Switcher Saturday: 2016-July-30

Wellsboro and Corning RR.  Wellsboro, PA. 

Buffalo and Pittsburgh, also Wellsboro. 

Ah, my favorite time of the week on the OGR Forum...it's Switcher Saturday!

The RS-1 was introduced by ALCo-GE in 1941. The locomotive enjoyed a very long production run with the final unit constructed in 1960. With its rating of 1,000 horsepower, the model proved very versatile and was equally at home in switching or road switching service. 

Black River & Western number 57 was originally built for Washington Terminal where it switched passenger equipment in and out of Washington Union Station. The 57 was a workhorse for the BR&W during the 1970s and into the 1980s. In fact, my first several rides aboard BR&W passenger trains were behind the 57 as it substituted for 2-8-0 number 60. Having seen it many times in the ensuing years, the locomotive and I became old friends.

Since the unit was originally delivered to WT and my own personal experiences center around its operation on BR&W passenger trains, I've elected to put my model of the 57 to work as the station switcher for its moment of fame on Switcher Saturday. 

Bob

iPhone "recovered" (I think) - here's a picture of my Lionel 6-18000 B6 0-6-0 circa ~1989.

I started off a Switcher Saturday with this guy back in April, including pics of the pages of the Lionel 1989 "Toy Fair Edition" catalog which it was featured.

https://ogrforum.com/t...saturday-2016-apr-30

I also stumbled upon Tom's (MNCW) post from a couple years ago where he talked about how Ed Boyle wrote an article about the B6:
https://ogrforum.com/t...onel-steam-switchers
The article can be found in OGR Feb Run 276, which I now have since Tom and I traded emails this week about the subject (while I was supposed to be working, sorry bossman).

Overall I think this switcher is clearly one of my favorites as I've posted many pictures of it here on Switcher Saturday.  What's even better is that I've made some very good friendships here not the forum and through this little weekly ritual.  I hope everyone has a great day and weekend, off to the last swim meet of the year, "Go Marlins"!

Best...Rich

One last note: speaking of B6's, can someone please buy this one so I stop looking at it?  I swear I've looked at it a million times since Jim posted it on the for sale forum.
https://ogrforum.com/t...-and-williams-3-rail

Another (non-B6) 0-6-0 I've looked at a million times over the last few months is one that John Z has posted, a MTH USRA New York Central sexy thing, though it looks like John might have it sold which is good so I'll stop looking at it.
https://ogrforum.com/t...am-switcher-for-sale

OK, actually leaving now for the swim meet...

Bob, it's noted that the Atlas model has the steam generator stack, (passenger service) shown on the rear hood cab detail.

I have some bonus coverage this week. Yesterday afternoon, I checked in on the Raritan Central which is a shortline serving the Raritan Center industrial complex in Edison. I was lucky enough to find a crew at work switching lengthy cuts of cars. Power for the job was a former Santa Fe GP38 and B&O GP30. In fact, the Raritan Central's unit is the only GP30 to be found in the state of New Jersey now. 

Bob

Happy Switcher Saturday to all. This time GBW S2 #1264 switching at Cape Shark. I love that GBW transfer caboose #101 what Brother Love build to me.

This week, a CSX MP15AC 

l

Bar GP #63, that entire scene is top notch!

Great start so far guys.

CNJ 3676 my dads cousin was an engineer for Washington Terminal. To me it is amazing how many of thier RS1s survived into the preservation era. I can find 3. 

This week I am posting images of railroads around Potomac Yard.

Washington and Old Dominion crossed over it on Pylons.PEPCO had thier fireless steamer on the east side of it into the 1980's and of course the RF&P.

There are a few early CR patch jobs like CNJ 3676 posted last week as well. The booster slugs working on the hump are all rebuilt Alco S2s. One survives (barely) in a museum in Florida. 

Here goes the W and OD. The line is now a popular bike path. One of the Electric motors has made it out to become an Iowa Tration unit and another is at the museum in Perris CA. 

While in later years W and OD was worked with 44 and 70 ton GEs it had been an electric line. The Autorailer was a neat idea that was a failed attempt to save passenger service it could cross bridges on roads into DC but still ride the rails.  Moter 26 was a cool looking home built unit. 

The PEPCo fireless ran in the plant in Alexandria into the 1980's I saw it a few times working when I was a kid. 

Have a great weekend. 

Happy Switcher Saturday!

Rich, for posting this for another week. Good luck with the swim meetI I see you found that earlier post...I think that was before I could figure out how to crop my pictures! 

Bob, nice photos and story of your first generation RS-1 diesel.

I know this is Switcher Saturday, but where would switchers be without switches (or turnouts to be precise in railroad terminology) to operate? So, my contribution this week is my #230 prewar steam switcher operating on two of Lionel's 1024 manual switches. These switches were manufactured by Lionel first from 1935 to 1942. After WWII, production ran from 1946 to 1952. I've been lucky to gather a couple of pairs of them and most are in what I would call "Very Good" condition. Something about them, maybe the red/green switch targets or their sturdy construction or their current affordability, appeals to me. 

