Switcher Saturday: 2019-April-27

Yay! SWSat is on and jumping through time!

Last week I was traveling with family. We were visiting friends in Montréal, Canada. We took Amtrak train 68/69 from Penn Sta. Really a great train ride. Along the Hudson to Albany ,(a hop out there to run upstairs to get a D&H Bridgeline Historical Society newsletter in the newsstand as the engine is changed) then up to Lake Champlain and along that to Canada. 

Montréal  is a very neat town with a lot of history and a lot of train things to do. We stayed near the LaSalle Metro Station and I caught a lot of train moves in the CN yards  between  that neighborhood and the river.

I also took a day for myself to take the bus out to Exporail the world class train museum across the River. 

This is the Port of  Montréal switcher and slug in action on a grain train by the Molson brewery. 

This wonderful 2-4-0 serves as the “sign” for Exporail.

Crossing a tributary to Lake Champlain from the vestibule.

Follows a trio of end cab Switchers at Exporail in various states of repair. I fully plan to return to see it when all of the buildings are open. I missed some things I really want to see. Some very early diesels, a British A1x, a LNER A4, a Wagner Palace car among others.This EMD looked freshly restored.

This little guy was the CN shop switcher it sits on a tiny turntable.

Here is a nice GE 70 tonner.

Last up one of the museums claims to fame. The last FM Trainmaster. I know most people don’t think of these as switchers but I will always associate  them with the cut down slugs they became on Norfolk Western at Lamberts Point VA.

Have a great weekend. I can’t wait to see what you guys post.

Happy Switcher Saturday everyone.

I picked up my first clockwork (wind-up) locomotive and my first British locomotive all in one this week.

It is a Hornby No. 101 tank engine, lettered for the LNER, the London and North Eastern Railway. The box it came in apparently is not correct.

While it does run, it is slow, so it may need a little cleaning and "earl" as my father used to call "oil."

Tom 
 

The 'Grey Ghost' GP on point this morning, filling in for the venerable SW that had to go back to the shops. Moving a recently interchanged M&E hopper, along with some merchandise freight.

Not to go off topic, but I recently added a Lionel Radio tower with Bluetooth. In a moment of nostalgia, I found some air checks online of WABC radio (770 AM) and played them through the tower while running my current trains. Brought back memories listening to that station as a kid, as I was 'playing' with my HO trains in my parents basement in the 70's. 

Nice report on Exporail Silver Lake, I was there four years ago and also enjoyed the visit during a full day, there is so many pieces to look at.

Buy of the week is a lovely 060 steam engine made by ETS. It needs to have couplers replaced and the brass whistle on top of the cab is missing, it will be done when I receive the parts from the manufacturer. Note that the front doors on the smoke box may be opened, even if there is nothing to clean.... on an electric model.

Daniel

Happy SWSAT!

Spottng a reefer car to be load with fresh California produce from the Wotham Warehouse. I give thanks to my Beautiful camera Lady my youngest daughter who helped me last night to make it happen.

I began collecting Atlas O EMD SW diesel switchers when they first were offered around 2000. I liked their scale details and diecast trucks, chassis and hood. This is just a part of my collection, although it shows every paint scheme that I have. The Boston & Maine versions were part of the first run. New York Central 9606 and Conrail 8606 were the same engine under different ownership.

MELGAR

Happy SWSat!

Another Saturday with the switchers is here. This week in honor of the 185th Anniversary of the Long Island RR I thought I'd share some photos of the varied forms of motive power they have used over the years. Today the LIRR is mainly a electric or diesel/electric commuter railroad but back in the early days they ran a varied fleet of locomotives. Once owned by the PRR they had a huge fleet of PRR steam, including a G-5 # 39 that is one of the last in existence today and is at Strasburg hoping to be restored one day.

A C-420 on the Montauk Branch on the Hillside Viaduct.

