Switcher Saturday August 26, 2023 Edition

Here's WBB's version of the venerable Lionel PW 623 EMD NW2:

Except for the scale RK diecast tanker, she's hauling an all-PRR 027  consist through the "yard:"

She's a great puller, though low speed is pretty much nonexistent and the "True Blast Plus" sounds are rather primitive. She likely runs better than most originals, but the pricier Lionel Legacy and MTH RK versions are much smoother running. I got her for $187.53, though, so I like 'er fine...

My trusty NYO&W 44 tonner pulling a peddler freight.....

Original O&W 44 tonner number 105 has been acquired  by the NYO&W RR Historical Society  (of which, I'm a member, as are quite a few OGR Forum members). It resides at Steamtown and is being restored to operating condition. Info on the status of the restoration can be found at:

http://nyow.org/site/

Bt the way......I have always felt that the PostWar 6361 Timber Transport car looks fine with more "scale like" equipment and it seems to find ways to get into my modern era train consists.....

Have a great and safe weekend, folks!

Peter

Happy switcher Saturday and thanks to Mel for kicking things off.  Here is my LIRR boxcab pulling a load out of yard track #2. This is a well detailed model that is surprisingly able to pull decent sized loads.

Great start MELGAR and thanks for stepping in on this fine thread WTG, Great looking layout also, here is my PW Lionel 610 NW2 switcher from 1955 only, came with no bell or lights I added the lights for a better looking diesel, came with single axle Magnetraction, they alco came with dual Magnetraction axles as this model does have. Fine running switcher. God Speed All!

Last weekend I was in Charlotte, MI, and spotted this little 44 ton switcher.  The Charlotte Southern Railroad began operating January 1999.  It is 3.25 miles long and its major commodity is grain and provides freight service between the Canadian National to the north and the Eaton Farm Bureau Coop.  The GE 44 ton switcher is used for the Old Road Dinner train. This locomotive was the last 44-ton locomotive ever built.   The dinner train last ran in late 2019.  the rails are rusty and have not been used in a long time.

We have been out of town a lot this summer, but now we are back to teaching & the kids are in school.  Weekend soccer, swimming & bike races will fill those empty slots for the next few months.

Happy Switcher Saturday!

Looks like Peter and I have the same MTH Premier NY Ontario & Western 44 ton center cab diesel switcher:

It was purchased from our Forum sponsor, JR Junction Hobby, about 3 years ago for approximately $400. It's a workhorse on the layout. Arnold

Saw this in the parking lot of the local heavy equipment dealership here in Jacksonville, Florida...brand new...never been on the rails...no price sticker...but one sticker cautioned that the unit can be started and run remotely...

Howard...

Mel, thanks for kicking things off today.  Looks like Alco road switchers are ruling the layout this morning only allowing a lone electric on their rails.

The profile of the Shuttlewagon looks more like a switcher than a Trackmobile.

Good morning, SwSat nation!  Thanks, MELGAR, for taking the throttle!  

Your Yardmaster has a long switch (honey do?) list today, so he’s turning to the archives for his post.  He’s decided to feature one of his favorite switchers, MTH Premier Central Railroad of New Jersey GP7 no. 1524.

It’s a good thing no. 1524 is one of your Yardmaster’s favorites, because it’s also his “hard luck” engine.  It has suffered two blown boards requiring PS3 replacements!

The fate of the original PS2 board was sealed by a pinched wire.  Your Yardmaster may have caused that problem when he replaced a cab light.  The second failure was caused by a short in the tach reader, cause unknown to my technician.  Your Yardmaster questioned the wisdom of continued investment in this engine, but it is a favorite which would be very hard to replace.

That’s my “tale of woe”!

John

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RpfthtCyk2maYKvq9

NYO&W NW-2  #116 heads 5 reefers loaded with produce to Scranton PA for immediate distribution. The NW-2 is a General Models piece which was released back in 1950 and advertised in Model Railroader for the whopping sum of $29.95 in kit form. This unit was assembled by my uncle somewhere in that time frame. I had this one and another NW-2 purchased at a show repainted in the NYO&W colors.

