Switcher Saturday: 2017-Nov-25

Rich I love Lego trains.  But I am on the road this morning so here are some pictures I took earlier this week for Switcher Saturday 

Tom might as well give Precision a call and get the correct lights and put them where they belong.

No turkey overdose, but we got our tree yesterday, and spent some time moving furnutire (several times) to find a better spot for Uncle Jim's train board. We were up late doing some decorating, and tonight I should bring some of his trains up. Somehow we managed to screw up and get a tree that wasn't too big, not sure how that happened.

PRR B-28 #8166 in Youngstown in 1938

B-8 #3566 Wilmington,DE 1939

B6sa #5010 in Philly 1937

Switcher waiting for what's next...

...and, technically, this is a Switcher," too, right?.....

FrankM, Moon Township, USA, layout

Happy SWSAT everyone!!  Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!  

Rich - very nice SW900!!  Got to love the B&O!!  Glad to see you are progressing with your railroad.  Do you hum " Ive been working on the Railroad" as you are constructing?  Perhaps the Lionel boxcar with the harmonica playing hobo would be something to put on your Christmas list.  I have one which visitors seem to enjoy hearing.  The problem is that the hobo seems to have forgotten the bridge to the tune.  I think probably too much smoke went up his  stack in his younger years, if you know what I mean

Bob - I hope you enjoy your new BL-2 once it arrives!   I bought the MTH Premier version 10 years ago ( can't believe its been that long ago ).  Bought at MB Kleins in Cockeysville, Md.  Being very excited, I  drove directly to the B&O museum so I could compare my model with the prototype which was sitting in the same place as your photograph at the time.  Wish I'd have had someone take a photo at the time with me holding the MTH version while standing next to the prototype.   I hope you enjoy yours as much as I'm still enjoying mine.   I have a WbB BL-2 demonstrator now on my radar

Tom - number 227 looks great!  

Dave - nice photos of prototypes as always!!  That tree is small???  Look forward to seeing your Christmas tree layout photos.  I'm that railroad will be well switchered! 

JHZ563 - very nice photos prototype!  

This week on the Free State Junction Railway the Pennsylvania 44 tonner is back in town doing some switching of Pennsy coal hoppers onto the team track.   Have a great week everyone!

Yay! SWSat is On!

We are off to a great start so far this week. Hope everyone is recovering from the gigantic meal and fist fights at the mall.

I am starting to build some 2 rail cars to run on the NYSME layout. This week I built most of a 40 year old NOS Athearn 2 rail O scale boxcar. So I posed it on my work table with my 3 Rail WBB GE UP 44 tonner. I am plannning to build it as a 70's rebuild so I am going to shorten the ladders. I still needs a paint job to tin roof really tarnished. I am leaving off the roof walk and put I put roller bearing trucks on it. So far I have been having fun with it. I have a small stack of freight car kits and about half of a Walthers passenger train worth of kits to build this winter. If this is how far I can get in a few hours yesterday I should be in good shape.  

Have a great weekend.

I caught this yesterday.  It's CN9473, a GP40-2LW on its way back into Manitowoc after switching out four tankers for the two hoppers pictured.  I also got video of the switching activity and will be adding it to my YouTube channel, shortly. It's crossing the Manitowoc River.

MNCW posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday Rich and everyone. 

Rich, glad you are making progress on your layout. If I am the second poster, everyone else must be suffering from some Turkey Overdose! 

My contribution this week is my last #227 (still without its marker lights). I actually did work on another #227 that I bought on eBay back in 2005 during this Thanksgiving break with a friend of mine. That loco was missing its cab numbers and lettering on its tender and I had picked up 2 rubber stamps (also on eBay). Maybe I'll post them next week. The lettering came out pretty well, but I would not say it was was easy. 

Tom

 

I need one as well for my 227.  I thought Jeff Kane had them at Train Tender.  Might be worth a check there.

It's a bit long, but it shows real-time switching activity.  

I was inspired by George Brown’s review of 3rd Rail’s Southern Pacific switcher to try and capture mine in a setting similar to one that the real No. 1277 might have found itself. My scene is along Northwestern Pacific right-of-way with Mount Saint Helena in the background. Nowadays, commuters are treated to this view riding the new SMART train south from Wine Country to the San Francisco Bay.  Some really nice photos posted again this week.

Happy Switcher Saturday to all. Shark Bay R.R. Baldwin RF16 "Sharknose" Bruce switching at Cape Shark.  Thanks to member Silver Lake to great name idea. The Bruce lettering area still need a little weathering work. Also get a new B&M BL2 and waiting some weathering work.

I've been following this thread for a long time ... this is my first contribution to Switcher Saturday!

My small switching layout on a door

Best viewed in HD

Dennis Holler posted:

MNCW posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday Rich and everyone. 

Rich, glad you are making progress on your layout. If I am the second poster, everyone else must be suffering from some Turkey Overdose! 

My contribution this week is my last #227 (still without its marker lights). I actually did work on another #227 that I bought on eBay back in 2005 during this Thanksgiving break with a friend of mine. That loco was missing its cab numbers and lettering on its tender and I had picked up 2 rubber stamps (also on eBay). Maybe I'll post them next week. The lettering came out pretty well, but I would not say it was was easy. 