Tom 

Andy/SILVERLAKE,

Nice photos, especially the "fireless cooker" at the end of your post. I found this view of the innards of one from The Whippany Railway Museum's website, which I think Bob/CNJ 3676 has mentioned that he visits.

Tom 

Stopped down by the yard last night and was treated with this switcher.  GT 4912, a GP38.  The quality of the pic is poor as I was fighting the setting sun.

Silver Lake posted:

 The Autorailer was a neat idea that was a failed attempt to save passenger service it could cross bridges on roads into DC but still ride the rails.

 

Here is the Auto-Railer straight from the pages of (advertising) history! It certainly had a unique look to it. 

Tom

Tom I like those 1024s myself, have some on my layout.

Rich I don't think I could convince my CFO that I'm buying that B6 for some guy I've never even met......

PRR A3a 5076 at Meadows NJ 1934

PRR B6sb 3777 at Lancaster Pa 1949

PRR B6sa 5010 South Philly 1957

B8a 5034 Meadows NJ 1956

plenty cool today, but rainy...so the yard work is out...so headed for the basement!

Yes Tom for as few that were made there were many body style variations and so very many ads for them.

Tank engine at IRM.

jay jay posted:

\Here's another "fireless cooker", Union Electric Co. #4, at IRM.

 

That's a tank engine.  You can see the boiler under the saddle tank and the coal bunker on the back.

Yes, thanks. Its a 2-6-2 tank engine. Now I'm trying to figure out which one it is.

Here's another view of the Texaco fireless cooker which is in the collection of the Whippany Railway Museum:

Bob

Some Rock Island action.

Laidoffsick posted:

Bar GP #63, that entire scene is top notch!

Thanks Doug.

-Johan

Attention: CNJ 3676 ... a question...

Where did you get the black goose neck lamps?...they look a lot like vintage Lionel #58...please advise...thanks...howard...

Yes..."Switcher Saturday"...one of the viewing highlights for the week!...

Hi, Howard. 

The lamps are a modern era reissue of the postwar gooseneck lamps.  They seem to be common and easy to find.

I hope this helps. 

Bob

Have a great weekend. Some pics of my Moguls.

This may not qualify as switching, but UP 7855 picked up a consist from the Manitowoc yard and was headed over to Neenah.  I caught up with it at the Meadow Lane crossing.

https://youtu.be/3p1BbHdGbjE

Posted these pics in the Real Trains section earlier this week.......but, they deserve to be part of this great series..... The NYO&W RR Historical Society purchased one of the RR's original 44 tonners and is sending it to Steamtown for cosmetic repair.

Look forward to this thread every week!

Peter

Belatedly, a few

Loco cab numbers 2 and 101 are operating on the Walkersville Southern RR.  #2 is a Davenport with a 4-speed truck transmission that the engineer must shift, double-clutching.  WSRR has another Davenport which, I believe, is diesel-electric.  #101 is an EMD, intended to compete with the GE 44-ton.

Putnam Division posted:

Posted these pics in the Real Trains section earlier this week.......but, they deserve to be part of this great series..... The NYO&W RR Historical Society purchased one of the RR's original 44 tonners and is sending it to Steamtown for cosmetic repair.

Look forward to this thread every week!

Peter

When did you head down to Winslow Junction on the SRNJ?

CNJ 3676 posted:

Ah, my favorite time of the week on the OGR Forum...it's Switcher Saturday!

The RS-1 was introduced by ALCo-GE in 1941. The locomotive enjoyed a very long production run with the final unit constructed in 1960. With its rating of 1,000 horsepower, the model proved very versatile and was equally at home in switching or road switching service. 

Black River & Western number 57 was originally built for Washington Terminal where it switched passenger equipment in and out of Washington Union Station. The 57 was a workhorse for the BR&W during the 1970s and into the 1980s. In fact, my first several rides aboard BR&W passenger trains were behind the 57 as it substituted for 2-8-0 number 60. Having seen it many times in the ensuing years, the locomotive and I became old friends.

Since the unit was originally delivered to WT and my own personal experiences center around its operation on BR&W passenger trains, I've elected to put my model of the 57 to work as the station switcher for its moment of fame on Switcher Saturday. 

Bob

Bob - thanks for the background info and photo of your RS-1!!  I love these locomotives!  

As I once  lived on the Maryland border to DC, I would often see the Washington Terminal RS -1s ( they seemed to have several ) at the Ivy City Engine Terminal on New York Ave. on my way in and out of DC.  When Atlas O came out with the WT # 46, I bought one, but had to send it back 4 times to be repaired under warranty.  It was finally pronounced a lemon by Atlas O ( and the dealer )  and since Atlas O did not have any more WT RS -1s,  the dealer gave me full credit toward an MTH Arrow Train.... which is very cool!!   I do wish I had a Washington Terminal RS 1 though.... no other manufacturer has offered the RS 1 in WT livery.  

Thanks again for the post!!