Switcher Saturday Mark II!, 12/05/20

Weaver Pennsy C1.  0-8-0    Pictured, Korber 304 house,  Weaver sand tower, Diamond Scale turntable.

Happy SWSAT.  Postwar Lionel 623 and 624.  Both are great runners.

I bought this K-Line girls set 10 years ago this weekend for my daughter.  She was born 6 weeks later.  My wife thought I was crazy!

Happy SwSat!

My best:

MTH Proto 3 NY Central RS-11 custom made for JR Junction Hobbies, one of our Forum Sponsors. Arnold

Arnold, your “best” in nice indeed!  Enjoyed your video.  You’ve inspired me to get out my Camelback.  Stay tuned!

John

Happy SWSat!

Yes- Santa is tuning up his sleigh and getting Rudolf and the team ready for their midnight run. Our outside lights are done (mostly), the tree is next and then MORE TRAINS!

Picking up (no pun intended) on @Fendermain post, the humble postwar Lionel NW-2 was one of their finest IMHO. Rock solid and a great runner. I bought mine about 4 years ago on evilbay. Got a great deal. The rollers were just about worn through to the axle but after installing a new set and a good service and lube it has been a regular choice of power on the layout

I've since paired it with a newer PWCC C&O 624. This one has TMCC and sound.

Have a great weekend.

Bob

My S2 electric.....

Happy December Switcher Saturday, folks!

Peter

Penn Central SW8 8616 (Atlas O) switches a cut of grain hoppers as a truck load of corn passes on the adjacent road.  Soon the corn will be in one of the hoppers and on its way to a far off terminal.

Tom

Yay SWSat is on!

I see we are off to a great start this week. Sadly I missed last week. @jhz563 my vote is to keep the Jinty in British form if possible. It is nice to keep some International House of Pancakes variety in here.

Here is a pair of shots from my most recent addition to my switcher fleet. It is a brass 2 rail O scale C-16.
With the addition of it I now have complete coverage of examples of each of the C-16 and C-16a engines. Granted there were only 4 made by the B&O. 2 stayed saddletanks and 2 were altered to tender engines and I currently have 2 examples of each type so I have full roster coverage. Now some updated detail modifications and repaint are in order.

Im sure there must be some others here who have completed a full roster group of some class of engine.

Finally i have my B&M GP7 # 1555 ready to service. I have continued also my scenery project

Nowadays, the Northwestern Pacific tracks north of San Francisco is home to the SMART commuter train. Besides passing through several towns, riders can enjoy wetlands and vineyards. New rails are being laid north to eventually end in Cloverdale--about 70 miles from the bay. SMART will stop in Healdsburg, home to many wineries and tasting rooms. From the San Francisco Bay to the end of the line is a nice way to spend a day. Have a good weekend, everyone.

TALES OF THE DOCKSIDER

NYC shop switcher X-8688 is in the roundhouse for routine service,  so her crew has been assigned Astoria, Light Heat & Power Co no. 4 for today’s recovery duty.  X-8688’s crew isn’t too pleased with no. 4, not realizing  -despite her diminutive size  - she has prodigious pulling power!  X-8688’s fireman, Vasik Semaphorowski, is particularly unhappy.  He’s wondering how he’s going to fire her, because there is no coal bunker, tender or other source of fuel!

Foreign power has returned to the Worcester, MA yards.  Jersey Central 4-6-0 Camelback no. 763 needs assistance due to an overheated rod bearing.

Vasik’s frustration has turned to admiration for 763’s fireman.  He can’t imagine working under such harsh conditions; little weather protection, tender rocking out of synch withe the engine.  He is amazed to learn the 763 has two firebox doors so coal can be distributed evenly in the wide firebox.

Well, like movies on the Hallmark Channel, the stories in this series always come to a happy ending.  No. 4 has no trouble hauling 763 to the shop and the Docksider crew has again shown they are professional railroaders!

Merry Christmas season to all!

My younger daughter's LC Vulcan running this morning on my old micro-layout.

Best...Rich

Johan, I’m a B&M fan and I also own GP7 no. 1555.  I had it converted to PS 3 earlier this year.

if you’re not already a member, I highly recommend joining the B&MRR Historical Society.  For a modest fee, you get four well done magazines, four newsletters and a calendar each year.  They have also sent me three free B&M books over the years I have been a member.  B&MRRHS membership is a great value!

