Switcher Saturday August 5, 2023

It is late 1949, and a B28 is working the public delivery track.  The Pennsy had 30 of these USRA-designed radial stay firebox shifters and they lasted to the end of steam.

Lionel RS3, twin truck mounted cans, traction tires, very light, electronic horn. Also issued in NYC & D&H. Revived in Lionchief line. What I thought was pretty cool was issuing the caboose in reverse coloration from engine in the set.

The New York Central, using an Alco S2 swicher, heading for the Bonx Zoo on the Harlem Divsion.......

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Peter

Good morning SWSAT crew!

Sometimes a switcher isn't even a locomotive:

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Tom

  @RSJB18 - Thanks for starting Switcher Saturday.

Great Northern Railway #98 is a die-cast model of an EMD SW8 locomotive made by Atlas O (6104-1, MSRP $299.95) in 2001 with Dallee electronics. At that time, Atlas was making these models in numerous road names and I really liked their scale size, accurate detail and smooth running, so I have several examples. I also was buying models representative of railroads throughout the United States – not just New England and New York as I do now.

Great Northern was a transcontinental railroad that operated between 1889 and 1970. Its main line began at St. Paul, Minnesota and reached Seattle in 1893. Its most famous train was the Empire Builder and it later became part of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.

Great Northern #98 was built by the Electro Motive Division in June 1951 and is known to have worked in the Seattle Coach Yard. GN operated three SW8 switchers.

EMD built 309 SW8 locomotives in the United States between 1950 and 1954. They had a weight of 230,000 pounds, 800 horsepower, 57,000 pounds starting tractive effort (36,000 pounds continuous), and a 65 mile-per-hour maximum speed.

Photos and videos show the model on my 10’-by-5’ layout, which is a freelanced model of a single-track New England branch line.

MELGAR

Hello SwSat fans!  Today your Yardmaster is featuring two MTH Railking models, Alco NYC RS3 no. 8106 and no. 8109.

In the first of two videos you’ll hear 8109 starting up.  This is the best start up sequence in all of “dieseldom”, in your Yardmaster’s humble opinion.  If you haven’t heard this start up before, turn the volume up (when the wife’s not around)!

In the second video you’ll see 8106 and 8109 on the point of an Eastbound coal drag.  Passing on the Westbound track is NYC 2-8-0 Consolidation no. 1149.

John

Happy Switcher Saturday!

A short string of reefers is lead back to Cedar Hill by O&W General Motors NW-2. The switcher is a General Models 3 rail, version assembled from a kit that sold in 1950 for @$29.50 and was assembled by my uncle. I had it custom painted in NYO&W .

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uiWCRk9KaNWJLrfH9

Happy Switcher Saturday!  I thought I’d give my little RMT Bang S2 a run this week. It’s a lovely little switcher that reliably runs well  and even comes with 2 cab figures. I was lucky to get one of the MTA versions -

Here she is easily pulling all of the cars I had on the mainline (13 or 14). Some of these are weighed down with heavy loads, yet the little S2 pulls them with ease at low voltage.  

She even has a horn. Now some may say this sounds more like someone stepping on  a goose,  But hey, for the price, not bad in my book -

What a great little switcher.

. 

Correction: NYC no’s. 8106 and 8109 are RS1s.  I’m going to blame this gaffe on a senior moment.

John

RSJB18

Week two in the Yardmaster's office.

Thanks for all the support and a great week of posts last week.

Thanks for doing this, Bob. Really appreciated.

Have a great switcher Saturday!

Great looking engines, sets, and scenes! @Tom Densel I really enjoyed your picture of the old ford tractor pushing that PC hopper. I’ve seen the local feed mill in my neck of the woods use that same technique. Have a great weekend everyone!

The Fairbanks Morse H15-44 was introduced as a 1500 horsepower road switcher in 1947. FM contracted Raymond Loewy to design the carbody. The Jersey Central was the largest purchaser of the H15-44’s with a total 14 units - one of FM’s demonstrators (#1500) and 13 additional units (#1501 - 1513). FM built only 37 H15-44’s and, regrettably, none survive. This particular model is a recent custom Lionel run for the good folks at METCA!!!

Well hello SwSat fans, RSJB18 thanks for keeping the post going and getting it started today.  My offering today is a little Marx #588 NYC GE 70 Ton switcher in maroon, available from 1958-1962.  You know we just had some really good video's and discussion on "fantasy" paint schemes and I really don't know if this is one of them.  Not sure NYC had either this locomotive or if it did ever painted them maroon.  However Mr. Marx liked the color and so that's that!

I have it pictured with a (sort of) matching NYC caboose of the 4 wheel variety.  These little 4 wheel simple cast plastic cabooses came in an endless variety of RR and color schemes ( I have about 30 different varieties) and for many years sold for around $3 so they were just fun to collect.  Since Marx mostly sold freights (his belief that they provided more play value than passenger sets) and since EVERY freight included a caboose, these little cars are really plentiful.

The power source on these guys is the Marx famous 4 wheel power set up used in many locomotives and well known for its power and reliability.  This gal pulls just about anything you want to hook up to her, within reason.  Here she is exiting my yard and headed towards the main.