Tom

 

I need one as well for my 227.  I thought Jeff Kane had them at Train Tender.  Might be worth a check there.

Dennis, 

  If you need a stamp, there is one right now on eBay...just search "Lionel 8976."

Tom 

PAT44 posted:

I've been following this thread for a long time ... this is my first contribution to Switcher Saturday!

My small switching layout on a door

Best viewed in HD

PAT44, Welcome to the Switcher Saturday Club! 

Nice layout that you have. Hope we see more of it! 

Tom 

Speaking of BL-2s...Recall last week I promised more of my 2 Western Maryland BL-2s.  Well, as of yesterday I now have three.  Earlier this year I had bought the MTH ProtoSound #82 Fireball from a Forum member thinking MTH would never come out with another BL-2.  He threw in a non-powered BL-2 in Speed Letter.  #7181?  Well, the non powered one actually began life as a Rock Island PS-2 model.  Someone removed the electronics and motors and did a pretty nice repaint.  I just finished upgrading the #82 to PS-3 a couple weeks ago.

Now to this week.  Mr. Muffin posted a Black Friday advertisement Wednesday with one new PS-3 #82 left at Black Friday prices.  Well I finally decided to pull the plug and take that one off Steve's hands.  It arrived yesterday.  I haven't even powered it up yet, ans I want to go over it with a quick lube check.

I don't know that I am going to keep all of these now, but here is the trio!!

Saturday afternoon follow up. Great stuff everyone.

Thanks Patrick- looking forward to my BL-2.

Bar GP- sharp looking BL-2, I like the Studebaker in the first pic too.

Andy- Nice box cars!

Pat44- Welcome to the SWSat club! Can you share a track plan? I have a slab door from a recent home project and I was thinking about making a switching layout on it.

Great addition to the fleet Mark!

Bob

Mark Boyce posted:

Speaking of BL-2s...Recall last week I promised more of my 2 Western Maryland BL-2s.  Well, as of yesterday I now have three.  Earlier this year I had bought the MTH ProtoSound #82 Fireball from a Forum member thinking MTH would never come out with another BL-2.  He threw in a non-powered BL-2 in Speed Letter.  #7181?  Well, the non powered one actually began life as a Rock Island PS-2 model.  Someone removed the electronics and motors and did a pretty nice repaint.  I just finished upgrading the #82 to PS-3 a couple weeks ago.

Now to this week.  Mr. Muffin posted a Black Friday advertisement Wednesday with one new PS-3 #82 left at Black Friday prices.  Well I finally decided to pull the plug and take that one off Steve's hands.  It arrived yesterday.  I haven't even powered it up yet, ans I want to go over it with a quick lube check.

I don't know that I am going to keep all of these now, but here is the trio!!

Awesome Mark!!! Absolutely awesome!!!  I'll be you are the only kid on your block with 3 WM BL 2s!!  They look fantastic as a trio!!!  AND individually too!!

PAT44 posted:

I've been following this thread for a long time ... this is my first contribution to Switcher Saturday!

My small switching layout on a door

Best viewed in HD

Wonderful video Pat!!  I love the detail in your layout.  Welcome to our Saturday switching community!!  

trumptrain posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Speaking of BL-2s...Recall last week I promised more of my 2 Western Maryland BL-2s.  Well, as of yesterday I now have three.  Earlier this year I had bought the MTH ProtoSound #82 Fireball from a Forum member thinking MTH would never come out with another BL-2.  He threw in a non-powered BL-2 in Speed Letter.  #7181?  Well, the non powered one actually began life as a Rock Island PS-2 model.  Someone removed the electronics and motors and did a pretty nice repaint.  I just finished upgrading the #82 to PS-3 a couple weeks ago.

Now to this week.  Mr. Muffin posted a Black Friday advertisement Wednesday with one new PS-3 #82 left at Black Friday prices.  Well I finally decided to pull the plug and take that one off Steve's hands.  It arrived yesterday.  I haven't even powered it up yet, ans I want to go over it with a quick lube check.

I don't know that I am going to keep all of these now, but here is the trio!!

Awesome Mark!!! Absolutely awesome!!!  I'll be you are the only kid on your block with 3 WM BL 2s!!  They look fantastic as a trio!!!  AND individually too!!

Thank you, Pat!!

Yes, I would say you are quite right about the only kid!!

MNCW posted:

PAT44 posted:

I've been following this thread for a long time ... this is my first contribution to Switcher Saturday!

My small switching layout on a door

Best viewed in HD

PAT44, Welcome to the Switcher Saturday Club! 

Nice layout that you have. Hope we see more of it! 

Tom 

 

Patrick  Jean (Pat44) Welcome to SWSat. Great video.

I really enjoyed your article on this layout in the current Dec 2017 Run 295 of OGR magazine.  Between your article and the one immediately preceding it by David Minarik on detailing and repainting switchers it was like there was a mini SWSat sub-theme in the issue.

I think my current (apartment/home) switching layout is still smaller than your door even without the fold down. Like you I lived in an old warehouse by the train tracks in my college days. Mine was near the Providence & Worcester but sadly I never made friends with the train crew. 