John

@Steam Crazy posted:

Johan, I’m a B&M fan and I also own GP7 no. 1555.  I had it converted to PS 3 earlier this year.

if you’re not already a member, I highly recommend joining the B&MRR Historical Society.  For a modest fee, you get four well done magazines, four newsletters and a calendar each year.  They have also sent me three free B&M books over the years I have been a member.  B&MRRHS membership is a great value!

John

Great advice.

I have a membership in several different RR historical societies. (RF&P, NYCentral, Conrail and New Haven) They all have different offerings but as a person like Johan outside of the US the cost of the mailings may be prohibitive. Some offer digital versions of their magazine which is really a wonderful option for saving on shipping. I have a few British magazines that I subscribe to read in this way. A nice bonus is that you receive them earlier as well.

@Steam Crazy posted:

Johan, I’m a B&M fan and I also own GP7 no. 1555.  I had it converted to PS 3 earlier this year.

if you’re not already a member, I highly recommend joining the B&MRR Historical Society.  For a modest fee, you get four well done magazines, four newsletters and a calendar each year.  They have also sent me three free B&M books over the years I have been a member.  B&MRRHS membership is a great value!

John

John. Very good attention. I have to seriously consider it but then I have to join the BAR and MEC  Historical Society's as well. Your B&M stuff looking good.

Johan

While passing through Boyertown, PA today, I spotted this at the station. It is the Colebrookdale Railroad and they are offering excursions on the weekends. Originally built as PRR 7236 (GP9).

Charlie

@Silver Lake posted:

Yay SWSat is on!

@jhz563 my vote is to keep the Jinty in British form if possible.

Sorry Andy, it showed up as a basket case, and 3 rail dc. If it didn't need other repairs then maybe it would escape the influence of the shop supervisor.

The Jinty needs to run off 3 rail ac to fit in.  And if it's gonna run on American rails, it will need a real headlight, and couplers that can pull the local rolling stock.  And for goodness sakes it needs a whistle the locals will recognize lest we have an unfortunate spike in grade crossing incidents!  Fortunately the local shop workforce has a soft spot for basket cases and will patiently work on getting things off the dead line before the scrapper or the museum comes calling.  The road foreman gets perplexed trying to assign qualified crews, but if the freight moves and the RR meets payroll,  then everyone gets along!

Happy Switcher Saturday!

Good evening fellow switcher fans!  I'm late to the party today due to getting a new rescue puppy today.  I wanted to welcome Barney into his new home, giving him 100% of my attention,  making   sure he was totally comfortable before I did anything else today.  And so after a day of long walks and lots of play he is now sound to sleep in his crate.  I haven't introduced him to the train room yet but will do so in time.  I'm hoping he will like watching the trains and hanging out in the train room with me.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  Be safe = Be well!

Today on the Free State Junction Railway switchers are hard at work in several scenarios.  Here is a Western Maryland center cab switcher pulling a passenger train as a B&O SW9 idles on the adjacent track.

Ma & Pa way freight .... brakeman and conductor discussing the next switch move.

FSJR switcher fleet ( minus the PA-1 ) are having a face-off.  

B&O GP9 in helper service.

The venerable WM BL2 number 81 rounds the bend at Butler Junction.

Spotting a TOFC down the back alley to the improvised pig ramp

PS My alley is to clean.

@trumpettrain posted:

Good evening fellow switcher fans!  I'm late to the party today due to getting a new rescue puppy today.  I wanted to welcome Barney into his new home, giving him 100% of my attention,  making   sure he was totally comfortable before I did anything else today.  And so after a day of long walks and lots of play he is now sound to sleep in his crate.  I haven't introduced him to the train room yet but will do so in time.  I'm hoping he will like watching the trains and hanging out in the train room with me.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  Be safe = Be well!

Patrick, my dog, Sally (part German Shepherd and part Beagle), a very cute dog, would bark her head off when I ran the trains. I think she thought it was a snake. LOL, Arnold

@trumpettrain. You gave us all that and no pictures of Barney!?  Shame on you for teasing us that way!!  Congrats on the new puppy. I  hope your new pal likes the trains.

Postwar 623 and 624 and 6250 are my favorites!

here at work, unable to send photos.

Greetings Leroof.  I concur and have yet to acquire the Seaboard variant.

Patrick thank you for the the rescue.  Enjoy your new best friend.

Oh b the way, thank you all for another great SWSAT!

Happy SWSat!  This being the first Saturday in December,  my NW2 is a reminder that after that beautiful snow fall,  everything gets filthy. 

