Switcher Saturday 10-15-22

I could have posted this short video on several other ongoing Forum threads but picked this one because of the enthusiasm of its participants.

The switcher is an MTH Premier PS3 Boston & Maine (B&M) diesel (VO1000) that you've seen from me before), hauling train cars from Maine fallen flags, including 3 cars I bought a few days ago. The 3 new cars are in the Lionel Paul Revere set (B&M boxcar, B&M red hopper with removable coal load and B&M caboose):

Arnold

Good morning jhz563!

So, it looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers are now in the railroad business and are an ALCo customer...

My model of New York Central Railroad EMD GP-9 #6001 (MTH Premier 20-20549-1 with PS3) was listed in the 2015 Volume 2 catalog at MSRP $479.95. Aside from being finely detailed and correctly assembled, it runs very smoothly. In particular, the speed control is excellent and the model runs around the O-54 loop on my layout at constant speed. MTH specifies minimum O-31 curves. The full-sized locomotive could turn through a minimum curve radius of 273 feet, which corresponds to a radius of about 68 inches or O-136 track in O gauge.

EMD built 3,626 GP9s at LaGrange, Illinois between 1954 through 1959. 646 GP9s were built in Canada where production ended in 1963. GP9s had a 16-cylinder 567C turbocharged diesel engine with 1750 horsepower. Locomotive weight was 259,500 pounds and tractive effort was 64,750 pounds with a maximum speed of 65 miles-per hour.

The New York Central Railroad rostered 176 GP9 locomotives – class DRS-9. They were built between 1954 and 1957 and ran with long-hood forward.

Videos show the model running at a scale speed of 19 miles-per-hour on my 10’-by-5’ model railroad. There appear to be unauthorized persons in and atop the boxcars…

MELGAR

MELGAR gotta say you have some great looking buildings!

Happy SWSat!

The GE 44-ton switcher is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Electric between 1940 and 1956. It was designed for industrial and light switching duties, often replacing steam locomotives that had previously been assigned these chores. The 44-ton locomotive was designed to abrogate the 90,000 pound rule as the steam to diesel transition was starting to grow. GE built 276 of this locomotive for U. S. railroads and industries. Other manufacturers also built 44-ton switchers of center-cab configuration.

My model of the humble GE 44 Ton diesel locomotive is in action this week. The crew on Pennsy 9331 are picking up some ore cars and a couple of box cars to bring to the interchange yard. This model is by Williams with Tru-blast + sound. It's a very nice conventional loco, just be careful around the plastic handrails, they are very fra-gieel-lay!
The fixed pilots are a nice feature that Williams did on these and the 70 ton models. It does present some problems on my 027 curves but I've modified the couplers slightly to reduce the tension on the pivot.

Have a great weekend!

Bob

Happy switcher sat everyone! Great pics/video so far.  Time for a little track cleaning blast from the past with a K-Line Plymouth, one of the best little switchers ever made  -

Off to a great start this SWSat.

I am posting some pictures of switchers action on my old layout this week. 3 rails for a change.

This is an RMT Alco pulling some subway cars.

Here is my Williams 44 Tonner alongside my repainted postwar beater 520 boxcab doing a  caboose hop  

Pulling up the taillights is my Williams B&O NW2 working the industrial spurs.

At any rate I am recovering and feeling much better.

Have a great weekend. I cannot wait to see what you guys post.

Hello, SwSat brethren!  The last two Saturdays I talked about inspiration; today it’s hard to come by, so I’m reaching back into the archives.

Winer is just around the corner, so railroads across the country are preparing for heavy snow.  Seen testing snow fighting equipment are two plow extras, one powered by DR&G Vulcan no. 53 and the other by MEC EMD GP7 no. 562.  Winter will not catch DR&G and MEC crews off guard!

John

Grain cars are a hot commodity this time of year, so a CN 70 ton switcher is taking empty cars to the elevators.
Happy Switcher Saturday!

Good morning SWSAT crew!

Penn Central RS-11 7608 is in charge of the local this morning.  I caught it picking up a cut of covered hoppers from the grain elevator before heading out of town:

Have a great weekend!

Tom

JHZ,, thanks for a little levity to start us off.

Mel great info as usual as we get to enjoy one of your wonderful layouts.

Bob that little 44 tonner is doing some big work this morning.  I may have to contact you in the future about reducing the tension on the pivot in the future.

Andy, have you gotten rid of all the 3 rail stuff yet?  Did you convert any of it to 2 rail or is it all waiting in a closet planning to take back i's place on a layout once again?

