When I started kicking off this thread weekly to pick up where @Murnane left off, it never occurred to me that I would be writing this on the anniversary of one of the darkest days in modern world history. All of us who were of age to comprehend can remember exactly where we were, and what happened that day. The world forever became a darker place and 20 years later, none of us knows what comes next.
I also remember that shortly thereafter we were all getting along. American flags were flying on porches that hadn't seen Old Glory in years. Police were respected for the job they were doing, blood banks had a surplus, and for a while Americans were able to respect each other's differences without putting each other down. I dream this country can return to the unity we felt in the weeks after the attack.
How does this relate to Switcher Saturday? It doesn't. But this is the closest thing to social media I participate in and I had to get that out. Thank you to all who have dedicated their lives to service of others, whether in the military, EMS, fire fighting, or law enforcement. And let us never forget the sacrifice of those who gave all, and those who are still struggling with the fight in their own mind after fighting overseas.
Here's a lionel US Army Switcher to be somewhat on topic.
So what is Switcher Saturday? Well it's a weekly thread celebrating the smaller, versatile locomotives that do the big work of railroading. This thread is open to switchers of all scales and gauges. To illustrate this point here's Stanley🙂.
In the full size world, I got to witness a Republic Locomotive unit kicking hoppers in the coal yard via remote control.
Here's one of those hoppers emptying itself in the rotary dumper.
So please share your Switcher stories and videos, vignettes and memories.
And for today, stop and take a moment to remember. Shed a tear if you need to, and then go seek out a nice conversation with your neighbors.
Have a good Switcher Saturday gang.