@Steam Crazy posted:

Good morning, SwSat nation!  Thanks, MELGAR, for taking the throttle!  

Your Yardmaster has a long switch (honey do?) list today, so he’s turning to the archives for his post.  He’s decided to feature one of his favorite switchers, MTH Premier Central Railroad of New Jersey GP7 no. 1524.

John

@Steam Crazy,

John,

CNJ #1524 is a good-looking engine - worth the effort to repair in my opinion. Looks like today is a "New Jersey train day" on your layout. I guess it's easier to set up New Jersey on the layout rather than driving there over the GW bridge...

MELGAR

Good morning fellow switcher fans!!   MELGAR thanks so much for notching out the throttle and getting us rolling!     As has become the norm here on SWSAT all of you have posted wonderful content this morning  Again I learn so much from all of you

I thought I'd share some photos of steam switchers since there are many diesel switcher posts this morning ... all of which are wonderfully presented!    I hope you all have a terrific weekend and do stay safe and healthy!!   Switch on my friends!  

Here is the largest steam switcher in my fleet of 3 steam switchers.  Shown here it rounds the bend at Butler Junction with a lumber train.   It's a scale C&O 0-8-0 by Lionel with TMCC.  I bought this loco new back in the mid2000s.  At that time one of my local train stores had it on sale for 33% off.  I knew I had to get it but C&O was not in my layout scenario.  As I thought as to how I could possibly incorporate using this locomotive, I remembered that the N&W purchased several two year old 0-8-0 switchers from the C&O.  The N&W then put larger tenders on their C&O purchases and made road engines out of them.  Since the N&W was part of my layout scenario in that I model the N&W along with the B&O, Pennsy, and Western Maryland, I pulled the trigger and made the purchase.  Remembering this tid bit of N&W - C&O history, plus the store manager saying I could put it on layaway, made the pulling the trigger a cinch!   Number 75 has been running great all these years.  The only repair in all these years has been a smoke unit replacement.  The replacement smokes better than the original unit too!  My imaginative reason this loco bears the C&O marking is that N&W put the loco into service directly upon arrival on the N&W property.  The paint shop had no time to dilly dally around with changing the lettering.  

Taking on water at the plug.   That's fireman Ernie Grecco and brakeman Fuzzy Merson on the tender's deck.

Up on the Mountain Division a Plymouth switcher assigned to the logging camp sits idle on Saturday morning. however, out on the main B&O Docksider 97 is all about making revenue.  

The power of a Pennsy A5 is highlighted in this  shot by company photographer I.C. Thrulenz.  The small diminutive switcher is radiating abundant power in this larger than life photo.  

Here are my two ALCO RS 1 locomotives.  In a nod to MELGAR'S post this morning showing his beautiful ALCO RS 1 in New Haven livery, number 46 equipped with Proto 3 is by MTH 63 by Atlas O is equipped with TMCC.    Both are in Washington Terminal Company livery.   I "think" 46  was in either MTH's last or next to last catalogue before MTH Electric Trains was reorganized.  As soon as I saw 46 in the MTH catalogue I phoned in a pre-order from Just Trains of Delaware!    The paint of the Atlas O # 63 was done immaculately by a forum member and is a purchase from the For Sale section here on the OGR forum.

I used to see both of the prototypes of these locomotives at the Ivy City Engine Facility, coach yard, and at Union Station in Washington DC on my countless trips in out of that city each week.   Both stayed in WTC paint well into the AMTRAK years.  The RS 1 is my favorite of the RS series of locomotives because the roof overhang provides a certain character to the look of the overall locomotive IMHO.  Also I thought it appropriate to make the RS 1 diesel switcher part of this morning's post because the ALCO RS series of locomotives were dubbed " honorary steam locomotives" by engine crews.   As with all ALCO locomotives, these baby's could really smoke it up!  

@Bill Swatos posted:

Here's WBB's version of the venerable Lionel PW 623 EMD NW2:

Except for the scale RK diecast tanker, she's hauling an all-PRR 027  consist through the "yard:"

She's a great puller, though low speed is pretty much nonexistent and the "True Blast Plus" sounds are rather primitive. She likely runs better than most originals, but the pricier Lionel Legacy and MTH RK versions are much smoother running. I got her for $187.53, though, so I like 'er fine...