An RS-1 at Babylon 1966

A pair of GP-38-2's at Long Island City 1979

MP-15's (location unknown)

Another C-420 #210 on the Greenport Turntable 1966

A 4-6-0 #141 on the TT at the Morris Park shops

A 4-4-0 Atlantic #46 in Jamaica

403 A & B Box Cabs and the ladies who ran them during WW II 1942

Morris Park TT and Shops 1946

A-1 Electric Shop Switcher Morris Park 1940

Have a great weekend,

Bob

Happy SWSAT!  Here's one from the archives:

Tom

Wow!  we’re only in 2hrs of SWSAT and I’m already drooling over the post. Great stuff guys. 

RSJB18 posted:

Happy SWSat!

Another Saturday with the switchers is here. This week in honor of the 185th Anniversary of the Long Island RR I thought I'd share some photos of the varied forms of motive power they have used over the years. Today the LIRR is mainly a electric or diesel/electric commuter railroad but back in the early days they ran a varied fleet of locomotives. Once owned by the PRR they had a huge fleet of PRR steam, including a G-5 # 39 that is one of the last in existence today and is at Strasburg hoping to be restored one day.

 

 

 

 

 

403 A & B Box Cabs and the ladies who ran them during WW II 1942

Morris Park TT and Shops 1946

 

Have a great weekend,

Bob

 

Hi Bob,

  Very nice...I especially liked these 2 photos. Where did you find the picture of the WWII era women LIRR workers if I can ask? I became interested in this subject after writing this cover story a few years ago...

Also, nice to see at least a couple of slope back tenders poking out of the LIRR roundhouse photo.

Tom 

RSJB18,

Very nice LIRR photos today!

MELGAR

Tom- I googled LIRR Historical Photos and found all sorts of great stuff. Can't find the exact site again but try this

http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirrphotos/lirrphotos.htm

or this

http://sbiii.com/lirrndex.html

good morning switchers!

Builders photo of LIRR 0-6-0 #198

Jamaica NY -1935  0-8-0 #258

unknown date and place 0-8-0 #269

SR&N 408 ~ Museum of Transport, St.Louis, Mo. Rusty. Photograph is mine.

Good morning SWSAT friends!!  Holy cow!  All this great information and wonderful photos this morning from all of you!!!   Rich - thanks for getting us going down the track this morning!! Got to love that A5!!  I've had mine running on the FSJR since I purchased it back in early Feb.  

Andy Silverlake -  Great photos!  I was in Montreal 4 or so times and never realized all the train stuff to do.   I did visit a model train shop though ( they sold mostly MTH ).  Next time I'm in Montreal I'll check out the museum ... thanks to you!

RSJB - all of your photos ( I especially like the one with the women railroad workers ) and fabulous info have definitely made me aware that I do not own one piece of LIRR rolling stock on my railroad.   The FSJRR procurement dept. has been instructed to keep on the lookout for a LIRR piece or two.

Lee - your photographer did a splendid job!   Don't ever let her go!

French Trains - I really like those switchers!!

MELGAR - you have a terrific fleet of switchers!  Got to love that trestle too!

Tom - Your Hornby tank switcher looks great!!  

DaveP - very nice layout!!

Bill T - very nice photo of the RS and calf unit!!  

Today on the Free State Junction Railway, the roving photographer snapped some photos of a B&O SW 9 ( local switch job ) , a Pennsy A5 ( pulling a transfer job and taking on water ) , and B&O Dockside ( pulling a quarry train )  going about their duties.    Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!! 

Head’s up to SoCal folks: today and tomorrow is the Old-Time Railroad Festival on the Fillmore and Western RR in Fillmore, CA. This quaint town is an easy drive from either the I-5 or the 101 on SR126. 

Always a treat with steam locos and diesels operating, vendors, displays, an operating turntable and more. 

It’s FREE admission. Only cost is if you choose to ride the train. Great family event in the beautiful Santa Clara River Valley.

And, yes, they have a couple of diesel switchers! Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation does excursion trips both days. Visiting German steam switcher is a besuty; they had here running on a short length of temporary track!

