Switcher Saturday: 2019 July 13th (End of Pennsy Steam, 60th Anniversary Weekend)

Tom,

Thanks for starting SWSAT and nice work on the #227.

New York Central 0-6-0 #231 is a USRA switcher design and an MTH Premier model (20-3281-1) with PS2 that appeared in the 2007 Volume 2 catalog at a list price of $599.95. I have been running this engine on the original batteries for 12 years! So, I opened it up this week and installed a BCR2, which should help to protect against electronic problems. I also moved it to my smaller layout on which I run short trains, so I purchased a New York Central bobber caboose and gave it a test run.

MELGAR

Happy SWSat!

Thanks for starting us off today Tom. Nice work on the marker light repair.

Here's an additional photo of 5244 in New Egypt, NJ, in 1958.

And my Lionel Pennsy B6 0-6-0, a slightly newer remake of the 228.

Everyone have a great weekend. Stay safe if you are in the path of Tropical Storm Barry.

Bob

Thanks for your comments Mel & Bob.

Tom 

Yay! SWSat is rolling!

Tom you are the undisputed king and champion of the pre war Lionel B6. I am glad you are officiating  on this auspicious occasion. The end of steam on both the mighty Pennsy and the lowly Union Transportation occurring on consecutive days 60 years ago with the same engine is quite a memorable occasion and worthy of note here on SWSat.

This week I had to go pick up a package that was time sensitive and I was not home for the attempted drop off. It was quite an adventure going to get it because the package ended up in a warehouse in the south Bronx not really made for accessibility by someone without a car. Someone like me.

So I made it a thing because The warehouse was in the same complex as the South Bronx Waste transfer station usually an area off limits to pedestrians but I had reason to be there so...

This is the CSX trash train waiting for the end of rush hour on MetroNorth(ex NYC mainline) so it can take the Oak Point Link on its low Viaduct along the Harlem River to reconnect MetroNorth near Yankee Stadium. The white building in the background is the new Fresh Direct facility.

These pictures are of the car shifters at the waste facility. Two Highrail units.

Also this area has the Harlem River Terminal of the New Haven and NYW&B at 132 and Willis Ave. Service ended in 1937 and the office building was demolished in 2007. Here is a bit of the arches supporting it that is still standing mingled with arches for the road.

Since it was a really nice day I walked home past the site of the CNJ Bronx Yard with its famous Circular warehouse with tracks looping around it. This was the home of the first successful diesel switcher. CNJ #1000 it is now preserved in the B&O RR Museum. This area is in process of major redevelopment and why I wanted to walk by. Not much left but it is still a single piece of land from the Harlem River to Southern BLVD. 

The buildings in the background and the clock tower still exist and are in the background of many pictures of this yard.  On the other side of the 3rd Ave bridge was a series of spurs of this yard one of the buildings was this one that predates the yard.  In fact the track was made to pass right through it to serve industries  on the other side. It has some great brickwork advertising its use as part of an iron works dating to when there was a metal industry in the city. Interestingly the name Mott is the name of the neighborhood. Mott Haven. Sadly this will be covered over soon and not visible because a tall apartment building is being built inches away from it. Real estate and rapid gentrification is coming to the area. 

In this map the building is the long rectangular one on the left of 3rd ave across from the circular warehouse  the tracks went right through it.

The construction equipment is sitting where the CNJ spur to serve this building was. The door the track used to go through this building and the upper floor access doors are visible as well  

If you squint and turn your head you can see the iron Works/ Beethoven piano factory in there. 

Last up a visit to MO tower and the rebuilt GP35 that MetroNorth keeps on the Wye leg there also look at the 40 foot double door storage boxcar in Conrail paint behind it. Someday that one may end up in Danbury.

Ok guys that wraps up my I promise totally safe journey through the South Bronx.  This is only 15 blocks away. 

Great pictures @MELGAR. That engine looks good with the bobber. Bob  @RSJB18 the Nov/Dec issue #94 of O Scale Trains Magazine has a great article about that New Egypt Engine House.

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

Old switcher #5 takes a well-deserved rest on a hot July afternoon.  It currently resides at the White Deer (PA) former Reading Co station along with some passenger equipment.  The station looks well-preserved but was not open the day we cruised by.  

Andy/Silverlake,

Thanks for you comments too on the B6 switchers.

I remember you have family ties in the New Egypt, NJ area. Maybe some day we can take a field trip out there...maybe the 70th or 75th Anniversary if we are all still kicking and healthy! 

