Switcher Saturday November 18, 2023- It's Turkey Time!

Thanks, again, Bob, for starting, IMO, the most fun, or at least one of the most fun, Forum topics, Switcher Saturday.

And, Bob, the switcher I have to share this morning is very similar to your NY Central S2.

Mine, in the photo and short video below, which I took 5 minutes ago, is an MTH PS3 NY Central RS3:

That RS3 switcher was purchased from JR Junction Hobbies, one of our fine Forum Sponsors, about 3 years ago and has run flawlessly ever since then.

That video reminds me of something that I had great fun doing about 25 years ago: painting the backdrop. This is an example of how model railroading can lead one into another fulfilling hobby, in my case fine art: painting. I did not pursue painting after I painted my backdrop, but doing so made me appreciate how fine art like painting can be a very emotionally rewarding activity. Arnold

Happy SwSat and Turkey Day to all my fellow SwSat turkeys!  Arnold, I agree with your comments, but I’ll take it one step further; SwSat is the MOST fun topic on the Forum!

Today I’m posting the fourth and final installment of my Western switcher series.  This is a switcher you’ve seen before, but who would get tired of looking at this great Lionel postwar classic, the No. 53 D&RG Vulcan with snowplow?  Not me!

I’m off to the Greenburg train show in Wilmington, MA in a couple of hours.  Maybe I’ll find a switcher to show you next week?

John

New York Central #8223 is an MTH Railking model (30-20689-1) with PS3 produced as a special run by forum sponsor JR Junction Train and Hobby of Syracuse, New York. #8223 was the first of 135 Alco RS-3s delivered to the New York Central Railroad between August 1950 and October 1953. Their Alco 244 diesel engines developed 1,600 horsepower. Maximum speed was 65 miles-per-hour and tractive effort was 52,500 pounds at 9.5 miles-per-hour.

NYC #8223 became Penn Central #5223 and Amtrak #100 in 1976. It was later restored by the Central New York chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and ran on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad in upstate New York.

Photos and videos show the model on my 10’-by-5’ model railroad running at scale speeds between 16 and 22 miles-per-hour.

MELGAR

Sorry, but everyone is celebrating switcher Saturday pre Christmas in my house, not switcher Saturday pre thanksgiving, just like every store down here.   We had a fabulous run session this week. You know, the type -  where everything runs like it should and no hiccups. Even the rarely used atlas yard switches on the far side of the subway layout threw without human intervention. It was sweet! Here are a few shots of my VO1000 getting ready for her run -

Thanks, Bob, for notching us out for this "pre-Thanksgiving" SWSAT with some great "workhorse" switchers. I have the PRR RMT "Bang S-4" version of your NYC S2 above and love it. But, for today, some "imaginary fun." Here's CNJ #2344 departing with her newly-restored Blue Comet heavyweight excursion consist from "A" yard:

This is MTH's PS-1 reproduction of Lionel's PW version of FM's H-24-66 "Trainmaster" in the most desirable CNJ livery. I've posted about her before, but not in this "fantasy" setting. When they debuted in 1953, "Trainmasters" were the largest, highest horsepower diesel locomotives marketed as "switchers," albeit "road switchers." The audio departure sequence is PS-1's FYS or freight yard sounds.

Happy Switcher Saturday!  An MTH CV Alco S2 is moving a tank car on the layout today.  Great little unit on my small layout.

Bill, I have the same MTH PS1 Jersey Central Trainmaster diesel switcher in your above post and, Melgar, my MTH PS3 NY Central RS3 diesel switcher cab # 8223 in my first post here today is the same model as yours in your above post. Arnold

Thanks Bob for getting the switchers fired up. All the various switchers are great. Here is my newly acquired CNJ Plymouth moving some freight to the team track.

@tnkMarx posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday!  An MTH CV Alco S2 is moving a tank car on the layout today.  Great little unit on my small layout.

The MTH Alco S2's are great engines. Call me stupid (not the first or last time) but I never realized that CV stood for Central Vermont...duh!

I might just need to procure one since it would fit right in with the other northeast roads I run......

To be continued........

I love Switcher Saturday.

Here is my contribution for this week.

MTH, MTH, MTH, MTH.

From left to right: NEW HAVEN RS1, BOSTON & MAINE SW1, another B&M SW1 and a couple of NEW HAVEN Alco S-2s.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

@RSJB18 posted:

Was that LNE S-2 paint scheme actually based on a prototype?