Went this morning - pictures are from today’s event. (Yes, that’s me in the one.) A fun time was had by me!

MELGAR posted:

I began collecting Atlas O EMD SW diesel switchers when they first were offered around 2000. I liked their scale details and diecast trucks, chassis and hood. This is just a part of my collection, although it shows every paint scheme that I have. The Boston & Maine versions were part of the first run. New York Central 9606 and Conrail 8606 were the same engine under different ownership.

MELGAR

Mel 

that trestle gets me every time great lineup this week  

trumptrain posted:

Good morning SWSAT friends!!  Holy cow!  All this great information and wonderful photos this morning from all of you!!!   Rich - thanks for getting us going down the track this morning!! Got to love that A5!!  I've had mine running on the FSJR since I purchased it back in early Feb.  

Andy Silverlake -  Great photos!  I was in Montreal 4 or so times and never realized all the train stuff to do.   I did visit a model train shop though ( they sold mostly MTH ).  Next time I'm in Montreal I'll check out the museum ... thanks to you!

RSJB - all of your photos ( I especially like the one with the women railroad workers ) and fabulous info have definitely made me aware that I do not own one piece of LIRR rolling stock on my railroad.   The FSJRR procurement dept. has been instructed to keep on the lookout for a LIRR piece or two.

Lee - your photographer did a splendid job!   Don't ever let her go!

French Trains - I really like those switchers!!

MELGAR - you have a terrific fleet of switchers!  Got to love that trestle too!

Tom - Your Hornby tank switcher looks great!!  

DaveP - very nice layout!!

Bill T - very nice photo of the RS and calf unit!!  

Today on the Free State Junction Railway, the roving photographer snapped some photos of a B&O SW 9 ( local switch job ) , a Pennsy A5 ( pulling a transfer job and taking on water ) , and B&O Dockside ( pulling a quarry train )  going about their duties.    Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!! 

Thanks Pat I won’t. Trying to keep her out of her phone more these days. Great lineup today, my favorite is the street pic with the Switcher in it.

MELGAR posted:

RSJB18,

Very nice LIRR photos today!

MELGAR

 

I agreed with Mel. Great History lesson and a great pic of your RS.

Tom Densel posted:

Happy SWSAT!  Here's one from the archives:

Tom

Great pic tom! 

As Bob has previously mentioned, to celebrate the 185th anniversary, here are a few pictures of the Long Island Rail Road, past and on my layout. 

Andy

Well, well, lookit' what the Postman brought me in time for Switcher Saturday:

While I haven't seen 1545 I have seen several of her cousins while walking in Boyce Park. 

I have to say I'm an instant convert to MTH can motors and full electronics. Even on conventional power this thing crawls with 10 cars, never changing speed even on an O36 curve.

Ima' order a DCS Remote Commander pronto so I can try out DCS. This is exciting stuff for an old (PW) guy.

Lew

I think the posts on today's SWSAT have been outstanding - so I'll include one more for the LIRR. But, I'm saving my LIRR A5 0-4-0 switcher for next week.

MELGAR

lee drennen posted:

trumptrain posted:

Thanks Pat I won’t. Trying to keep her out of her phone more these days. Great lineup today, my favorite is the street pic with the Switcher in it.

That struggle is real. I have a 14 year old who is impossible to keep off that thing. It is like it is a part of him. 

Here is another shot of the Port de Montréal Railway RP20BD 1001 and slug shoving a cut of grain cars.

PRR 44 tonner

PRR's first diesel-all 500 HP of it.

Rare PRR tank engine

Taking a break from yard work....lot's of great pix this afternoon. Great LIRR stuff too Andy, and Mel.
Steamer Dave never disappoints either.

Mel- who makes the blue/ orange RS-3? Never seen that color combination before.

Bob

RSJB18 posted:

Mel- who makes the blue/ orange RS-3? Never seen that color combination before.

Bob

A K-Line RS-3 that has matching heavyweight passenger cars.

