Switcher Saturday: 2018-December-15

Switcher action on the Seattle & Yakima RR.

Is this Camelback a critter? I would think so.

Last Sunday, I attended the Westchester Toy and Train Show in White Plains, New York, where I purchased a “near mint” 1955 Lionel 1615 0-4-0 steam switcher.

I have been buying only modern scale-sized locomotives since returning to O gauge railroading 21 years ago and building two layouts. Most of my engines and rolling-stock are by MTH, Atlas O, Weaver and Sunset – with only a couple of recent Lionel items. But reading the OGR Forum, Switcher Saturday, and memories of my childhood Lionel trains made me realize that something was missing. That is, a genuine locomotive made by the “original” Lionel Corporation (when it was run by JLC) in Hillside, New Jersey – with a label on the bottom saying “Made in U. S. of America – The Lionel Corporation, N. Y.”

Naturally, I would have liked something spectacular, such as a “mint” pre-war Hudson, but I was not prepared to spend the money that would require, so I began shopping for smaller, less expensive locomotives – such as a switcher. And since I’m particular, it had to be in exceptional condition.

The Lionel 1615 0-4-0 switcher that I came up with last weekend is shown below. One photo compares it, I think very favorably, with my modern MTH Premier 0-4-0 switcher. According to the seller, it had very little run time and had not been run for many years. It was stiff, so I rotated the drivers a bit before giving it a brief test run. I had intended to run whatever locomotive I bought, but his advice was not to do so. I like this little locomotive and it has replaced my beautiful Atlas O USRA 0-6-0 switcher on a siding on my layout. So, I would like the experts at Switcher Saturday to weigh in on whether or not to run it…

One more comment. I have noticed that the rods and drivers operate symmetrically – that is, they are not “quartered” but rather the left and right sides are phased together. Is that correct?

MELGAR

Yay! SWSat is on!

Last Saturday I met up with Tom P/MNCW, Melgar,  Arnold,  Leroof, CoachJoe, Railride  and a few other card carrying SWSaters at the Westchester Toy Train show. It was really nice to meet people I only correspond with here on line. It was really great I am so happy I had a chance to go.

I took the train to the show because the venue is a block or two from the White Plains MetroNorth Station. By far the most fun way to get to a train show. 

Tom P directed me to the most interesting dealer and I was able to bundle some restoration candidate Pre war Switchers and boxcabs for a very good price.

Here is an Ives 3254 that goes nicely with my Lionel 152. That is a Karl Bub German Prewar gondola in the back.

This one is an American Flyer 3019 that needed some bodywork. I wish I took a before picture. It had been driven full speed into a brick at the roofline. The whole tin body above the cast running boards was warped from the impact and the front of the roof above the windows was completely flattened. A half hour later with some wood blocks and jewelers mallets it looks much better. It is pulling a scale express reefer and looks pretty good as at least a scale height match.

These surprisingly are both are operable and very clean inside for two toy engines approaching 100 years old. They will be my under the tree power this year. 

Have a great weekend guys. Can’t wait to see what you post. 

Happy Switcher Saturday everyone. Great pictures so far!

Mel/MELGAR- I think that's a very clean looking 1615. They are nice little locomotives and I have at least one of them.

Here is my prior, prior layout...that's me back around the 1990's with a 1615 right next to my hand, going down grade.

I never really noticed the quartering. 

It was nice meeting several of you last Sunday in White Plains...keep in mind the next Toy & Train Show is in January. I would think Arnold would post a topic as it gets closer. 

Tom

PS- I picked up 2 of my first Dorfan cars at that show. Very cool. I need to take a picture of them soon. 

Tom

Switching under the tree this week...

Mel I'm not a collector so my vote would be to run it.  That being said I believe you run with a command system now so this little conventional runner would alter your operations.  Would that lessen the likelihood you would choose that switcher during an operating session?  Weather you choose to run it or just admire it as a static display should be determined by what will bring you the most enjoyment.

MELGAR,

Since the axles are gear driven, the wheels do not need to be quartered.

"So if it isn't broken, why not take it apart and find out why."

A man of your talent, should easily be able to tune that beauty up to run good as new.

coach joe posted:

Mel I'm not a collector so my vote would be to run it.  That being said I believe you run with a command system now so this little conventional runner would alter your operations.  Would that lessen the likelihood you would choose that switcher during an operating session?  Weather you choose to run it or just admire it as a static display should be determined by what will bring you the most enjoyment.

