors Island today and I looked across into Brooklyn and I saw this building that had New York Dock cast into the top. I think the only rails there now are for the cranes though.

I need a better camera the cornice at the top has the name embossed. 

A few years ago they found this arch bar truck on the island underground during excavations for the new park additions. There was a  military railroad with steam engines there until the late 1930s. The Governors Island Railroad. 

Worlds colliding.