Switcher Saturday: 2018-September-01

Yay! SWSat is on! 

This week I am posting some pictures comparing my General Models NW2 (Boston and Maine) to a Williams NW2 (Baltimore and Ohio) which in turn is a close clone of a Lionel NW2. 

They are the same length but the GModels unit has a narrower hood.The WBB has deeper panel relief and more panels.  My General Models is also missing it’s bell. Also the WBB is 3 rail and the GM is part of my transition to 2 rail though they offered 3rail versions as well.  I probably will convert the WBB to 2rail further on down the line.

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

Rusty

Great Northern #98 is a model of an EMD SW8 switcher made by Atlas O around 1999. The prototype was built in June 1951 and retired in 1982. Around the time I bought this model, I collected some other models of Great Northern locomotives including GN W-1 electric motor #5019, an MTH model with PS-2. The pictures below show the contrast between GN #98 and #5019. The SW8 model is about 11 inches in length (44 feet full scale) compared to 25 inches (101 feet full scale) for the W-1, which is very heavy. Two W-1s were built by General Electric’s Erie Works in 1947. They had a B-D+D-B wheel arrangement (similar to a Union Pacific Big Boy), weighed 720,000 pounds, produced 5000 continuous horsepower, 119,000 pounds of tractive effort, and had an electric motor on each of the 12 axles.

MELGAR

 Great Northern SD9 .  Great paint, the Big Sky blue is a downer for me. 

Some Saturday morning drilling...

Here’s our yard switcher. My boss bought it about 9yrs ago from the terminal railroad

that A5 is nice Rich, K Line did a nice job on it. Wouldn't mind having one.

have a great Labor Day weekend guys.

Happy SWSat Everyone!

Lot's of great switcher stuff so far.

This week I have yet another K-line Plymouth switcher to debut. Just picked this one up recently. One of my favorite scenic railroads too. This one arrived with kadees (one of which I promptly broke), but the original operable knuckle couplers are in the box so I will swap them out later. K-line also made these with fixed couplers for some reason??? For a well detailed model it makes no sense to me.

Everyone enjoy the last holiday of summer....can't believe it's September already.

Bob

Can't forget the prototype either.

There’s a quarry at the end of this branch line that provides rock for a roofing manufacturer‘s asphalt shingles--the one and only industry. The train crew rocks and rolls for the hour and a half trip at 10 mph-- the condition of the track the culprit.  Have a safe holiday, everyone.

Mike CT posted:

 Great Northern SD9 .  Great paint, the Big Sky blue is a downer for me. 

Mike very nice I’m with you on the big sky blue I didn’t like the Big “R” rock route blue/ white  either 

A fun piece but the original one has existed during the 50's. The famous Citroën  HP has seen railway use in the center of France on mountain tracks, it was used to inspect tracks in winter before passing of trains.

The model has been made by the french brand AS using die cast bodies from the 60's and motorised to be use in three rail o gauge.

Unfortunately the original car has misteriously disappeared, maybe used for spare parts by railway people ?

Daniel

Very nice Daniel. For more unique track inspection vehicles check out this VW Bus that the LIRR used in the 60's and 70's. I don't know if any are still in existence.

Good morning SWSAT friends!!  I've totally enjoyed all the wonderful pics and info so far guys!!  Rich the A5 looks terrific as does Boo's little switcher!!  I love that spiral video as well .... a spiral yard would be a great way for real railroads to store extra cars ( of one kind ) which are not needed due to periodic drops in demand.  I would think a spiral storage yard would have a smaller footprint than conventional yard with al the parallel tracks..... just sayin. 

Btw - Classic Trains magazine's latest issue ( Fall 2018 ) has a great 8 page spread on the EMD SW1 switcher ( Mighty Mite ) !  Informative article and LOTS of photos.  I highly recommend it!   

My photos for today are of the EMD  GP9/ GP7.  Two GP9s head a long coal train out of Patsburg's East Tunnel and into Patsburg's West Tunnel.  On the point is passenger equipped GP 9 number 3414.  It's companion is a GP 9 number 6667 equipped with dynamic brakes.  I like the GP ( general purpose ) locomotives because they can handle any kind of work the railroad throws at them ... heavy long haul freights, way freight, MOW power, commuter and long distance passenger train, and of course yard duty.  If I were ever in a situation where I'd have to pair down my fleet of locos and only keep one, I'd keep the passenger equipped GP9  because it can handle anything.   

Have a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend everyone!!

Rusty Traque posted:

Rusty

LOL! Somebody has a good sense of humor!

Andre

Happy Switcher Saturday To All. This weekend SOU NW2 & WP SW9 switching around the Shark Bay area.

Great photographs everyone!!  Rich, looks like your daughter is very happy with her switcher!  

Here is my new Premier RSD5.

You sure got the right ALCo Brian!!  Thank you for the photographs!