Here she is entering the main and getting ready to move out to pick up some local freight.

Hope you have a great weekend

Best Wishes

Don

@Steam Crazy posted:

Hello SwSat fans!  Today your Yardmaster is featuring two MTH Railking models, Alco NYC RS3 no. 8106 and no. 8109.

In the first of two videos you’ll hear 8109 starting up.  This is the best start up sequence in all of “dieseldom”, in your Yardmaster’s humble opinion.  If you haven’t heard this start up before, turn the volume up (when the wife’s not around)!

In the second video you’ll see 8106 and 8109 on the point of an Eastbound coal drag.  Passing on the Westbound track is NYC 2-8-0 Consolidation no. 1149.

John

You gotta love that Alco start up sound!

Peter

Made it under the wire. New engine #455 before it received its Long Island colors.

Hats off to Bob for another successful week! Well done. Great posts as always.

Andy

Bob thanks for keeping us rolling. I'm still amazed you upgraded that BEEP.

Mel those GN colors go well with your New England scenery.

John those AlCo diesel sounds are the best.

Strap, RMT did a nice job with those Bangs.  The pilot was so much better than the K-Line one.

Paul that H15-44 is sweet looking.

Don I think that 70 tonner is so interesting looking.

Steamfan77 DGLE with gold lettering, what could be better than that?

Well, I guess I missed the wire, but here's MTH's 1999 reproduction of Lionel's classic 1956 PW version of the FM H-24-66 road switcher or "Trainmaster" in NJC livery to complement @Apples55 very nice NJC FM H-15-44 above:

The "24" indicates 2400 HP and the "66" designates 2 3-axle trucks with all 6 axles powered. As impressive as it was "on paper," operational problems doomed this locomotive with buyers. In fact, the Trainmaster along with the P-12-42 passenger locomotive were the last locomotives produced by Fairbanks-Morse when they decided to exit the locomotive business in 1958 due to poor sales.

Regardless, the model runs well, despite its rather quirky PS1 OS, as I've mentioned in a previous post.

Another great SWSat in the books. Thanks to all who participated.

@Steamfan77 Andy- is that S2 black or green? I have the green RS1 and if I didn't know I bought a green......

@coach joe- I followed the master's instructions (GRJ). Don't know if I would have attempted it on my own. Too bad 3Rd Rail discontinued the mini-commander. The current discussions about Soundtraxx Blunami boards has me considering trying one for couple more upgrades for small engines.

Bob

@Bill Swatos posted:

Well, I guess I missed the wire, but here's MTH's 1999 reproduction of Lionel's classic 1956 PW version of the FM H-24-66 road switcher or "Trainmaster" in NJC livery to complement @Apples55 very nice NJC FM H-15-44 above:

The "24" indicates 2400 HP and the "66" designates 2 3-axle trucks with all 6 axles powered. As impressive as it was "on paper," operational problems doomed this locomotive with buyers. In fact, the Trainmaster along with the P-12-42 passenger locomotive were the last locomotives produced by Fairbanks-Morse when they decided to exit the locomotive business in 1958 due to poor sales.

Regardless, the model runs well, despite its rather quirky PS1 OS, as I've mentioned in a previous post.

Nice Train Master takes me back to the days first saw it in Lionel's catalog.  Now have from MTH's great "new" tooling a PRR, a Southern with correct pilot deck height , and the fable of the AYY would have become if it was not for Frank Sciberling.

Ron

Edit: added images.

My first scale TM was by K-Line which thought was the best at the time.  But MTH's new tooling blow it away.

Ron

@Apples55 posted:

The Fairbanks Morse H15-44 was introduced as a 1500 horsepower road switcher in 1947. FM contracted Raymond Loewy to design the carbody. The Jersey Central was the largest purchaser of the H15-44’s with a total 14 units - one of FM’s demonstrators (#1500) and 13 additional units (#1501 - 1513). FM built only 37 H15-44’s and, regrettably, none survive. This particular model is a recent custom Lionel run for the good folks at METCA!!!

That's a really good looker!!!!!!

I'm amazed that Fairbanks-Morse tried to sell a locomotive with 2400 horsepower and six axles as a switcher. In its day, 2400 HP was a lot of power for a road locomotive, let alone a switcher. It seems to me that such a large locomotive and its powerful motor would have been uneconomical for switching.

MELGAR

@RSJB18 posted:

Another great SWSat in the books. Thanks to all who participated.

I have the green RS1 and if I didn't know I bought a green......

Bob

@RSJB18,

Bob,

Your "green" LIRR RS-1 #462 looks just like my "black" LIRR #462 - an exclusive model from forum sponsor Trainworld. I would like to see another "green" version just to see the difference... Their listing for the "green" version seems to show a visible difference.

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

@RSJB18,

Bob,

Your "green" LIRR RS-1 #462 looks just like my "black" LIRR #462 - an exclusive model from forum sponsor Trainworld. I would like to see another "green" version just to see the difference... Their listing for the "green" version seems to show a visible difference.

MELGAR

I picked mine up in the store at the time, and they had both on display. Side by side you can see a slight difference. In photos, they look the same.
I actually called TW after I unboxed it to confirm that I got the green model. They confirmed that I did.