Admittedly: 90% of the LNE pics I have in my books are black & white. I do have the LNE in color book "The Lehigh and New England Railroad: A Color Retrospect" by Dogualas E. Lilly, but there is not any examples of this scheme, including two pictures of LNE S-2 #612.

Anyone know if this scheme has a basis in reality?

Thanks.

Andre

Another great start Bob a job well done! Have a great weekend all!

@RSJB18 posted:

The MTH Alco S2's are great engines. Call me stupid (not the first or last time) but I never realized that CV stood for Central Vermont...duh!

I might just need to procure one since it would fit right in with the other northeast roads I run......

To be continued........

Rationalize it anyway you want; but simply put it’s the Joe McDoaks “Gotta Have It” syndrome! 😳

@laming posted:

Was that LNE S-2 paint scheme actually based on a prototype?

Admittedly: 90% of the LNE pics I have in my books are black & white. I do have the LNE in color book "The Lehigh and New England Railroad: A Color Retrospect" by Dogualas E. Lilly, but there is not any examples of this scheme, including two pictures of LNE S-2 #612.

Anyone know if this scheme has a basis in reality?

Thanks.

Andre

In reality, it exists in my world....no place else as far as I know.

This is a franken-engine Andre. The frame started life in the MTH factory as a SOO. I bought it sans shell for a project as shown in my pic. In searching for an appropriate shell to put on a fire engine red frame, the L&NE red dot fit the bill. It also fits into the theme of roads I run as mentioned in my post. And it saved me from having to re-paint the frame.

My research of the L&NE showed that they did own 612 along with many other ALCO diesels.

Bob

@pennsyfan posted:

Rationalize it anyway you want; but simply put it’s the Joe McDoaks “Gotta Have It” syndrome! 😳

And buy a round of track for the boys.....put it on my tab!

This Lionel NW-2 arrived earlier this week from the good folks at NJHR… another excellent effort from a great group of ambassadors for the hobby.

@RSJB18 posted:

In reality, it exists in my world....no place else as far as I know.

<snip>

Bob

AH! That explains it!

Not a thing wrong with piecing together an engine! However one decides to "do" their trains is exactly what one needs to do.

Right you are, the LNE had several S-2's: 611-616 for a total of 6.

IMHO, the LNE nicely illustrates that a black and white paint scheme does NOT have to be "boring"! Loved their diesel engine roster.

Thanks for the explain!

Andre

Good morning SWSAT crew!

Penn Central SW8 8616 (Atlas O) prepares to head out with a transfer caboose in tow:

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Tom

Here's photos of my switcher fleet. I didn't know I had this many - Charlie.

MTH B & O #8412 SW1

MTH C & O #5587 RSD-5

MTH Canton #1502 SW1500 - Custom paint by Harry H.

MTH CSX #1192 MP15AC

MTH Monongahela #404 VO-1000 Dummy - custom paint - from *bay.

MTH MPA #82 SW9 from Jim Mason

MTH MPA #85 NW2 Dummy

Weaver N & W #300 RS-3 Dummy

MTH NASA #2 Alco S-2 (Was a MILW Road & replaced the shell)

MTH WM #76 44-Ton

MTH WM #130 VO-1000

MTH WM #173 AS-616 Dummy

SWSAT is off to a great start as usual.  Thank you all for posting.

I am usually not a rivet picker but we've been corrected by Rich often enough that I'll save him the trouble this time, the Fairbanks-Morse H-24-66 is a Train Master, a trainmaster is a railroad job description title.  We now return to our regularly schedules program.

Hey Bob, thanks for starting us off on this "Thanksgiving" Saturday.  Great pictures everyone.  Today I thought I might feature Kline, which remains one of my favorite and greatly missed manufacturers.  First the Santa Fe , Alco S2 a dual motor switcher that seems like it can haul a great deal (not that it is ever challenged on my small layout) but it sure does run smooth.

Next the UP EMD MP15 by Kline.  Another switcher that seems to have great power.  I have two of these MP15's and am very pleased with their performance.  Sure do miss Kline.

Best Wishes and Happy Thanksgiving to all

Don

Cows, calf’s and slugs!

Tom

Happy Thanksgiving on this Switcher Saturday!   Railking RS-3 early PS2 on my old layout

The same engine on my new under construction layout;

Bob, thanks for getting us started. Great posts guys, keep them coming.

#447 spotting a cut of freight cars in the yard, and #450 spotting a box car for Kurtz Iron Works.