Meet Barney  - Mascot of The Free State Junction Railway.  The FSJR switch crew salutes his arrival in bottom pick.

@trumpettrain

Welcome, Barney!!!

@trumpettrain Thanks for sharing!! Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler mix? I want to give him scratches on the ears just from looking at the pictures!

Nyc/P&LE usra 0-6-0

Mth 261e

US Army 41 with Hornby wind up on flatcar.

Picture was taken as part of an effort to show comparative sizes of tinplate loco's.

For those of you with a puppy or a kitten to go with your trains (I now only have trains because my wife says we already have an animal - you, referring to me, which I take an a compliment), you might make some serious money by taking a very funny short video of your pet with the trains, and posting it on YouTube. It might go viral. Arnold

Wow Pat, Barney is a beauty, and looks like he is also a good boy.  I know he will enjoy his new home'..and Master'.. They're smarter than most people think'... This will be a beautiful friendship'..  😀🐕‍🦺

Thanks everyone for your compliments and comments regarding Barney!  He's turning out to be much better than I ever imagined ( and I imagined a great dog ).   I think he's the ideal dog for me.   He and I continue to develop a strong bond.   He's one playful pup!!

Peter paid tribute to his dog Max with the Max Dog Food Co.  on his layout   I just may take a page out of Peter's ( Putnam Division )  book and create a dog food company for my layout " The Barney Bits Dog Food Co." with a photo of Barney on billboards in Patsburg.  

JHZ - the animal rescue folks told me Barney is a mix that includes Greyhound.   That's all I know, except that he comes from Kentucky.  

Ted - Thanks!!  You're right.  Dogs are smarter than we give them credit for.  Barney seems to be quite smart.  I'm already putting money away for his college education LOL!  

Arnold - That's a great story about your dog barking at your trains ... LOL!  

Here is a video of a transfer run pulled by a Canton Railroad SW1500 and calf with a MTH Signal Man boxcar just behind the calf.

RSJB18 and Fendermain.  Thanks for the cool 623 and 624 photos!
RSJB18, one day when my layout grows up, (second level) it will get its wish to be elevated like yours! Lol.

hey Andy Silverlake, nice tank engine! I Had a two rail one I sent to a friend in France.

Arnold is getting frisky  on the forum today. Yes Arnold I have been observing you in between patient care today! Lol.

Trumptrain, welcome the new member of the royal railway  K -9 watchdog establishment! He really is quite a pup! Congrats. Note:Coach Joe and I want to give him some crunchy doggie biscuits!

Johan, great Maine scenery for the cool B&M geep! yesterday we had a nor’easter with high winds and snow! Our scenery changed overnight! In fact Saturday at 17:00 hours it was dark as midnight except for the blue arc seen in the sky when the electrical transformer on the main road blew, three small earth felt Booms! I was in the basement when the lights went out! Lucky for me I had just done a clearing of the floors but could not effectively do anything else. The wind was intense all night. The bay was electrifying! The electricity came back on late this morning.

Steam Crazy/ tales of the dockside...cool story there.

awesome Switcher Saturday thx to all.

@Leroof posted:

RSJB18 and Fendermain.  Thanks for the cool 623 and 624 photos!
RSJB18, one day when my layout grows up, (second level) it will get its wish to be elevated like yours! Lol.

hey Andy Silverlake, nice tank engine! I Had a two rail one I sent to a friend in France.

Arnold is getting frisky  on the forum today. Yes Arnold I have been observing you in between patient care today! Lol.

Trumptrain, welcome the new member of the royal railway  K -9 watchdog establishment! He really is quite a pup! Congrats. Note:Coach Joe and I want to give him some crunchy doggie biscuits!

Johan, great Maine scenery for the cool B&M geep! yesterday we had a nor’easter with high winds and snow! Our scenery changed overnight! In fact Saturday at 17:00 hours it was dark as midnight except for the blue arc seen in the sky when the electrical transformer on the main road blew, three small earth felt Booms! I was in the basement when the lights went out! Lucky for me I had just done a clearing of the floors but could not effectively do anything else. The wind was intense all night. The bay was electrifying! The electricity came back on late this morning.

Steam Crazy/ tales of the dockside...cool story there.

awesome Switcher Saturday thx to all.

Leroof. Thank you. I received an email from Maine yesterday and the pictures also showed snowy landscapes. Fortunately, there has not yet been any snow here in southern Finland. We have had a few severe storms but the rains have come as water.

Johan