Switcher Saturday: 2017-June-03

Yay SWSat is on!

A quick post from me today. Here is an image of a Brooks built steam switcher that was used as a run in engine on the logging  railroad I am building a caboose replica of in the Adirondacks. It was one of two identical small Brooks engines the railroad had. As you can see the 0-6-0 was sometimes also sometimes pressed into passenger service. The combine was the railroads only non self powered passenger car.

(The LO&S gas powered "doodlebug" that is now at Strasburg was originally standard gauged and used by the Grasse River RR. The Lancaster, Oxford and Southern was a narrow gauge Railroad that was in Lancaster PA near the Strasburg RR. )

Have a great weekend guys. 

Great picture and story Andy!

Yes, I really like small steam switchers...

morning sunrise in the yard.....

getting started up......

morning sun is always fun...

forgot my sunglasses again...

 guess i will just turn around the other way.....

looks like a busy day ahead....

getting them ready....

waiting for clear signal...

local heading out for it's daily run.....after mainline freight pulls out.....

Happy SWSat to all.

So the mystery on the RSJ&B has been answered (see part one here- https://ogrforum.com/...67#73087245999712767

Introducing the Greenport Scoot. The LIRR introduced shuttle service to the east end of their territory in the 70's where electric service ended and diesel took over. Affectionately called "Scoots", these short trains would run back and fourth from the western terminal to the east end of the Island.

The Greenport Scoot ran from Ronkonkoma to Greenport, Monday - Friday during the summer to supplement the once a day Jamaica to Greenport service. Originally powered by Alco RS-1's, pulling old steam coaches, the ride was a hot one. No AC and nothing but open windows to create a breeze. In later years with the introduction of Cab Control, the LIRR added Alco FA's to one end and used MP-15's to either push or pull the train. This saved having to run the loco around to the other end of the train at either terminal.

My set is from K-line consisting of a MP-15, 3 coaches, and a non-powered Alco FA. I picked the set up, including the original box, for $125.00 a few weeks ago. The coaches have full interiors and the FA just needs motors and a board and could be a powered unit. The seller's description noted silhouette strips on the windows so I have a feeling these coaches were from a different set. K-line produced two versions of the Scoot and the latter set had the full interiors. 

This is my first LIRR equipment and I am very happy with it so far. Here are some historical photos and my K-line set.

Enjoy your weekend.

Bob

The Scoot at Greenport

When I was researching the Scoot's, I came across this photo of a BAR GP-9 #69 running the Patchouge- Babylon Scoot in 1975.

RSJB18 posted:

Happy SWSat to all.

So the mystery on the RSJ&B has been answered (see part one here- https://ogrforum.com/...67#73087245999712767

Introducing the Greenport Scoot. The LIRR introduced shuttle service to the east end of their territory in the 70's where electric service ended and diesel took over. Affectionately called "Scoots", these short trains would run back and fourth from the western terminal to the east end of the Island.

The Greenport Scoot ran from Ronkonkoma to Greenport, Monday - Friday during the summer to supplement the once a day Jamaica to Greenport service. Originally powered by Alco RS-1's, pulling old steam coaches, the ride was a hot one. No AC and nothing but open windows to create a breeze. In later years with the introduction of Cab Control, the LIRR added Alco FA's to one end and used MP-15's to either push or pull the train. This saved having to run the loco around to the other end of the train at either terminal.

My set is from K-line consisting of a MP-15, 3 coaches, and a non-powered Alco FA. I picked the set up, including the original box, for $125.00 a few weeks ago. The coaches have full interiors and the FA just needs motors and a board and could be a powered unit. The seller's description noted silhouette strips on the windows so I have a feeling these coaches were from a different set. K-line produced two versions of the Scoot and the latter set had the full interiors. 

This is my first LIRR equipment and I am very happy with it so far. Here are some historical photos and my K-line set.

Enjoy your weekend.

Bob

The Scoot at Greenport

When I was researching the Scoot's, I came across this photo of a BAR GP-9 #69 running the Patchouge- Babylon Scoot in 1975.

 

 

 

I always liked this K-line set. I have an eye out for one. I am a fan of the LIRR and Metro-North red and blue stripe passenger cars with individual car names under the window bands.

I wish K-line made Metro-North versions of the cars as well. I love that a few times a day the Metro-North car "Ichabod Crane" rolled right past" Sunnyside "the home of the writer Washington Irving who wrote the Legend of Sleepy Hollow on the east bank of the Hudson River.

A few of the FAs used as LIRR power packs for this service have made it into preservation. The museum at  Danbury CT has I believe three of them. Two are currently in CN stripe scheme. One is ex New Haven and there is an engine waiting to repower it eventually. 

Back to Switchers. The Danbury Museum also has the 44 tonner that was the Omaha Neb. steam shop switcher. It was the single 44 tonner owned by the UP.

Ironically both MTH and Williams are offering versions of this one particular engine right now.  I am fond of this engine because the museum offers the opportunity to drive it for an hour or so. I did this last summer. It was a lot of fun and very informative. I even got a nice certificate and copy of the manual.

Here is the unit at Omaha.

Here is the unit as it is at the museum in its later service life Electric Boat paint scheme.

Here is the MTH model.

Here is the Williams model.

It is interesting that the slogans on the cab side is different in both models and prototype images.

finally, it's Saturday!

A pair of "Q" SW's on a transfer run:

Rusty

Another terrific switcher from Atlas.   (Seems to be a recurring theme!)

WM #1051 (0-8-0) pulling freight pass an oil refinery on this fine Saturday morning.

What make Saturday a great day?   SWSAT!!!  What a great treasure trove of information and wonderful photos too!!!   Here is my lot from the Free State Junction Railway here in Patsburg, Md.   