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

 

 

Bruce is looking mighty fine with his new cab lettering. It looks a bit like the painters only cleaned the area they were applying the new paint. Im. Sure that in a month it will even out. 

Haha. Really he looks great.

RSJB18 posted:

Happy SWSat Everyone!

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. Time to get the Christmas trains rolling!

Rich- I think it's wabbit season personally Those LEGO trains are cool. I couldn't convince the CEO that my son needed to have a set so.....

Tom- nice switcher. I have to add lettering to my new tank engine, not looking forward to it. I think I may use water slide decals. I remember applying them to Revell models years ago and they weren't too hard to work with.

This week I'm waiting for my first BL-2 to arrive. I hoped to have it today but I guess the holiday held up delivery. Mine is from Williams in the Western Maryland livery. It's engine # 81 which still exists today and is at the B&O Museum in Maryland.

Everyone enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Bob

Wabbit Season?  I have not heard any official announcement from the official proclaimer of seasons:  Daffy!

The BL2 was an unusual EMD.  And it was built so you could switch with it.  With difficulty it seems to me.

The WM fireball looks good!

Dominic Mazoch posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Happy SWSat Everyone!

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. Time to get the Christmas trains rolling!

Rich- I think it's wabbit season personally Those LEGO trains are cool. I couldn't convince the CEO that my son needed to have a set so.....

Tom- nice switcher. I have to add lettering to my new tank engine, not looking forward to it. I think I may use water slide decals. I remember applying them to Revell models years ago and they weren't too hard to work with.

This week I'm waiting for my first BL-2 to arrive. I hoped to have it today but I guess the holiday held up delivery. Mine is from Williams in the Western Maryland livery. It's engine # 81 which still exists today and is at the B&O Museum in Maryland.

Everyone enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Bob

Wabbit Season?  I have not heard any official announcement from the official proclaimer of seasons:  Daffy!

The BL2 was an unusual EMD.  And it was built so you could switch with it.  With difficulty it seems to me.

The WM fireball looks good!

Hey gang, this is my favorite thread on the forum, and the WM is one of my favorite roads, especially that fireball, but imho there is no amount of paint that can hide that much ugly! 

Tom, Patrick:  thanks for the kind words!

Siver Lake: glad you liked the article. Urban railroading is unique. I met the crew at a local  bakery. At lunch                          brake, the Geep was parked across the street like a car . Many restaurants offered rail-thru                                   service back in the day
           
Bob:  track plan appeared in OGR, run 295. All I have right now is the picture below.

PAT44 posted:

I've been following this thread for a long time ... this is my first contribution to Switcher Saturday!

My small switching layout on a door

Best viewed in HD

Seriously?  This was fantastic - wowza!  I love it!!!

What a SWSat that was - great stuff this week guys, hope you have a good week and see you again next week for more Switcher Saturday fun!

Best...Rich

Moonson posted:

Switcher waiting for what's next...

...and, technically, this is a Switcher," too, right?.....

FrankM, Moon Township, USA, layout

Love your layout Frank.  What mfr is the coaling tower or is it scratch built?

Murnane posted:

What a SWSat that was - great stuff this week guys, hope you have a good week and see you again next week for more Switcher Saturday fun!

Best...Rich

I'll give it two thumbs up, Rich!  Not just one as in your avatar!! 

PAT44 posted:

Tom, Patrick:  thanks for the kind words!

Siver Lake: glad you liked the article. Urban railroading is unique. I met the crew at a local  bakery. At lunch                          brake, the Geep was parked across the street like a car . Many restaurants offered rail-thru                                   service back in the day
           
Bob:  track plan appeared in OGR, run 295. All I have right now is the picture below.

Looks great. I will have to pick up a copy of that issue. Very nice work.

Bob

PAT44 posted:

I've been following this thread for a long time ... this is my first contribution to Switcher Saturday!

My small switching layout on a door

Best viewed in HD

Pat, 

Well, you have added a valuable contribution for your first time.  Very nice work on your layout.  Happy switching.  

Dennis Holler posted:

Moonson posted:

Switcher waiting for what's next...

...and, technically, this is a Switcher," too, right?.....

FrankM, Moon Township, USA, layout

Love your layout Frank.  What mfr is the coaling tower or is it scratch built?

Thank you, Dennis. I am very glad you like my layout.

The coaling tower was scratch-built by Roy Baker for me; I only deepened its weathering. His contact information (if he is still making them) would be: Roy Baker, in Long Eddy, NY, (1-845-887-4596).

You can tell him Frank of Layout Refinements sent you.

I like that tower very much, for a number of reasons, one of which is that I crafted the entire layout to have a deliberate variety in the height of structures as one looks across the miniature landscape. That coaling tower provides a big vertical impression right smack in the approximate middle of the whole shebang. Plus, to me, it's so darn grubby and cool that it's a favorite.

Mark Boyce posted:

 

I don't know that I am going to keep all of these now, but here is the trio!!

You could send one to me!

Paul, We could work something out...for a small price.  

Rich, Bob (Boo Man) - your comments are greatly appreciated