MELGAR

MELGAR posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Mel- who makes the blue/ orange RS-3? Never seen that color combination before.

Bob

A K-Line RS-3 that has matching heavyweight passenger cars.

MELGAR

K-line, perfect! One of my favorite mfrs. Gotta keep my eye out for one.

Would go well with my Greenport Scoot set.

Thanks

Great pics this week especially the LIRR..!!!

Thanks for sharing

FRENCHTRAINS posted:

Nice report on Exporail Silver Lake, I was there four years ago and also enjoyed the visit during a full day, there is so many pieces to look at.

Buy of the week is a lovely 060 steam engine made by ETS. It needs to have couplers replaced and the brass whistle on top of the cab is missing, it will be done when I receive the parts from the manufacturer. Note that the front doors on the smoke box may be opened, even if there is nothing to clean.... on an electric model.

Daniel

Very nice locomotive.  May I inquire; is that JEP track it rests on?

Lou N

Dave Warburton posted:

Head’s up to SoCal folks: today and tomorrow is the Old-Time Railroad Festival on the Fillmore and Western RR in Fillmore, CA. This quaint town is an easy drive from either the I-5 or the 101 on SR126. 

Always a treat with steam locos and diesels operating, vendors, displays, an operating turntable and more. 

It’s FREE admission. Only cost is if you choose to ride the train. Great family event in the beautiful Santa Clara River Valley.

And, yes, they have a couple of diesel switchers! Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation does excursion trips both days. Visiting German steam switcher is a besuty; they had here running on a short length of temporary track!

Went this morning - pictures are from today’s event. (Yes, that’s me in the one.) A fun time was had by me!

Nice to see it running, someone told me it was closed down.

John Pignatelli JR. posted:

Dave Warburton posted:

Head’s up to SoCal folks: today and tomorrow is the Old-Time Railroad Festival on the Fillmore and Western RR in Fillmore, CA. This quaint town is an easy drive from either the I-5 or the 101 on SR126. 

Always a treat with steam locos and diesels operating, vendors, displays, an operating turntable and more. 

It’s FREE admission. Only cost is if you choose to ride the train. Great family event in the beautiful Santa Clara River Valley.

And, yes, they have a couple of diesel switchers! Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation does excursion trips both days. Visiting German steam switcher is a besuty; they had here running on a short length of temporary track!

Went this morning - pictures are from today’s event. (Yes, that’s me in the one.) A fun time was had by me!

Nice to see it running, someone told me it was closed down.

There was some talk about it closing a couple of years ago, but the Fillmore & Western seems to be rolling along OK at the moment. They host a lot of excursion runs, dinner trains, holiday runs, etc. and, of course, there is good money to be made for Hollywood film work. 

Long may she run!

Lou N posted:

FRENCHTRAINS posted:

Nice report on Exporail Silver Lake, I was there four years ago and also enjoyed the visit during a full day, there is so many pieces to look at.

Buy of the week is a lovely 060 steam engine made by ETS. It needs to have couplers replaced and the brass whistle on top of the cab is missing, it will be done when I receive the parts from the manufacturer. Note that the front doors on the smoke box may be opened, even if there is nothing to clean.... on an electric model.

Daniel

Very nice locomotive.  May I inquire; is that JEP track it rests on?

Lou N

Thanks, it is a replica of JEP tracks and I use it for temporary layouts on the floor.

Very best, Daniel

Great pictures and posts this week everyone, thank you for jumping on the SWSAT train.

@Silver Lake - Andy, great pictures & looks like it was a really fun trip.

@PRR8976 - Tom, that little critter looks like fun

@DaveP - I like that NYC grey ghost very much.  Also like the idea of the tower with old sound clippings.  I listen to a small transistor radio when I'm down in my basement working at the workbench or running trains, my kids laugh because the thing has an antenna and everything, I just love the non-digital sound for some reason.

@FRENCHTRAINS - great little switcher you have there Daniel, every time someone posts an ETS train on SWSAT I feel like jumping on eBay and getting out the credit card.