Fine looking switcher Bill, How rain been? Mark

@trumpettrain,

Patrick,

Does Fuzzy Merson ever get to work as brakeman on those WTC RS-1s? They are beauties... I agree with you on the RS-1 cab roof contours. They are classic - almost like a steam engine.

MELGAR

Good morning SWSAT crew!  I've been out of town the past few weekends and haven't been able to participate in this great thread.  It's great to be back.

A GE U-23-B (Atlas O) handles a transfer run.  Penn Central ordered several of these units to run long hood forward.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Tom

@MELGAR, we appreciate your starting off Switcher Saturday today, August 26, our last Saturday the month. Your New Haven diesels are so colorful and your layouts so much fun to see. Beautiful switchers everyone. I operate Lionel Legacy equipped diesels, they perform smoothly and sounds so realistic. Happy Railroading Everyone

My switcher on a turntable!

Here are some photos of switchers on my layout.

Charlie

Greetings everyone and Happy Switcher Saturday!

I dug out some Railking PPR Steamers, One of my favorites is this 0-6-0 B-6 Switcher Steam Engine w/proto 2.0.

Take Care,

RayK

Gotta “train” them early, you know! My grandson, George, visits Grandpa’s layout this morning.    

Well here are two of my switchers hard at work today.  The WbB GE 70 ton in Southern livery moving a small freight out along the secondary main, while the Kline Kennecott Copper MP-15 brings in its train to the yard to get broken up and finally the cars delivered to local industry.  Lots of folks are talking prices today so I will admit, I don't normally pay anywhere near what folks pay for modern engines.  My SRR #1951 was NIB purchased from a mail-in sale for $149.00 out of "Classic Toy Trains" mag.  My Kline MP-15 was a buy at the Austin Train Show in 2022 for $50  w / box not new but nearly unused as best I could tell.  Both of these gals work great on my very restrictive layout.  The 70 Ton has engine running sound, cab and headlight illumination but the MP-15 has no extra features beyond headlights and cab illumination.

Dave that is one handsome grandson you have there, glad you are introducing him early to trains.  I wish you good luck with that. My grandson had wooden push trains, floor push trains,  Lego trains, and Lionel but none of it "took".  He is now 16 and his bedroom has so many computer screens (he assembles his own computers from purchased components) that it looks like Mission Control at Cape Kennedy!!

Best Wishes everyone. Hope your weekend is going well.  It remains brutally hot here in central Texas (108-110 deg).  

Don

@Tom Densel posted:

Good morning SWSAT crew!  I've been out of town the past few weekends and haven't been able to participate in this great thread.  It's great to be back.

A GE U-23-B (Atlas O) handles a transfer run.  Penn Central ordered several of these units to run long hood forward.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Tom

I love your misty morning scene, Tom. What great background work!

@Sitka posted:

Fine looking switcher Bill, How rain been? Mark

Thanks, Mark! Nice looking PW NW2; I'm tempted to get one but the prices for units in good condition are high. I didn't know Lionel made one without lighting or bell. Does it use the same Pullmor motor on one powered truck arrangement as the 623?

Regarding the rain, we kept the water out of the house with a submersible pond pump I almost forgot I had! Just hot & dry now. Desert, you know!

@Strap Hanger posted:

Happy switcher Saturday and thanks to Mel for kicking things off.  Here is my LIRR boxcab pulling a load out of yard track #2. This is a well detailed model that is surprisingly able to pull decent sized loads.

Is this the MTH GE-IR model? I've seen one in NJC livery. With die cast body and two motors, she'd likely pull as well as one of their RS diesels. Nice!

@Bill Swatos- Hey glad to hear you kept the water out of the house!  We could use some of that rain here in Texas...not one bit of rain since 1 July!!

Don

@MELGAR posted:

@trumpettrain,

Patrick,

Does Fuzzy Merson ever get to work as brakeman on those WTC RS-1s? They are beauties... I agree with you on the RS-1 cab roof contours. They are classic - almost like a steam engine.