Hope everyone enjoys their holiday.

Andy

@RSJB18 posted:

The MTH Alco S2's are great engines. Call me stupid (not the first or last time) but I never realized that CV stood for Central Vermont...duh!

I might just need to procure one since it would fit right in with the other northeast roads I run......

To be continued........

I bought the S2 engine with Maine Central shell #303, but switched it out for the CV shell.

Good afternoon fellow switcher lovers!  Thanks Bob for notching out the throttle and getting us rolling today.  NICE ALCO S2!    As always there's such fabulous content, posted by all of you on this thread!!  Thank you all for this wonderful information!  

I hope everyone has a most delightful weekend and may wonderful blessings flow your way this Thanksgiving!  

A B&O Docksider heads a junk train on the Mountain Division.

In charge of a transfer freight is this Baltimore & Annapolis SW9 number 87 and calf.   Although the B&A  only had two diesel locomotives in its entire history, the first being a GE 70 tonner number 50 ( Come on Atlas, MTH,  or Williams by Bachman and produce this 70 tonner in B&A livery! ) and later a SW9 number 87, as shown here, the B&A never owned a calf.  Both the 70 tonner and the SW9 served on the B&A at separate times, as the B&A was a one locomotive railroad.  Up until 1950, the B&A was an electrified railroad which ran interurban cars in both passenger and freight service.  Baggage car type interurbans led freight trains with consists of the usual kinds of freight cars ... boxcars, flatcars, hoppers, etc.  These interurban cars would actually do the required switching work too!   FYI - B&A's 70 tonner number 50 now resides at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum.  

Since turkey time is near ... turkeys Gertrude and Healthcliff are a bit reluctant to leave their railcar and hop in the horse trailer.  Having exhausted all his tricks,  turkey whisperer Bart Thaylor, scratches his head in frustration.

B&A Cow and calf team lead a transfer freight out of Westend's South tunnel.  

RK SD9

Happy Switcher Saturday. My brand new Atlas Premier MEC GE 44t #11 around my layout.

A Atlas RS1 pushing a Mth RS1 dummy and a Atlas Raritan River SW

https://youtu.be/202xyKloG2Q?feature=shared

@Krieglok posted:

Cows, calf’s and slugs!

Tom

Awesome Tom, did you scratch build the slugs?

A really heavy boxcar.  Just not sure what direction they are going.

WbB on left, MTH on right pulling/pushing a MTH boxcar. 

Was busy preparing for and attending our Civil Air Patrol Open House today, so this is an old picture.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Bill, I have the same MTH PS1 Jersey Central Trainmaster diesel switcher in your above post and, Melgar, my MTH PS3 NY Central RS3 diesel switcher cab # 8223 in my first post here today is the same model as yours in your above post. Arnold

Indeed, Arnold, I think of your Train Master every time I run mine! I hope we both continue to have good luck with them as they're a lot of fun!

@coach joe posted:

SWSAT is off to a great start as usual.  Thank you all for posting.

I am usually not a rivet picker but we've been corrected by Rich often enough that I'll save him the trouble this time, the Fairbanks-Morse H-24-66 is a Train Master, a trainmaster is a railroad job description title.  We now return to our regularly schedules program.

Got lazy, Coach! Train Master it is! I imagine FM's marketing folks chose the name to emphasize that the Train Master's versatility made the trainmaster's job easier!

Goes along with "If it's PRR, it's a cabin car!"

@CAPPilot posted:

A really heavy boxcar.  Just not sure what direction they are going.

WbB on left, MTH on right pulling/pushing a MTH boxcar.

Was busy preparing for and attending our Civil Air Patrol Open House today, so this is an old picture.

Great photo Ron!   Perhaps this photo  depicts a "tug o war"?  LOL!   Just sayin.

@trumpettrain posted:

Great photo Ron!   Perhaps this photo  depicts a "tug o war"?  LOL!   Just sayin.

Patrick,

The original post had them arguing on which way the car should go.  Great minds.... 

Always enjoy your photos.

@Dave Ripp. posted:

Awesome Tom, did you scratch build the slugs?

Thanks Dave. I built both slugs using MTH dummy units. The South Buffalo slug is an Alco S2, chopped down. I used two shells to get the final result.

The PB&NE slug is from a MTH SW unit. Chopped and cab replaced styrene…

I repainted a MTH SW9 into PB&NE to match the slug…

Tom

@Krieglok posted:

Thanks Dave. I built both slugs using MTH dummy units. The South Buffalo slug is an Alco S2, chopped down. I used two shells to get the final result.