@lee drennen - please send some of that "fresh California produce from the Wotham Warehouse" to Virginia, care of the yardmaster at the Richmond, Chesapeake, Hudson Yard.  Your kid looks to be having fun, my daughters who appear close to yours in age have varying degrees of interest in helping their crazy father with the trains.  

@MELGAR - here's a favorite picture of my Atlas-O SW (B&O) - it needs a new speaker so it's been sitting on a siding for a couple months now while I figure out if I should try to repair it myself or get someone to do for me.  The backdrop of this picture is a series of other pictures I clipped from magazines or printed from the web, it was fun to do but I think I spent quite a bit of time on this early one Saturday morning a couple years ago, just to get one good picture, too funny.

@Bill T - Great picture Bill, NP RS unit with a calf, pretty cool.  Side note: I'm also impressed with your shelving and organization of all your boxes (in the background), you are clearly a hundred times more organized than I am, well done!

@RSJB18 - LIRR "Dashing Dan" rocking this week's SWSAT - makes me a little "homesick" I have to admit, I think I'm heading up on Memorial Day for a visit though (I commuted from Bayville Long Island to midtown for 4-5 yrs after college - Oyster Bay line mostly, or the Syosset/Hicksville stations).  Great collection of pics and such, great post this week!

@Tom Densel - great Black & White picture Tom - thank you for sharing it!

@Steamer Dave - Jumping on the LIRR train this week too - where the heck do you find all these cool old pictures?  Your Google-Kung-Foo is legendary status!  I spent many hours at the Jamaica station in Queens NY (changing trains) over the years, it's nice to see some cool historic pictures of the place for sure.

@Diverging Clear - I can't recall ever hearing of SR&N before, going to have to look it up - great picture!

@trumptrain - Patrick, very well done!  Great pictures this week as always, thanks for posting and I think you've inspired me to try to weather my #94, I'll put that on my to-do list for sure!

@Dave Warburton - jeez that looks like fun!  Thank you for posting, maybe some other folks will go with you next year (SWSAT "field trip"?)

@Steamfan77 - I can't tell you how glad I am for your posts and your layout "project", this picture of Locust Valley "hits home" because that is exactly where I used to pick up the LIRR from (also went to Locust Valley High School, etc...).  While many things have changed over the years, the overall "feel" of this picture really represents how the station area was when I commuted in the late 1990s, and still is today.  Most of the old buildings are still there, just a great little town where the train and station are nicely integrated with the landscape, thanks again for posting.

@geysergazer - Hey Lew, congrats on the new addition to the fleet, be mindful though that new purchases tend to lead to additional new purchases and even more after that!  :-)    I hope you enjoy the new engine, it looks great and I'm looking forward to seeing additional pictures of it here on SWSAT.

@Soo Nut - two great pictures straight from "Cream City"!  Really nice engines, just the right amount of "grit" or "weathering", would make great models for sure.

@Randy Harrison - great pictures Randy, I can't recall seeing a PRR tank engine before, great find!

Well, I think that's a "wrap" for SWSAT this week, see you all next week and if I missed your name in this "summary" I'm sorry, there were so many good posts it was hard to dig through it all!

Have a great rest of your weekend...Rich 

Thanks Rich. Yea this was a banner SWSat for sure. See you all next week.

Bob

Thanks for the kind words Rich. Always happy to post some Long Island pictures to bring back some memories. I will be building the Locust Tower, Nassau-Suffolk Lumber, and the Locust Valley station in the future. 

Andy

Steamfan77 posted:

Thanks for the kind words Rich. Always happy to post some Long Island pictures to bring back some memories. I will be building the Locust Tower, Nassau-Suffolk Lumber, and the Locust Valley station in the future. 

Andy

Hi Andy, maybe you can place a figure of a young man with glasses, wearing an ill-fitted suit carrying a cheap briefcase waiting at the station - in honor of my post-college "Dashing Dan" days!  :-)