MELGAR

MELGAR - Fuzzy does in fact work as a brakeman on the WTC RS-1s from time to time.  He does, however, prefer working on steam locomotives as a head end brakeman.  He loves the aroma of coal smoke!  To each their own .. lol!

@Bill Swatos posted:

Is this the MTH GE-IR model? I've seen one in NJC livery. With die cast body and two motors, she'd likely pull as well as one of their RS diesels. Nice!

That’s it, Bill. She’s a heavy little powerhouse!

Happy SWSat/SUN!

Greetings all. Thanks for taking on the yardmaster duties this week Mel. We moved our son into his dorm yesterday (long story that I'll spare you), so Mel was happy to get things started. We finally got home around 4 PM and shortly there after my phone blew up due to a power failure at the college I work for, so back into the car I went. Didn't get home till around 11 PM.

Lot's of great pix and posts as always! I did manage some time at the layout between the arrival home and the phone explosion to unpack my new Rutland caboose that Beth Marshall recently delivered. Regrettably it will be going back since the front coupler and truck are a mess and a couple of the grab-bars are broken.
First we have a meeting of the 0-6-0t's. The Reading is my new LC 2.0, and the SantaFe is a Lionel conventional model. The bodies are identical on them. The SF is a great runner and performs well at low speeds. These models have cast bodies and are heavy for their size.

My planed post this week was going to feature the Reading and Rutland running together, but since the caboose won't roll, a couple of stills will have to suffice. The Rutland 70 tonner is a WbB model purchased from Trainland in 2022.

And finally a shot of the caboose. It's a very nice model, too bad it will have to go back.

Enjoy what's left of the weekend.

Bob

Bob, sorry to hear about the issues with your caboose, you're not alone!  If you haven't seen it, check out the thread "MTH caboose pickup rollers suck".  There's lots of good advice in it about fixes for these MTH cabeese.

John

@Steam Crazy posted:

Bob, sorry to hear about the issues with your caboose, you're not alone!  If you haven't seen it, check out the thread "MTH caboose pickup rollers suck".  There's lots of good advice in it about fixes for these MTH cabeese.

John

I did see the thread the other day. I'll have to go back and read it when I get a chance.

These issues are beyond fixes so it will go back. It's a shame that we wait months and months for "pre-orders" only to be disappointed when they arrive. I'm 0 for 2 with cabeese lately. The NLOE Lionel Bobber I picked up in the Spring had to be exchanged due to a bad pickup roller.

Thanks John.

Bob,

I'm in the process of checking the tracking of my four new MTH Premier wood-sided cabooses (2 Boston & Albany, 1 New York Central, 1 Rutland) because there have been some complaints about the pickup rollers. So far, I've tested the NYC and RUT versions which are operating properly through the Atlas O-54 switches on my 10'-by-5' layout. Here are links to my comments on the thread. Some people have had the issue on O-31.

MELGAR

https://ogrforum.com/...8#177257758638454648

https://ogrforum.com/...8#177821131000937958

https://ogrforum.com/...6#177821131022023566

Patrick, Larry, Charlie, Don, nice collections of switchers from all of you.  Thanks for sharing as usual.

Welcome back Pierre!  Your 44 tonner turned out magnificently.  What are the little bits on the turntable with it, more detail parts?

Bob, sounds like you had a very trying day.  Sorry to hear about that caboose.  At least you got your son moved in. 

@coach joe - Thanks for your comment Joe!  Don

Great switcher Saturday! Thanks to all for the photos and stories this past weekend.

Coach Joe..thx. The additional stuff:two grey Rerailers (soon to become high visibility orange or yellow), and a couple of crates or tool boxes. Also, there is a vertical green case for flags, flares and other stuff located in the front corner of the loco walkway.
I will  place the other equipment on deck if feasible.

@Leroof posted:

Great switcher Saturday! Thanks to all for the photos and stories this past weekend.

Coach Joe..thx. The additional stuff:two grey Rerailers (soon to become high visibility orange or yellow), and a couple of crates or tool boxes. Also, there is a vertical green case for flags, flares and other stuff located in the front corner of the loco walkway.
I will  place the other equipment on deck if feasible.

It's going to look even better with all the extras.