Here's how.....the green model has a silver horn, and the black has a black horn.

Bob

Mel and Bob,

Are your RS1s both Pennsy Brunswick Green?

John

@coach joe- Thanks for the compliment on my little Marx switcher.

Best Wishes

Don

@Steam Crazy posted:

Mel and Bob,

Are your RS1s both Pennsy Brunswick Green?

John

John- Mine is. Mel's is black. As he said, in the add the difference was much more obvious.

They even mentioned it in the listing.

https://www.trainworld.com/mth...exclusive-green.html

I don't think the PRR had Brunswick Green.  The first mention of Brunswick Green per one source came in the Penn Central era which I think was a lighter green.  The PRR used what they called Dark Green Locomotive Enamel (DGLE), which some described as black that had a green sheen under certain light conditions.  One of many different paint mixes that folks have come up with for DGLE is 1 part green to 50 parts black (probably not correct).

I think the paint on most models of PRR engines is too green.

@MELGAR posted:

I'm amazed that Fairbanks-Morse tried to sell a locomotive with 2400 horsepower and six axles as a switcher. In it's day, 2400 HP was a lot of power for a road locomotive, let alone a switcher. It seems to me that such a large locomotive and its powerful motor would have been uneconomical for switching.

MELGAR

Mel don't forget this beast at the top of the shot.

The 2500 HP Lima- Hamiltom center-cab Transfer engine.  Pennsy used them to "switch" long heavy consist from one Yard far down the line to another Yard.

Ron

@MELGAR posted:

I'm amazed that Fairbanks-Morse tried to sell a locomotive with 2400 horsepower and six axles as a switcher. In it's day, 2400 HP was a lot of power for a road locomotive, let alone a switcher. It seems to me that such a large locomotive and its powerful motor would have been uneconomical for switching.

MELGAR

You are correct, Mel. Its high HP was cited as one of the problems with its operation as a switcher, specifically higher fuel cost. Per @PRRronbh's comment above, however, sometimes higher HP was needed for switching entire freight consists between relatively distant yards.

@Steam Crazy posted:

Hello SwSat fans!  Today your Yardmaster is featuring two MTH Railking models, Alco NYC RS3 no. 8106 and no. 8109.

In the first of two videos you’ll hear 8109 starting up.  This is the best start up sequence in all of “dieseldom”, in your Yardmaster’s humble opinion.  If you haven’t heard this start up before, turn the volume up (when the wife’s not around)!

In the second video you’ll see 8106 and 8109 on the point of an Eastbound coal drag.  Passing on the Westbound track is NYC 2-8-0 Consolidation no. 1149.

John

John - I listened to my PS3 C&O RS1, and was disappointed to hear totally different start up sounds. As you know, PS2 and PS3 soundsets are not interchangeable, so when I get a few minutes, I will start listening to PS3 RS1 soundsets, and hope I find a match.

Bob, mine is Brunswick green with gold lettering and the silver horn.

Andy

@Steamfan77 posted:

Bob, mine is Brunswick green with gold lettering and the silver horn.

Andy

Andy,

I'm curious to see a picture.

I believe the black color was the Alco builder's paint. The green must have been a repaint.

MELGAR

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

John - I listened to my PS3 C&O RS1, and was disappointed to hear totally different start up sounds. As you know, PS2 and PS3 soundsets are not interchangeable, so when I get a few minutes, I will start listening to PS3 RS1 soundsets, and hope I find a match.

The full manual for the PS3 RS-1 loco describes extended startup and shutdown sequences for DCC operation. For example, F17 in DCC will play crew talk related to starting the engine and I think a longer starter "wind" before the engine fires up is also played. Likewise, F18 plays crew talk related to engine performance and timetables and I think a longer rev down sequence for the engine. I'm not sure whether the DCS startup and shutdown sequences are the same as the extended sequences in DCC. Here's a link to the above referenced manual:

https://www.mthtrains.com/site...ction/30dl14225i.pdf

Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any means of accessing the extended sound files in conventional and I don't know what happens under Legacy or TMCC control.

Thanks for this explanation, Bill. Don’t have DCC, and, unless I’m mistaken, this is a totally different soundset, featuring start-up sounds from a different prime mover. And, you are correct in that extended start up and shutdown cannot be accessed through transformer control.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

John - I listened to my PS3 C&O RS1, and was disappointed to hear totally different start up sounds. As you know, PS2 and PS3 soundsets are not interchangeable, so when I get a few minutes, I will start listening to PS3 RS1 soundsets, and hope I find a match.

Mark- check out this one that I just installed in a S2. This is a PS2/3 stacker board.

Mark and Bill,

Thanks for your very interesting comments.  My NYC RS1 is 3 volt PS2 and I’m a conventional operator.  I’m quite surprised to learn the PS2 and PS3 sound sets are different.

The first time I fired up my engine I thought I had a bad board right out of the box!  I also like the subtle “whistle” the motor makes at slow speeds (the turbocharger?).  It reminds me of the Alco S4 the Grafton and Upton RR used to operate near my boyhood home.

John