Good morning, Joe,

I run conventional only and am not planning to become a Lionel postwar collector. And, this engine was not expensive, so its monetary value is not a factor in whether I run it or not. It seems to have been run very little, so I'm just thinking that I should keep it that way.

MELGAR

Melgar, I fully agree with Coach Joe. Do what brings you the most joy and happiness.

Treating anything as a pure collectible that does not run, is a road I have never taken. Everything I have gets run a lot. Arnold

Happy SWSAT!

this is before I restored my little Switcher have a great weekend 

since we're showing 1615s.......

my first switcher

a forlorn 1615 I found on CL

missing many parts, with the help of Dennis Holler, and Tom (MNCW), became a 0-6-0

anyone see the thread over on RPN about the Monon SW 1 being moved from the Indiana Transportation Museum ? Had a small run in with an overpass....

Mel, now that I think about it I seem to remember you saying that you run conventional during last week's luncheon.  I believe your mention of only buying modern, scale size equipment made me think you had a command system. Therefore my vote is definitely "Run that puppy" and  have some fun.

Guess I am on the same wavelength as Lee. While he was posting his above video. I was making mine, of the same switcher.

Do you think I have an obsession?

That's a 4 switcher lash up hauling coal.

I cannot resist buying one of these at a train show if it's offered for a good price. IMO, the Postwar Lionel ATSF NW2, especially the bell-ringer model, is the very best Postwar switcher. Arnold

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Do you think I have an obsession?

Definitely! But, I would say that any regular follower of Switcher Saturday, including myself, also qualifies for that accusation...

MELGAR

Good morning fellow Swsat friends!!  Great photosas usual and I really enjoy them all, especially today the Christmas tree photos!  

Rich - thanks for getting us rolling!  Have fun running trains with your friend tonight! 

Arnold I think that Camelback can be considered a switcher as long as it is doing switcher duties.

Here are some random photos of switchers doing work around Patsburg.  Sorry but some may be re - peats.   Enjoy the holiday season everyone!!   

MNCW posted:

PS- I picked up 2 of my first Dorfan cars at that show. Very cool. I need to take a picture of them soon. 

Tom

Tom. There are some very neat looking Dorfan passenger cars with riders cast into the windows that I have always admired. 

For some reason Dorfan seems to have been the only manufacturer to have done this. I don’t know why because it looks good to have bodies in the seats and shows a prosperous Railroad. 

Happy Switcher Saturday. S.B.R. Alco HH660 #150 "Anchor" switching around the layout. 

MELGAR posted:

coach joe posted:

Mel I'm not a collector so my vote would be to run it.  That being said I believe you run with a command system now so this little conventional runner would alter your operations.  Would that lessen the likelihood you would choose that switcher during an operating session?  Weather you choose to run it or just admire it as a static display should be determined by what will bring you the most enjoyment.

Good morning, Joe,

I run conventional only and am not planning to become a Lionel postwar collector. And, this engine was not expensive, so its monetary value is not a factor in whether I run it or not. It seems to have been run very little, so I'm just thinking that I should keep it that way.

MELGAR

Hi Mel/MELGAR- If it were me, I would run it and maybe put some white grease on those gears. Either way, enjoy. 

Tom 

MELGAR posted:

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Do you think I have an obsession?

Definitely! But, I would say that any regular follower of Switcher Saturday, including myself, also qualifies for that accusation...

MELGAR

I resemble that remark! 

Tom 

Johan how about some more pictures of the flat car Anchor is pulling?

Hey... SWSAT is happenin'! Now how cool is that?

Got several things to share this time 'round.

MELGAR:

'Ya gotta do what gives you the jollies. IF the pride of ownership of such a pristine little switcher makes you smile (probably one of the cleanest examples I've seen!)... then by all means keep it pristine! IF, on the other hand, you decide to run it and enjoy it in that way... it's the right thing to do for you! There is no "wrong way" here when it comes to enjoying your trains in a way you want to enjoy them.

All:

Well, let's see... I've modified/assembled FOUR HO Atlas Classic "Gold" undec engines this week: Two GP7' and two RS-1's. These for my upcoming HO scale layout. Both of these are switchers... but of the "road" variety...

AND... since I'm on a roll here... thought I might repost (from years ago) a pic of my HO scale Lindberg Lines collections of switchers. These were manufactured in the early 1960's.