Glad you had a safe journey through the South Bronx!

Tom 

MNCW posted:

Andy/Silverlake,

Thanks for you comments too on the B6 switchers.

I remember you have family ties in the New Egypt, NJ area. Maybe some day we can take a field trip out there...maybe the 70th or 75th Anniversary if we are all still kicking and healthy! 

Glad you had a safe journey through the South Bronx!

Tom 

That would be great Tom. I would really like that. I suggest a late fall or winter trip so we can see what we are looking at. 

Since it is a Pennsy anniversary i will repost these.

Steam

Might as well repost the PRR Diesels and electric.

Ron

Good morning fellow SWsat friends!!  Tom - thanks so much for being at the throttle this morning to get us rolling!  Love what you did with that 227!  Yes you are the King of PW switchers, no doubt about it!

 Great videos and pics everyone!!  

Rich - I hope you sleeping like the Chessie Kitten on the C&O logo!

Over the last couple month, I've been crazy busy with almost zero time for trains.  I do have some new photos of real switchers, which I've taken in my recent travels.  I need to transfer them from my cell phone to my computer when I get the time to do so, because I really want to share them with you guys.  

Again here are some photos from my archives.  The last photo is my tribute to 60 year anniversary of the last Pennsy steamer to run, the B6, as so beautifully captured in todays thread by some of you guys.  Unfortunately the closest I can come to a B6 is my K line A5 which I purchased new back in Feb. and weathered a week or so after purchase.   Also included in today's photos is my post war Lionel Sante Fe NW 2 ( which I bought when I was in 7th grade with my lawn cutting $$ ), C&O 0-8-0, B&0 SW9, B&O Plymouth shoving a big hook, Patapsco and Back Rivers VO1000, Pennsy GE 44 tonner, B&O GP9s,  B&O Docksider smoking it up, and Ma & Pa SW 1 #70.   Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!

RSJB18 posted:

Happy SWSat!

 

Here's an additional photo of 5244 in New Egypt, NJ, in 1958.

 

Bob

Awesome photograph! So much character.

Tom

Testing a German heavy switcher on a friend's layout in two rail O gauge. The switcher is a V100 model use by french railways for track maintenance; it's a LENZ model.

And the real model...

Have a nice weekend everybody,  Daniel

Tom,

Here's my PRR switcher, K-Line #94. Along with a Wilmington & Western 0-6-0.  

Charlie

trumptrain posted:

Good morning fellow SWsat friends!!  Tom - thanks so much for being at the throttle this morning to get us rolling!  Love what you did with that 227!  Yes you are the King of PW switchers, no doubt about it!

 Great videos and pics everyone!!  

Rich - I hope you sleeping like the Chessie Kitten on the C&O logo!

Over the last couple month, I've been crazy busy with almost zero time for trains.  I do have some new photos of real switchers, which I've taken in my recent travels.  I need to transfer them from my cell phone to my computer when I get the time to do so, because I really want to share them with you guys.  

Again here are some photos from my archives.  The last photo is my tribute to 60 year anniversary of the last Pennsy steamer to run, the B6, as so beautifully captured in todays thread by some of you guys.  Unfortunately the closest I can come to a B6 is my K line A5 which I purchased new back in Feb. and weathered a week or so after purchase.   Also included in today's photos is my post war Lionel Sante Fe NW 2 ( which I bought when I was in 7th grade with my lawn cutting $$ ), C&O 0-8-0, B&0 SW9, B&O Plymouth shoving a big hook, Patapsco and Back Rivers VO1000, Pennsy GE 44 tonner, B&O GP9s,  B&O Docksider smoking it up, and Ma & Pa SW 1 #70.   Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!

Nice pics! I love the second one with the smoke giving atmosphere to the shot. Well done!

So I imagine many of you have at least glanced at some of the new Lionel Vol. 2 catalog offeings?  What switchers do you favor or might spring for?  Two types are offered, LionChief + 2.0 Docksiders and a bunch of Legacy Alco S-2 and S-4s.

i will go for the Northern Pacific S-4 in Legacy.  

I will photo the appropriate catalog pages and post here next.

OK, here are some shots of the switcher pages from the new Lionel catalog. Sorry for the poor quality.

On the Plywood Empire Route anything is possible so here we have a venerable B6 setting out a 50' PS2CD grain hopper that didn't even exist the last time a B6 was in steam.

Lew

Dave Warburton posted:

OK, here are some shots of the switcher pages from the new Lionel catalog. Sorry for the poor quality.

