Switcher Saturday: 2017-Dec-30

Jim Waterman posted:

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

IMHO, here is the best post war switcher for sheer performance:

It's got Magnetraction and heft making it as good as any post war engine, pound for pound, for pulling more than a few postwar operating cars,  and bell ringer for charm. And it navigates sharp 027 or 031 curves as well as any engine ever made. 

I happen to drive a MiniCooper, and this 6220 diesel switcher handles sharp curves like a MiniCooper. I love driving my MiniCooper with stick shift on narrow curvy highways. It's like an economical James Bond car.😊

I have a 623 with a large lead weight fastened in - magnetraction too, smooth and powerful! Had it since I was a boy (early 1970's). Not worth a lot, except to me. What great drives  in these engines, die cast frames, nice detail, classic Lionel postwar look.

I totally agree with you, Jim. I understand the 623 does not have the bell ringer, and if the ding, ding gets on your nerves, then the 623 is the one you want. I happen to love the bell ringer so I much prefer the 6220 or 622.

MELGAR posted:

I photographed AMTRAK #798 at Washington, DC Union Station on December 27, 2017 while traveling northbound on Train 176. AMTRAK #798 is an EMD SW1000R built as an SW9 in 1952 and originally purchased by the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad. It weighs 194,000 pounds, has a 1,000 HP engine and can operate at speeds up to 50 miles-per-hour.

Happy New Year to all SWSATs.

MELGAR

To me, the remarkable thing about this picture is that the locomotive is 65 years old and appears to be in daily use by Amtrak. That certainly attests to the quality of design and manufacture by General Motors Electro-Motive Division.

MELGAR

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Jim Waterman posted:

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

IMHO, here is the best post war switcher for sheer performance:

It's got Magnetraction and heft making it as good as any post war engine, pound for pound, for pulling more than a few postwar operating cars,  and bell ringer for charm. And it navigates sharp 027 or 031 curves as well as any engine ever made. 

I happen to drive a MiniCooper, and this 6220 diesel switcher handles sharp curves like a MiniCooper. I love driving my MiniCooper with stick shift on narrow curvy highways. It's like an economical James Bond car.😊

I have a 623 with a large lead weight fastened in - magnetraction too, smooth and powerful! Had it since I was a boy (early 1970's). Not worth a lot, except to me. What great drives  in these engines, die cast frames, nice detail, classic Lionel postwar look.

I totally agree with you, Jim. I understand the 623 does not have the bell ringer, and if the ding, ding gets on your nerves, then the 623 is the one you want. I happen to love the bell ringer so I much prefer the 6220 or 622.

I have the C & O version.  It has an electronic E-Unit and runs beautifully.  Probably one of the best running locomotives I have.  

Rich,

I searched for that WM engine, but I found this one from Paul Strickland for half the price.

Charlie

Hello fellow SSWAT friends!!  I'm joining this great party late today.  I took Amtrak up to NYC to visit friends earlier this week and just got back home.  You all have some wonderful photos and videos posted!! Bravo!!!  Rich glad to see/hear your layout is progressing!   It looks like it will be lots of fun to operate for sure!!  Here's my photos for this edition of SSWAT.  Happy New Year to everyone!! 

Dan Padova posted:

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Jim Waterman posted:

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

IMHO, here is the best post war switcher for sheer performance:

It's got Magnetraction and heft making it as good as any post war engine, pound for pound, for pulling more than a few postwar operating cars,  and bell ringer for charm. And it navigates sharp 027 or 031 curves as well as any engine ever made. 

I happen to drive a MiniCooper, and this 6220 diesel switcher handles sharp curves like a MiniCooper. I love driving my MiniCooper with stick shift on narrow curvy highways. It's like an economical James Bond car.😊

I have a 623 with a large lead weight fastened in - magnetraction too, smooth and powerful! Had it since I was a boy (early 1970's). Not worth a lot, except to me. What great drives  in these engines, die cast frames, nice detail, classic Lionel postwar look.

I totally agree with you, Jim. I understand the 623 does not have the bell ringer, and if the ding, ding gets on your nerves, then the 623 is the one you want. I happen to love the bell ringer so I much prefer the 6220 or 622.

I have the C & O version.  It has an electronic E-Unit and runs beautifully.  Probably one of the best running locomotives I have.  

I have the 623 one of my favorites for sure. Pulls anything I throw at it. No bell but that's OK.

Bob

Definitely a banner week for Switcher action this week. Thanks again to Rich- @Murnane  for starting us off each week.

Welcome to all the newcomers and I hope everyone has a Happy New Year!

Bob

We could continue and call it Switcher Sunday. Take it from a songwriter that the alliteration is just as good as Switcher Saturday. But, I'll wait till next Saturday. Just very excited about this topic.

One more thing. The 622 (6220), 623, 624 (C&0), and the Seaboard version (forget the number) are all so well made mechanically when Lionel was king in the early 1950s. They pull plenty of cars, are very reliable and are very fixable. The ozone they exude when run a little bit, smells so good. They look, smell and run great. These switchers reek of quality.

The modern switchers, some of which have smoke units and all of which make great sounds, are great too. I'm sure most of us have at least a few of them too.

I have a 621 I have posted here before.  Yes it is a strong pulling little engine!!