Great pictures all, thanks for posting them, have a great Saturday and Labor Day weekend!!!

Murnane posted:

Great pictures all, thanks for posting them, have a great Saturday and Labor Day weekend!!!

Rich,

The large number of "likes" on Switcher Saturday every week is a compliment to you and a sign of appreciation from all of us who look forward to reading it every week.

MELGAR.

Happy Switcher Saturday everyone! I had (outdoor) yard work and other errands so I'm late to the party.

Rich, thanks for hosting us again. 

My contribution is my prewar #228 and cabin car. 

Tom 

Murnane posted:

Great pictures all, thanks for posting them, have a great Saturday and Labor Day weekend!!!

 

Rich, I always look forward to this column that you so faithfully start every Saturday!!!  You do a great job, and deserve two thumbs up!!  

Postwar B & O switcher paradise:

Mark Boyce posted:

Murnane posted:

Great pictures all, thanks for posting them, have a great Saturday and Labor Day weekend!!!

 

Rich, I always look forward to this column that you so faithfully start every Saturday!!!  You do a great job, and deserve two thumbs up!!  

Thank you for your kind words Mark!

MNCW posted:

Rich, thanks for hosting us again. 

 

You're welcome Tom!

MELGAR posted:

The large number of "likes" on Switcher Saturday every week is a compliment to you and a sign of appreciation from all of us who look forward to reading it every week.

MELGAR.

Thank you for your kind words MELGAR!  

trumptrain posted:

Rich the A5 looks terrific as does Boo's little switcher!!  I love that spiral video as well .... a spiral yard would be a great way for real railroads to store extra cars ( of one kind ) which are not needed due to periodic drops in demand.  I would think a spiral storage yard would have a smaller footprint than conventional yard with al the parallel tracks..... just sayin.

Thank you Patrick!

I'm with the rest of the gang Rich. Thanks for keeping this going each week (even when you ask for pinch hitters)!

Bob

Steamer posted:

that A5 is nice Rich, K Line did a nice job on it. Wouldn't mind having one.  have a great Labor Day weekend guys.

Hey Dave, it is a nice engine, though I have been considering selling this one and finding the #913 version that has TMCC though.  Have a great weekend...Rich

RSJB18 posted:

I'm with the rest of the gang Rich. Thanks for keeping this going each week (even when you ask for pinch hitters)!

Bob

You're welcome Bob, it's always fun to see what you guys have going on or can come up with. 

Regarding the Plymouths, I'm guessing you have a list of all the versions of these K-Line put out and you're buying them one-by-one, safe bet?  I want to grab the NYC one at some point for sure.

No plan in place for the Plymouth's Rich. I've passed on a couple that are not from Roads I'm modeling. Still a few on my want list including B&O and ATSF. I actually haven't looked up how many K-line made but now  you've got me wondering.

I'm on the lookout for a 0-6-0 in NYC too.

RSJB18 posted:

I actually haven't looked up how many K-line made but now  you've got me wondering.

RSJB18 posted:

No plan in place for the Plymouth's Rich. I've passed on a couple that are not from Roads I'm modeling. Still a few on my want list including B&O and ATSF. I actually haven't looked up how many K-line made but now  you've got me wondering.

I'm on the lookout for a 0-6-0 in NYC too.

So challenge accepted. Here is what I found I am sure I missed some. The ones that came in sets or with cars have an astrix. The Double Astrix came with 19th century Ore Jimmies.

**Reading Green 875

**Wisc Central Maroon

**B&O Blue 25

**B&O Blue and Grey 22

**W MD Fireball 18

Milw Orange

*Pennsy Brunswick Green 23

Pennsy Tucson Red 99

Santa Fe Blue 35

Beth Steel Yellow/ Brown 48

Beth Steel Yellow/Black 

**Ford Black 29

**Ford Orange 2

Strasburg Red 1

*NYC Black 80

New Hope Valley Green 1

**Kennecott Yellow 15

*CNJ Red 

CNJ Green 1001

Hooker Orange 34

New Haven Black 9603 (w Plow)

*University of NC Sky Blue

US Steel Black 1901

*Miller Beer Red

SP Grey 45

**WP Orange 22

UP Yellow 36

Please tell me if I missed any. I don’t have numbers for all of them. Note that  some engines are noted as having cars but dealers often separated them for separate sale.

trumptrain posted:

 I love that spiral video as well .... a spiral yard would be a great way for real railroads to store extra cars ( of one kind ) which are not needed due to periodic drops in demand.  I would think a spiral storage yard would have a smaller footprint than conventional yard with al the parallel tracks..... just sayin.

The thought of a spiral or circular yard made me think of this. Could be a monster to do in O scale...

The only remaining piece of this terminal is the gantry crane nearest the river; not a trace of anything else.

Rich and Andy- Thanks for the "Help" My wallet and I thank you