Of those offerings I would like the BEDT #15. That looks great maybe I’ll get one and 2 rail it. 

Of the Alco S2s the Morristown and Erie looks cool. I am glad Lionel is looking farther afield for subjects. But wow those prices keep creeping up. The Dockside Saddletank was going for $100 when it came out 10 or so years ago.

Silver Lake posted:

Dave Warburton posted:

OK, here are some shots of the switcher pages from the new Lionel catalog. Sorry for the poor quality.

Of those offerings I would like the BEDT #15. That looks great maybe I’ll get one and 2 rail it. 

Of the Alco S2s the Morristown and Erie looks cool. I am glad Lionel is looking farther afield for subjects. But wow those prices keep creeping up. The Dockside Saddletank was going for $100 when it came out 10 or so years ago.

 

Yes, true about the Docksider. But it had none of the newer command control stuff, either. I have several of the original bunch and they are very nice locos! I would be happy if they kept them as traditional, but those days are gone. 

If they make a Great Northern version, I will be in for that one!

The Docksider is one of my favorites. Mine took a unexpected trip to the floor and survived with nothing more than a dislodged engineer and a couple of minor scratches. Solid loco and a great puller.

The BEDT would be a nice addition

Andy/Silverlake,

The pictures of The Bronx are terrific. I often pass through the area on AMTRAK and Metro-North.

And very fine pictures by everyone else on SWSAT today.

MELGAR

                                 http://www.rgusrail.com/nmatsf9005.html

East River Terminal Railroad / Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal ca. March - April 1914

I was remiss in failing to post a picture of a B6sb this morning. To make up for that, here is my Long Island B6sb #2015 by K-Line.

MELGAR

Great pictures everyone...

Tom 

Tom, Bob, SilverLake, Trumptrain, Briansilvermustang, Steamer, Everyone, great Switchers, Great Pictures.....I purchased this Atlas O diesel switcher years ago, it’s never been out of the box, but it will be soon....Great Thread, Happy Railroading 

Very nice Larry. Looks like Christmas in July!

Thanks Bob, I pretend it’s Christmas every time I come into my man cave, the basement.  

MELGAR posted:

Tom,

Thanks for starting SWSAT and nice work on the #227.

New York Central 0-6-0 #231 is a USRA switcher design and an MTH Premier model (20-3281-1) with PS2 that appeared in the 2007 Volume 2 catalog at a list price of $599.95. I have been running this engine on the original batteries for 12 years! So, I opened it up this week and installed a BCR2, which should help to protect against electronic problems. I also moved it to my smaller layout on which I run short trains, so I purchased a New York Central bobber caboose and gave it a test run.

MELGAR

Gorgeous steam switcher, trains and layout, Melgar. Arnold

I visited my LHS today, picked up the new Lionel catalogue, turned to the LC+ section, and that BEDT # 15 switcher was the one that caught my eye, as well. Reasonable price too. Arnold

Dave Warburton posted:

OK, here are some shots of the switcher pages from the new Lionel catalog. Sorry for the poor quality.

Dave - thanks for posting these Lionel switcher pics! These pics give us all food for thought.  Also thanks for your comment about my today's SWsat pics!  Much appreciated! 

leapinlarry posted:

Tom, Bob, SilverLake, Trumptrain, Briansilvermustang, Steamer, Everyone, great Switchers, Great Pictures.....I purchased this Atlas O diesel switcher years ago, it’s never been out of the box, but it will be soon....Great Thread, Happy Railroading 

Thanks Larry!  Man that RSD 7/15 is one beautiful locomotive!!  

Great pictures everyone.

Here's a Milwaukee Road shop switcher used for moving electric locomotives in and out of the locomotive shop.

Tom 

MELGAR posted:

 

Your structures appear to have the same realistic, weathered look to them that you see on George Sellios' "Franklin & South Manchester", one of the premier layouts in the country. Would love to see more of your fine work.

Mark in Oregon

Strummer posted:

MELGAR posted:

 Your structures appear to have the same realistic, weathered look to them that you see on George Sellios' "Franklin & South Manchester", one of the premier layouts in the country. Would love to see more of your fine work.

Mark in Oregon

Thanks for the compliment. But I would never put my layout in a class with George Sellios' F&SM. An article about my layout appeared in the February/March 2019 issue of OGR (Run 304) and also was the cover photo. This link goes to a thread about the layout.

https://ogrforum.com/...ayout-in-ogr-run-304

MELGAR