MTH Burlington Northern.

The Youngstown Sheet & Tube ALCO S-2 #1004 shuttles an empty ACY hopper after dumping the load of Dolomite or Line Stone to the B&O.  The B&O will move it to interchange with the C&O.  The C&O will move it up, over and down to Carey Ohio to interchange with the ACY.  The ACY will spot it at Nation Lime and Stone yard in Carey until a consist of hoppers with dolomite and lime stone  is ready to move back to the Steel Mills in Youngstown (only second to Pittsburgh in steel production).

Ron

@coach joe posted:

Andy, have you gotten rid of all the 3 rail stuff yet?  Did you convert any of it to 2 rail or is it all waiting in a closet planning to take back i's place on a layout once again?

The engines in this post I have held on to. I need something to shove around all my O27 double door 6014 style boxcars. I keep a little 3 rail loop for the 🎄.  Still slowly filling in gaps in my collection. I finished the Toys R Us/ Kaybee Toy and Hobbies collection and I’m still finding new MPC era ones when can get to train shows.

Besides, New York City Apartment closet space is premium. I’m lucky I can have my little switching layout.

Good morning fellow switcher fans!!  You all have some fabulous posts up this morning  Thanks JHZ563 for notching out the throttle and getting us rolling this morning!  Have wonderful weekend everyone!

Today we have some switching activity with a Pennsy 44 tonner and a Patapsco and Back Rivers VO1000.

Pennsy 44 tonner pushes a brand new ( from the factory ) hot metal car back onto the interchange track for pick up by the Patapsco and Back Rivers RR ... which is owned by Bethlehem Steel Corp. Brakeman Bugs Broward rides the step of the locomotive and will step off to uncouple the car momentarily.

Now coupled to the P&BR VO1000 the hot metal car is on its' way to the steel plant.

Later, the 44 tonner is seen as it's about to couple to its' caboose after spotting two hoppers onto the team track.

Pushing hoppers onto the team track.

Moving some brew on a switcher Saturday!

Well good morning (or afternoon) SwSat fans.  Great pictures everyone, this is one of my favorite threads and one of the most popular so we see a lot of different new things, its Super!  Well my contribution today is modest, but it may illustrate how far the hobby has come in nearly 50 years.  This little steam switcher is from 1973-1975, the early years of Lionel's first licensee Mills Product Corporation or MPC.  The # 8300 Santa Fe 2-4-0 went on to spawn many look a like's in the early 70's differing mostly in the way the tender was lettered.  So her she is, the hard working #8300 :

Here she is just with her slope back tender.

Here she is with a simple caboose hop

Best Wishes for the rest of the weekend and the upcoming week.

Don

Love the videos and pics.  Nice units being displayed.  My entry is the Union Pacific 3DS21B Genset Switcher.  Plus, a short video of the switcher setting up a new consist on a siding.

When I'm running trains, setting up consists is something I do by using the switchers to gather the units from their storage sidings.  And, using them to break down the train.

Have a great weekend.

@Steam Crazy posted:

Hello, SwSat brethren!  The last two Saturdays I talked about inspiration; today it’s hard to come by, so I’m reaching back into the archives.

John

John (aka Steam Crazy),

You post plenty of interesting photos and videos on SWSAT so please find your inspiration again for something new next Saturday. Maybe you just ought to buy a new switcher! A steamer. That usually helps. Do you think you can get one by next week?

MELGAR

Some inspiration for 2023...  https://youtu.be/5PmSaZT0Pkk

Here are two switchers that were operating on the O Scale Central 2-rail modular railroad at the 2022 NMRA national convention in St. Louis this past August.  Both engines are DCC controlled.  The modular layout is 36 feet long and is based on Tony Koester's Wingate modular layout that was built for a series of Model Railroader articles.  NH Joe

Just got this little Tropicana GE 70-tonner:

As the video shows, she runs great in reverse, even pulling 12 cars. Forward is a problem, though, as it seems each truck's motor runs at a slightly different speed, causing "jerky" operation at low speed. I've seen elsewhere on this forum where wiring the two motors in series gives better low speed operation. Does anyone know whether series wiring will better synchronize the motor speeds, as well?

@Don McErlean posted:

Well good morning (or afternoon) SwSat fans.  Great pictures everyone, this is one of my favorite threads and one of the most popular so we see a lot of different new things, its Super!  Well my contribution today is modest, but it may illustrate how far the hobby has come in nearly 50 years.  This little steam switcher is from 1973-1975, the early years of Lionel's first licensee Mills Product Corporation or MPC.  The # 8300 Santa Fe 2-4-0 went on to spawn many look a like's in the early 70's differing mostly in the way the tender was lettered.  So her she is, the hard working #8300 :

Here she is just with her slope back tender.