The PB&NE slug is from a MTH SW unit. Chopped and cab replaced styrene…

I repainted a MTH SW9 into PB&NE to match the slug…

Tom

Fantastic work Tom.

@Krieglok posted:

Thanks Dave. I built both slugs using MTH dummy units. The South Buffalo slug is an Alco S2, chopped down. I used two shells to get the final result.

The PB&NE slug is from a MTH SW unit. Chopped and cab replaced styrene…

I repainted a MTH SW9 into PB&NE to match the slug…

Tom

Nice work Tom.

This was my original intent when I purchased a pair of project S2's from Cabin Fever. Subsequent purchase of powered trucks from a forum member throttled those plans.

The NYC is a dummy that was going to get the powered parts from the other chassis and the remaining would have been a cow/calf with a donor shell.

One down (added PS3/2 stacker) and the LNE shell.

One to go (getting ERR CruiseM)

Bob

PS- Since I purchased the LNE shell, Beth at Public Delivery Track issued a LNE RS3 custom run from MTH. I had to order it of course......

From the regional train nut and cousin of mine, Jimmy Don McCraddon:

Autumn, 1964...

Kansas City & Gulf RS-1, #115, is fixin' to leave the small engine service area up at Branson, Missouri to start thrashin' cars in the small subdivision point yard at Branson.

Old head hogger J.T. "Jr." Bodeen is on the throttle and with the bell ringin', he's ready to grab a notch or two an' ease out of service area. Branson is a subdivision point, an' from Branson the KC&G's Ozark Sub strikes off south fer the ruggedest mountains of all of the Ozarks.

Meanwhile, down at the south end of the Ozark Sub at the subdivision town of Clarksville, Arkansas, hoghead "Bulldog" Benson has tied up KC&G RS-1 #110 on a service track an' the crew's all goin' to beans.

There under the sand tower sits FA1m #203, havin' just come in on a northbound train. The Hostler will be sandin' the set of power, includin' trailin' unit #203, as he gits 'em ready to take on the Ozark Sub all the way to Branson. The crews that git called fer a Branson-bound northbound out of Clarksville always know they's could be in fer a devil of a day that'll include facin' the toughest grade on the the entire KC&G: Buck Mountain Grade up to Piney Gap. Yup, once they's at the town of Ozarka, ain't nuthin' but climbin' fer a spell.

Yessir, leavin' the small mountain town of Ozarka, the line starts climin' immediately and it don't let up fer the next many miles. Once leavin' the Yard Limits at Ozarka, the line curves around the end of Hogback Mountain (havin't to deal with Tough Cuss Curve along the way) and enters Possum Holler as it pass through Persimmon Cut to run alongside the tumblin' waters of Possum Creek. As the rails continue to make their way up Possum Holler, the train will grind past Sawmill Spur, where's some tie n' log loadin, and will soon come to the big curve as they pass alongside Panther Bluff. Leavin' the Panther Bluff area, an' after passin' through the little town of Sweetbum, the line leaves Possum Holler and bends around Hickory Knob as it disappears into Buck Holler. Once it plunges into Buck Holler, it's now on Buck Mountain Grade all the way up to the little summit town of Piney, Arkansas at Piney Gap. Along the way to Piney it will pass Arkansas Gravel company where's a big rock quarry that is the single largest shipper on the Ozark Sub.

Piney's the summit town, and leavin' Piney they'll pass through Polecat Cut, Piney Gap proper, then enter Piney Gap Tunnel. Eventually they'll pass through the town of Mountain Springs, Arkansas and head on north for the Missouri state line an' the north subdivision point of Branson, Missouri.

Make no mistake, friend, runnin' a train through them mountains kin make fer a long day (or night) indeed. However, that's jist the way it is runnin' a train through them mountains on the Ozark Sub!

About the above photos:

Taken on my fictitious HO scale Kansas City & Gulf "Ozark Sub" layout that's housed within a 16' x 20' out building. The layout features helper operations between Ozarka and Piney Gap, as well as lots of switching at Ozarka, Sawmill Spur, Sweetgum, Arkansas Gravel, Piney, and Mountain Springs. Plus, I also get to do yard switching in-between operating sessions at the stage yards at Branson (upper level) and Clarksville (lower level). Life is good in the KC&G!

Andre