Good afternoon fellow switcher fans!! Wonderful posts so far today!
For my contribution today, I again focus on one type of locomotive from one of the short lines I model ... The Baltimore and Annapolis RR. This is a SW9 ( by MTH which I purchased from Beth Marshall of the Public Delivery Track ).
The B&A has a long and interesting history which began in the early 1900s as the Washington Baltimore and Annapolis Electic Railway, primarily a traction railroad. A totally electrified line that connected Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington DC. Freight traffic at that time was handled by electric traction motor cars. Later, through bankruptcy the line was truncated to Baltimore and Annapolis, eventually being re - named the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad Co. which ended passenger service in 1950 when electrification ceased. 1950 was the year the road purchased a GE 70 tonner to handle all freight traffic. If you are interested " Every Hour on the Hour, A Chronicle of the Washington Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railroad" by John E. Merriken is a great read with lots of photos. Have a wonderful safe and healthy weekend everyone! Do some switching on your layouts and ... keep those hands washed!
At 8:04 this morning Patsburg Ave grade crossing. 
At 8:06 a.m. B&A SW 9 slowly craws through the grade crossing with bell clanging and horn blowing. Zeke, the brakeman rides the front platform as the second brakeman, Buford, steps off the locomotive. Benny Sachs guards this side of the crossing as the gate guards the other. Benny jokingly calls Patsburg Ave. Zachs' Fifth Ave.LOL! He's been at this position of crossing guard going on 17 years. 
Hank, the engineer, pulls the train of all B&O boxcars so that the last wagon top car will uncouple from the rest of the train just before the crossing. Once uncoupled by either Zeke, Hank will gently pull the three boxcars forward just beyond the switch. 
Zeke upcouples the rest of the train from the B&O wagon top. 
Hank has pulled the three boxcars forward to clear the switch. Zeke has opened the switch, signaled to Hank to back up into the siding. 
Zeke uncouples the wagon tops. 
George the conductor, steps out on the rear steps.
Zeke signals "the pull forward " to George who mounts the engine while at the same time giving Hank the " go ahead signal."
Hank steps out on the rear platform as Zeke closes the switch and calls in to the dispatcher. 
At 8: 33 With the switching move completed, the B&A local slowly makes it's way down the line at the caboose glides across Patsburg Ave grade crossing. 
Patsburg Ave grade crossing at 8: 35 a.m. this morning 