Here she is with a simple caboose hop

Best Wishes for the rest of the weekend and the upcoming week.

Don

Thanks for more enlightenment, Don. While the General Mills/MPC/Fundimensions era (a cereal company making model trains?!) may not have been Lionel's best, it was their Blue Comet Hudson, which I've posted about on FEF, that got me into 3-railing, so I'm ever grateful for that.

@SIRT posted:

Some inspiration for 2023...  https://youtu.be/5PmSaZT0Pkk

@SIRT,

Oh boy, I've gotta go to Odessa, FL.  That looks like a lot of fun and you can learn a lot.

Thanks for posting this ink.

Wood

I was in Wenatchee, WA this past summer.  The Army engine was displayed in the Riverfront Park.  Wenatchee is the apple capital of the world.  It is located on the east side of the Cascade Mountains on the Columbia River.  NH Joe

@New Haven Joe posted:

I was in Wenatchee, WA this past summer.  The Army engine was displayed in the Riverfront Park.  Wenatchee is the apple capital of the world.  It is located on the east side of the Cascade Mountains on the Columbia River.  NH Joe

I imagine she saw quite a bit in the last year or so of WWII. Good to see she's in a peaceful place now. I hope there are restoration plans afoot...

@Bill Swatos posted:

Just got this little Tropicana GE 70-tonner:

As the video shows, she runs great in reverse, even pulling 12 cars. Forward is a problem, though, as it seems each truck's motor runs at a slightly different speed, causing "jerky" operation at low speed. I've seen elsewhere on this forum where wiring the two motors in series gives better low speed operation. Does anyone know whether series wiring will better synchronize the motor speeds, as well?

I bought one of these models recently. It runs very smoothly at low speeds at a remarkably low current of 0.1 Amp. It should not be necessary to change the motor wiring to series. Run the model (no cars) at higher speeds in each direction to break in. Check traction tires and pickups. Twelve cars is a lot...

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

I bought one of these models recently. It runs very smoothly at low speeds at a remarkably low current of 0.1 Amp. It should not be necessary to change the motor wiring to series. Run the model (no cars) at higher speeds in each direction to break in. Check traction tires and pickups. Twelve cars is a lot...

MELGAR

Thanks, I'll try running in forward for 30 min. at about 40 scale mph while watching a show as she's very quiet. It's just strange that reverse is so smooth unloaded while forward is "jerky" unloaded at the same throttle setting on my Z-1000. What power are you using?

MELGAR, I'm glad to hear you enjoy my posts, as I enjoy yours.  You hit the nail on the head, the last three engines I've bought are diesels, so I'm definitely due for a steamer.  Now all you have to do is tell me how to convince my wife I need another engine!

John

PS  I was down at the layout tonight ; I have an idea for next Saturday's post.

@Wood posted:

@SIRT,

Oh boy, I've gotta go to Odessa, FL.  That looks like a lot of fun and you can learn a lot.

Thanks for posting this ink.

Wood

Lost their building lease a few months back. Closed now.

Probably will see them at a future location. I did shows with them around 2001.

@SIRT posted:

Lost their building lease a few months back. Closed now.

Probably will see them at a future location. I did shows with them around 2001.

What a shame.  I remember seeing a post about the facility several years ago. Thanks for letting me know.

@Bill Swatos posted:

Thanks, I'll try running in forward for 30 min. at about 40 scale mph while watching a show as she's very quiet. It's just strange that reverse is so smooth unloaded while forward is "jerky" unloaded at the same throttle setting on my Z-1000. What power are you using?

Bill- I also have the Rutland 70. Mine runs smooth like Mel's. Since it's new, contact the seller and see if you can exchange it. The 44 ton I posted today is also a Williams and it runs well too.

Bob

@Bill Swatos posted:

Thanks, I'll try running in forward for 30 min. at about 40 scale mph while watching a show as she's very quiet. It's just strange that reverse is so smooth unloaded while forward is "jerky" unloaded at the same throttle setting on my Z-1000. What power are you using?

Bill,

MTH Z4000. If the model runs smoothly in reverse and jerkily forward, I don't think the problem is the transformer. Let us hear what happens. Maybe post a video on SWSAT next week.

MELGAR

@RSJB18 posted:

Happy SWSat!

