Switcher Saturday 3-19-22

Penn Central SW8 8623 (Lionel) slowly leads a short train of covered hoppers across the diamond at Kill Junction.  The tower operator is performing the required roll-by inspection:

Tom

A pair of New York, Ontario & Western NW-2's shuffle cars around the Scranton PA yard on my New York New Haven &Hartford/New York Ontario and Western layout . The engines are General Models' manufacture and were available in 1948 as kits for the whopping sum 0f $29.95 in kit form as advertised in that years' Model Railroader through out the year. The 114 is shuffling two empty coal hoppers to the breaker while the 116, a kit assembled by uncle way back then spots three Pacific Fruit Express reefers at the Sun Coast Models icing platform.   The engines were custom painted by John Hauser of Doylestown Pa.

Found this older video going through my files.....my Pennsy Work Train......

Have a great and safe weekend, folks!

Peter

ANTIQUE SWITCHER RUN BY

1938 vintage American Flyer NYC B6 switcher 0-6-0 no. 429 runs by with a cut of plug door reefers to be delivered to the Acme Cold Storage Warehouse.  NYC 2-8-0 consolidation no. 1149 passes on the adjacent track.

John

Happy SWSAT everyone. I’ve tried for many years now to sell my HO Layout and I’ve sold well over half of my rolling stock but I can’t get someone closer to buy that layout it’s self. So I figured I would just clean it and keep it and the Rolling stock  I did sell. I’m not giving up O Gauge I think I’m just going to run both layouts.
Today we have a HO Bachmann FA2 picking up a old Athearn Blue Box Santa Fe car my brother bought me years ago. BTW you can here my Rooster crowing in the background he just wouldn’t be quite while I was making this video.  Enjoy your day.

Happy Switcher Sat, everyone!  Well, after a short stint in the shop for service, my LIRR RS-3 has returned to service, helping with much needed track cleaning.  Previously, her Diesel engine smoked like it was on fire, but now after a quick overhaul, she’s emitting more reasonable whiffs.  All is now well on the line -

It is a cool and windy morning for this mid March, 1949, day.  The engines have been running a little rough lately, so the track foreman decided it was time to do some track cleaning.  He tasked the AS10 for the job, and it is getting ready to pull out.

The AS10 (ALCO Switcher, 1000hp) is an Atlas RS-1

Happy SWSat!

Great pix and videos today gents!

The yardmaster caught a couple ALCO's napping in the afternoon sun yesterday.

Have a great weekend.

Bob

Happy Switcher Saturday. The Peace of the countryside is briefly disturbed when Maine Central`s ALCO S2 #301 followed by a pair of pulpwood cars, travels toward a paper mill. Even the train passing by does not seem to bother the fisherman.

Happy SWSAT,

I have not been to a train show in over two years.  Here is a postwar 6250 Lionel that I found at a recent show.  It needed some cleanup work, but, it looks good and operates well.  The video illustrates it running with postwar brethren 623 and 624.

Fendermain

Well here it is another Saturday and I admit I am a bit rushed today.  The CEO has declared today "spring cleaning" day so my time at the keyboard will be SHORT!.   jhz that GE 50 ton was really neat, clearly gives good service.  Tom - great video, don't know how you get the trains to run so slow...Bill Park - shades of the "old woman" were really neat.  Putnam Div - great work train, really liked the yellow PRR caboose. Steam Crazy - AF B6 from '38 and running!  Great work in restoration- hey for us Toy Train guys how about a couple of close up pictures of that engine? Lee - great layout and neat video just like 0 gauge only smaller Strap Hanger - glad your RS-3 is back in action , neat video.  CAPPilot - your layout looks so great in all your posts but now we know that even the great ones' take maintenance (LOL) RSJB18 - cool Alco's sitting in the sun.  BAR GP7 more great scenery and trains from your layout. Fendermain - Your layout is on the same scale as mine sort of the 1950's era but you have done a great job of blending in realistic scenery, would love you to post some more pictures of the layout.

OK now that I have tired everyone out reading the above paragraph my post today follows jhz's guidelines.  Little engines that work hard.  Well in the "Toy Train" world what engine works harder than the Marx plastic 0-4-0 # 400 or #490.  Made for decades and used to pull everything and anything it remains a stalwart of the toy train era.  It has almost legendary reliability due to the Marx 4 wheel motor and a complete lack of much of anything in the way of electronics to go wrong...well some do have a head light and some have a remote reverse but some don't.

Here she is, the mighty Marx 400 0-4-0

Here she is pulling her train out of the "mountains" on the Leonardtown and Savannah (name of my layout)

Here she is showing off her train.

Well Best Wishes everyone. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Well here it is another Saturday and I admit I am a bit rushed today.  The CEO has declared today "spring cleaning" day so my time at the keyboard will be SHORT!.   jhz that GE 50 ton was really neat, clearly gives good service.  Tom - great video, don't know how you get the trains to run so slow...Bill Park - shades of the "old woman" were really neat.  Putnam Div - great work train, really liked the yellow PRR caboose. Steam Crazy - AF B6 from '38 and running!  Great work in restoration- hey for us Toy Train guys how about a couple of close up pictures of that engine? Lee - great layout and neat video just like 0 gauge only smaller Strap Hanger - glad your RS-3 is back in action , neat video.  CAPPilot - your layout looks so great in all your posts but now we know that even the great ones' take maintenance (LOL) RSJB18 - cool Alco's sitting in the sun.  BAR GP7 more great scenery and trains from your layout. Fendermain - Your layout is on the same scale as mine sort of the 1950's era but you have done a great job of blending in realistic scenery, would love you to post some more pictures of the layout.