The switchers...

And... since I AM really rolling... here's a pic of a replica set I picked up some years ago that represents a stand-in for my original Lindberg Lines set...

My original set was long ago played to death, though three of the original cars survived: My CN&W gondola, my CN&W boxcar, and my SFRD reefer. That trio from my original set have served dutifully on every HO scale model railroad layout I've ever built to date, and are they're waiting patiently to be placed in service on my upcoming (final?) layout.

All fer this 'un!

Andre

MELGAR posted:

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Do you think I have an obsession?

Definitely! But, I would say that any regular follower of Switcher Saturday, including myself, also qualifies for that accusation...

MELGAR

Oh, you betcha we do!  

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Guess I am on the same wavelength as Lee. While he was posting his above video. I was making mine, of the same switcher.

Do you think I have an obsession?

That's a 4 switcher lash up hauling coal.

I cannot resist buying one of these at a train show if it's offered for a good price. IMO, the Postwar Lionel ATSF NW2, especially the bell-ringer model, is the very best Postwar switcher. Arnold

Arnold, every time I see a bell ringer at a train show, I wonder, "Can I live with all the ringing in my ears?" So far I have declined, but I may still end up with one in the future - I love the engine, in fact I love my 623 non-bell-ringer. I guess I could get one and just disable the bell - did you? 

I also bought this 6220 shell for $1 at a train show. It was warped, stripped of all it's goodies, had no chassis, wheels or motor, but I just loved the look, so now it's my computer desk "ornament" 

coach joe posted:

Johan how about some more pictures of the flat car Anchor is pulling?

Joe: Here is some pictures for you.

Johan

Happy SWSat!

Great stuff so far everyone.

Melgar- I'd run it. Service it, check for any frayed wiring, put it on the track and hit the throttle. These old beauties were built to run. Just look at how many survive and are still going strong. But it's your railroad so your rules.

This week I thought I'd go a little sideways. I was channel surfing last night watching 5 shows at once (drives my wife nuts), and stumbled across an episode of "Mysteries of the Abandoned". They were featuring an old logging operation up in northern Maine. The Eagle Lake Tramway was build in 1902 to move logs between two lakes, against the flow of the rivers. Very cool idea and amazing engineering for its day. The tram was steam powered and ran on a 6000' cable between the lakes. There are also a couple of abandoned steam loco's in the area too. 

Here's a neat video of the history of the tram.

Any my 623 contribution for this week.

Have a great weekend.

Bob

8111 greeting the new kid 1818.

Here's the Western Pacific Plymouth in action taking some laps around the new layout.

Finally finished wiring the track, switches, and accessories... I’m looking forward to nice, relaxing tree and shrubbery placement.  Testing everything with my old K-Line switcher, which will derail sitting still on a shelf. 

Thank you for the pictures Johan.  Is that a stock piece or did you build or modify it beyond your usual excellent weathering job?

Flysplanes-Playtrains, have you tried adding weight over the wheels that derail.  I believe many of the K-line switchers have a tendency to derail because the torque of traction tire drive wheels on the in-board axles of the the trucks tend to to cause the trucks to rear up a little causing the forward axle to derail at track imperfections.  A little weight over the forward axle may help.

coach joe posted:

Thank you for the pictures Johan.  Is that a stock piece or did you build or modify it beyond your usual excellent weathering job?

Flysplanes-Playtrains, have you tried adding weight over the wheels that derail.  I believe many of the K-line switchers have a tendency to derail because the torque of traction tire drive wheels on the in-board axles of the the trucks tend to to cause the trucks to rear up a little causing the forward axle to derail at track imperfections.  A little weight over the forward axle may help.

Joe: Thank you. That is a MTH car and i do it only weathering job.

Johan

This is by far my favorite saturday activity, thanks for all the fun!

here are a couple of my boxy swithcers of the former two rail experience.

a couple of different views of these boxcabs here

working the float job back in the day...

Pierre, the photos in your first post could also go to the Front End Friday thread.  With that color paint I'm thinking it's the New York Central float bridge even though I see New Haven switching the job too.

I 

MNCW, nice find! the IVES 3254  and the AF 3019 are a great souvenirs of the Westchester & Train show last Saturday. By your description of the historic accident of the AF 3019 (but you had to see the other guy!) you have made a magical recovery! Revived with scars of great character.The headlight on this engine is so classically placed. Really like the look.

nice to have met you.