The Free State Junction Railway is owned by 8 different railway companies, all of which were operational in the time period 1946 - 1960.  Only one of these railroads is has retained it's name and is still operational ... that one being the Canton Railway, a short line switching railroad in the Canton section of Baltimore City.   The 4 major railroads, B&O, Pennsy, Western Maryland and Norfolk & Western are long gone and have been absorbed into CSX or Norfolk Southern.  The 3 other short lines, Baltimore & Annapolis, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and Patapsco and Backrivers are no more.   HOWEVER they still exist on the Free State Junction Railway!!    Here are some shots of all those railroads ( all switchers except the Pennsy PA ... which on the FSJR the Pennsy uses for switching  .... actually I did read in TRAINS mag may years ago that somewhere on the Pennsy they used and E-7 or 8 to do freight switching work during the day between its assignments as a morning and evening passenger commuter locomotive ... so there is a prototype operation of use of this kind of locomotive ( a PA is not exactly an EMD E 7 or 8 ... but close enough ) for switching operations.  In actuality I've yet to acquire a Pennsy switcher ... looking for a nicely priced B6 to show up at a show or on E bay   Have a wonderful weekend and creative fun week!!!

I always look forward to logging on to Switcher Saturday!  Great job, Rich!

By the time I log on out here in LA, most of you will be finishing your lunch, so there is always plenty for me to see right from the start. 

Keep up the good work, guys, and enjoy your weekend.

Happy Switcher Saturday to all.

CNR FA2 & RI RS3 switching around Shark Bay.

So!  You had room for a long engine number on your engine roster form, so why not use all of it.

local 8202 drops it's caboose on the main, then pulls forward with the empty car to clear switch.....

then backs in the siding to grab the loaded cars....

pulls the string of cars out past the switch, then backs up and couples on caboose...

backs up and uncouples these cars, then sets empty hopper on siding....

pulls out, re-couples to new train, brake test, then heads out....

RSJB18 posted:

The Greenport Scoot ran from Ronkonkoma to Greenport, Monday - Friday during the summer to supplement the once a day Jamaica to Greenport service. Originally powered by Alco RS-1's, pulling old steam coaches, the ride was a hot one. No AC and nothing but open windows to create a breeze.

Bob

And the Engineer also had open-door air conditioning.  When getting under way, you open the front door and close the cab windows.  Then, open the cab windows gradually, until the air flow is satisfactory.  Not fancy, but it works.  

I know somebody will ask about hitting a vehicle on a crossing.  It's simple . . . you close the front door when approaching a crossing and then open it again after passing the road.  If that's too much work for a particular Engineer, the side windows can be opened all the way if he would rather have the breeze coming in that way.

Just a quick shot of the local switcher(K-Line) shoving a few ore cars on to a siding.

Enjoy SWSAT!

Phil in Ohio

I put this in its own thread, but here is Thomas getting a crack at pulling the Pole-X!!

TNKMARX,

I recognize that B & O ore car and caboose!

Charlie

Good eye Charlie. 

They are being put to good use!

Thanks,

Phil in Ohio

This photo was taken last year about this time down in the Crowsnest Pass at the old Coleman Colleries site. The little GE 25 tonner had sat there since the close of the colleries, silently waiting. The Canadian Locomotive Company DTC-2 that also occupied the site had been sold when it closed in the 90's. The B-50/50-1 was built in 1942 and according to the museum where it thankfully now resides, worked at this plant starting in 1954. Prior to that it was used in construction of the Fontana Dam in Tennessee and later the McNary Dam in Washington State. I've got to take another trip down there to see what they've done with it (if anything) and have been wanting to make a model of it for the longest time.

Great pictures everyone. 

I'm late to the show from excessive Saturday errands including a couple of hours of (non-train related) yard work. What happened to cloning...I thought that was supposed to help us! 

I took 2 new pictures...One is my usual "go-to" #228 prewar steam switcher and the other one is my "Retirement Countdown Clock." I highly recommend something like this for anyone dreaming of retiring! 

1. Patrick/TRUMPTRAIN, if I notice any cheapo Pennsy prewar switchers, I will try to shoot you an email. I sometimes do the same for Dave/Steamer. I am pretty good at sniffing some of them out. The 1989 re-issue is a pretty good model that you can find on eBay. In fact, there is one right now for a shade above $200. That is about the lowest I have seen. 
2. Andy/SILVERLAKE, I love the history of your railroad. 
3. Rich, thanks for getting us started! 

Tom 

SteamWolf posted:

This photo was taken last year about this time down in the Crowsnest Pass at the old Coleman Colleries site. The little GE 25 tonner had sat there since the close of the colleries, silently waiting. The Canadian Locomotive Company DTC-2 that also occupied the site had been sold when it closed in the 90's. The B-50/50-1 was built in 1942 and according to the museum where it thankfully now resides, worked at this plant starting in 1954. Prior to that it was used in construction of the Fontana Dam in Tennessee and later the McNary Dam in Washington State. I've got to take another trip down there to see what they've done with it (if anything) and have been wanting to make a model of it for the longest time.

 

The builder's plate photo is interesting. What the "B-50/50-1 GE 733 150" means is:  B is a single truck with two powered axles, 50/ is a loco weigh of 50000 lbs, /50 50000 lbs are on the driving wheels, -1  is a single traction motor, GE 733 is the model of the traction motor, and 150 is the horse power. So rarely do you see the builders plate on a locomotive of this age.  

Another great Saturday of posts everyone. Just catching up this morning.

Thanks for all of the "likes", and supplemental info on the LIRR Scoots, Andy/ Silverlake, and Tom/ Number 90.

Thanks for keeping this going every week Rich!

Bob

Tom I thought maybe the Mothership stopped by....I'm too far away from a countdown clock....but I'm in the single digits as far as calendars (I hope)