OK now that I have tired everyone out reading the above paragraph my post today follows jhz's guidelines.  Little engines that work hard.  Well in the "Toy Train" world what engine works harder than the Marx plastic 0-4-0 # 400 or #490.  Made for decades and used to pull everything and anything it remains a stalwart of the toy train era.  It has almost legendary reliability due to the Marx 4 wheel motor and a complete lack of much of anything in the way of electronics to go wrong...well some do have a head light and some have a remote reverse but some don't.

Here she is, the mighty Marx 400 0-4-0

Here she is pulling her train out of the "mountains" on the Leonardtown and Savannah (name of my layout)

Here she is showing off her train.

Well Best Wishes everyone. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Don

Don, your swell layout screams out “Toy trains forever!” Love it. Thanks for sharing.

Don, just ask and ye shall receive!  Thanks for the kind words, but I can’t take credit for restoring the B6.  The exterior is as received when I got it as a gift at about 10, but I made some modifications in my youth that might make purists cringe (but still please me).  It always ran, but a toy train tech on Cape Cod got it running as well as it does today.  The old E unit is kinda cranky, so I just lock it in forward.  Most of my collection is modern, but there’s still something satisfying about running an old crock like the B6, with the simple sound track of the motor running and the wheels on the rails.

John

@Don McErlean posted:

CAPPilot - your layout looks so great in all your posts but now we know that even the great ones' take maintenance (LOL)

Don

Don, Thanks.  Unfortunately, the engineer quickly found out that a single AS10 will not pull all those cars.  Too much drag.  He and the track foreman are now at the local bar getting lunch and discussing the issue.

Fendermain - Your layout is on the same scale as mine sort of the 1950's era but you have done a great job of blending in realistic scenery, would love you to post some more pictures of the layout.

Don

Don,

Thank you for the kind words. It is always fun to see your layout with the wonderful classic trains.  Your descriptions add an extra element of enjoyment.

Here are a few photos from my library of the layout.  I have taken a minimalist approach with reference to the TM Productions Tom Snyder layout from around 2003.  It is the use of scenery with mostly tinplate structures.  I try to keep the colors and textures pleasant so I can run prewar, postwar and modern trains.  The CEO wanted the skirting finished off with bead board for a more finished appearance.

Fendermain. (John)

@Fendermain posted:

Don,

Thank you for the kind words. It is always fun to see your layout with the wonderful classic trains.  Your descriptions add an extra element of enjoyment.

Here are a few photos from my library of the layout.  I have taken a minimalist approach with reference to the TM Productions Tom Snyder layout from around 2003.  It is the use of scenery with mostly tinplate structures.  I try to keep the colors and textures pleasant so I can run prewar, postwar and modern trains.  The CEO wanted the skirting finished off with bead board for a more finished appearance.

Fendermain. (John)

That's a beautiful train room and layout John. Well done sir!

Bob

local job bringing a car to the brewery.

Wow thanks fellows for your comments on my post today, certainly made me feel good.  Dave Warburton - thanks for your comment on my layout, as you can tell its mostly to let me run the trains.  Steam Crazy - thank you for posting more pictures of the B6.  Its a great engine and I love that its still up and running.  Cappilot - Sounds like those fellows at lunch might need some company . Fendermain - beautiful train room / library and the tip about blending colors / textures to go with the tinplate is a great idea.  I love what you did for the skirting around the table, the bead board looks really good.

Best wishes to everyone, thanks again for your comments.

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Wow thanks fellows for your comments on my post today, certainly made me feel good.  Dave Warburton - thanks for your comment on my layout, as you can tell its mostly to let me run the trains.  Steam Crazy - thank you for posting more pictures of the B6.  Its a great engine and I love that its still up and running.  Cappilot - Sounds like those fellows at lunch might need some company . Fendermain - beautiful train room / library and the tip about blending colors / textures to go with the tinplate is a great idea.  I love what you did for the skirting around the table, the bead board looks really good.

Best wishes to everyone, thanks again for your comments.

Don

Add me to the list Don. Your collection and history lessons are second to none.....

Tom Densel,  which manufacturer is responsible for the SW8.  I believe I see drive shafts spinning under the frame.

RSJB18 - Thank you sir, I just saw your "new" tools on the "Buy Anything Cool Today" thread and they look neat...now the electronics work is beyond me (can't work that small anymore) but the wheel puller looks like something I might need sounds like you found a good source.

Best wishes

Don

@coach joe posted:

Tom Densel,  which manufacturer is responsible for the SW8.  I believe I see drive shafts spinning under the frame.

That is a recent Lionel issue.  The Penn Central scheme was a special run by Nicholas Smith.  Probably one of my favorite locomotives.  It will run verrry slooow, and smooth.  I could have run it even slower for the video, but I didn't want people falling asleep watching it.

Tom

Looking great crew! @Tom Densel I love being able to see the trucks on your engine and rolling stock articulate while going over that diamond in slow motion.

@Steam Crazy, @Don McErlean and especially @Bill Park, I love to see those old survivors running!  Those 1948 diesels are 74 years young!

The artistry in scenery work and picture staging that shows up weekly on this thread is routinely outstanding!  One of these I'll have a layout to share photos of like so many of you do routinely, but until then you all continue to inspire me.   

Have a great rest of the weekend everyone 🙂

Train wreck Nate. Very well done videos.  All the entry's were great to look at. Bill

@RSJB18 posted:

That's a beautiful train room and layout John. Well done sir!

Bob

Thank you Bob.  Your layout and special projects are an inspiration to us all!

John