The GE 44-ton switcher is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Electric between 1940 and 1956. It was designed for industrial and light switching duties, often replacing steam locomotives that had previously been assigned these chores. The 44-ton locomotive was designed to abrogate the 90,000 pound rule as the steam to diesel transition was starting to grow. GE built 276 of this locomotive for U. S. railroads and industries. Other manufacturers also built 44-ton switchers of center-cab configuration.

My model of the humble GE 44 Ton diesel locomotive is in action this week. The crew on Pennsy 9331 are picking up some ore cars and a couple of box cars to bring to the interchange yard. This model is by Williams with Tru-blast + sound. It's a very nice conventional loco, just be careful around the plastic handrails, they are very fra-gieel-lay!
The fixed pilots are a nice feature that Williams did on these and the 70 ton models. It does present some problems on my 027 curves but I've modified the couplers slightly to reduce the tension on the pivot.

Have a great weekend!

Bob

Bob, what mods did you make to the couplers of your 44-tonner? I've got their 70-ton that I'm having a devil of a time with on the coupler travel and centering. First off, the curved groove that the guide pin on the coupler rides in does not allow enough side-to-side travel to prevent occasional derailments of the first car on 036 curves. Second, the torsion spring that is intended to keep the coupler centered is "reversed," namely, it twists tighter when the coupler moves all the way to one side or the other, resulting in permanent bending of the torsion spring "legs" outward which, in turn, leaves side-to-side "play" in the coupler position. Another poster in a different thread mentioned extending the guide grooves with a router bit on a Dremel tool to get more travel, but that won't solve the torsion spring problem; it would seem to make it worse.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Bill, I also have a Williams 70 tonner.  The first time I ran it on my O-31 curves it went around with no problems, but the second time the lead car derailed due to the lack of coupler travel.  What was the difference?

A different car behind the engine.  The first time I had a Lionel reefer coupled up; the second, a MTH boxcar.

Try pulling some different cars in your collection to see if that helps,  Good luck!

BTW, I’ve had no coupler travel problems with my Williams 44 tonner.  The 44 also starts and stops better than the 70.  Pulling a heavy train with the 70 helps, but it still starts and stops with a jerk (but runs smoothly otherwise).

John

@Bill Swatos posted:

Bob, what mods did you make to the couplers of your 44-tonner? I've got their 70-ton that I'm having a devil of a time with on the coupler travel and centering. First off, the curved groove that the guide pin on the coupler rides in does not allow enough side-to-side travel to prevent occasional derailments of the first car on 036 curves. Second, the torsion spring that is intended to keep the coupler centered is "reversed," namely, it twists tighter when the coupler moves all the way to one side or the other, resulting in permanent bending of the torsion spring "legs" outward which, in turn, leaves side-to-side "play" in the coupler position. Another poster in a different thread mentioned extending the guide grooves with a router bit on a Dremel tool to get more travel, but that won't solve the torsion spring problem; it would seem to make it worse.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Hi Bill- Sent you an email.

Bob

@Steam Crazy posted:

Bill, I also have a Williams 70 tonner.  The first time I ran it on my O-31 curves it went around with no problems, but the second time the lead car derailed due to the lack of coupler travel.  What was the difference?

A different car behind the engine.  The first time I had a Lionel reefer coupled up; the second, a MTH boxcar.

Try pulling some different cars in your collection to see if that helps,  Good luck!

BTW, I’ve had no coupler travel problems with my Williams 44 tonner.  The 44 also starts and stops better than the 70.  Pulling a heavy train with the 70 helps, but it still starts and stops with a jerk (but runs smoothly otherwise).

John

Cars with longer couplers helps too.

Bob, I think you "hit the nail on the head", cars with longer coupler shanks will make up for the 70 tonner's lack of coupler clearance.

John

@Bill Swatos posted:

Just got this little Tropicana GE 70-tonner:

....she runs great in reverse, even pulling 12 cars. Forward is a problem, though, as it seems each truck's motor runs at a slightly different speed, causing "jerky" operation at low speed....

Bill,

Has the "jerky" operation at low speed been resolved on your GE 70 ton model?

MELGAR

Bill, the motors in my Williams Alco FA ran at different speeds when I got it.  The front motor started first, them the rear.  It ran fairly smooth once both motors were running, but the rear one got hot.

I checked for proper lubrication, gears binding and sources of friction, like a sideframe rubbing on a wheel, but found no problems.  I ended up returning it under warranty;  Williams replaced both motors.  It runs perfect now.

John