Switcher Saturday: 2019-Jun-22

I bought a derelict GM switcher last week and restoration is just on the way. I always dreamed to have one as it is an all die cast model and I am very pleased with it. Maybe be it is the only one in France and i am sure it will have some success in train shows. I hope to present the finished model next Saturday.... Still have to make a choice, Pennsy or NYC or maybe something less common...

Have a nice weekend,  Daniel

New York Central SW-1500 #9654 (MTH 30-2217-1 with PS2) appeared in the 2001 Volume 1 catalog. I purchased this model when it was released and hadn’t run it in many years, so I opened it up to replace the battery and found that I had installed a BCR. I put the shell back on, coupled up NYC caboose #19654 - also by MTH – applied power to let the BCR charge for a minute, and off they went at 24 scale mph. The engine is #9654 and the caboose is #19654. Did the New York Central or MTH realize they had such similar numbers?

MELGAR

Yay! SWSat is in the “on” position!

Off to a great start this AM. Rich @Murnane that GP 30 looks awesome. How do you like it? Tempting. Daniel @FRENCHTRAINS those General Models diecast switchers are great and worth restoring. Thomas industries made third rail rollers for them. Can you see the makers mark on the roller?As far as roadnames if you like NYC and or Pennsy why not make it a PennCentral? A nice weathered unit with the old paint coming back through would look cool. @MELGAR that is a nice looking pair. Funny about the numbers I don’t have my books at hand so I have no idea if they are prototype based or just lazy.

I was timing a swim meet all weekend last week up in the Bronx and got some pics of some nice MTA GE units in the yard up there.  This is probably the most end cabs I have seen in a row. 

Here is a personal record of 7 units in one picture.

A little peek into the car shop  

Later in the week a work train in transit 

I am making some slow progress on my NYC Tri-power. I got borrowed the one truck side frame from a friend and had a mold made with 4 more cast in brass. The guy did a quick turnaround and I got them (and 8 more) back in a week. My first try to do something like this.

Original 1930’s pice on the top and new 2019 brass castings below. I would not do this for a currently manufactured piece not trying to rip anyone off but this one was so long gone and obscure. I will still need to make 3rd rail  shoes as that was one of the three power sources in the name. You can tell the new ones are very slightly smaller as well.

Last up a new to me O scale 2 rail Varney B&O B18 ten wheeler. It still needs a front coupler and handrails to do much switching on the NYSME layout.

Looking at this model really helped me figure out some strategies for how to complete some of my other models. The finish on the cab and tender with rounded wire finishing the edges looks great and has a much better finish. Also all of the brakes are functional. I can’t imagine how to do that on the models I am building. Baby steps. 

Andy, I know that yard(s) well.  I grew up two blocks away on Villa Ave.  Was the swim meet at Lehman College?

Silver Lake posted:

Yay! SWSat is in the “on” position!

Off to a great start this AM. Rich @Murnane that GP 30 looks awesome. How do you like it? Tempting. Daniel @FRENCHTRAINS those General Models diecast switchers are great and worth restoring. Thomas industries made third rail rollers for them. Can you see the makers mark on the roller?As far as roadnames if you like NYC and or Pennsy why not make it a PennCentral? A nice weathered unit with the old paint coming back through would look cool. @MELGAR that is a nice looking pair. Funny about the numbers I don’t have my books at hand so I have no idea if they are prototype based or just lazy.

I

Good idea, but finding PennCentral decals in France is near impossible, I just repainted it all black as it was originally. I have to think about it and look on eBay for decals.

It's a three rail one, look at the second picture, i think it has been equiped with Lionel rollers, Thomas ones are different I think

Very best, Daniel

coach joe posted:

Andy, I know that yard(s) well.  I grew up two blocks away on Villa Ave.  Was the swim meet at Lehman College?

You got it in one Joe. Lehman college has a very nice pretty new  pool. The commute from the B/D is not so bad with the distraction of the walk across the storage yard.  You are right about Yard(s) on the other side of the road are the narrower cars from the 4 train.

Here are a few more with the car wash ironically next to the automobile car wash. 

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

briansilvermustang posted:

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

Love this one. It looks like a boxcar end was cut down. Very Cool. 

Good morning fellow SWsat friends!!   You guys have some great stuff up already!

Rich - very nice looking WbB GP-30!   Andy - Love all those photos of the subway yard! 

Frenchtrains - I can't wait to see your finished product next Saturday!  Melgar - I love your SW 1500  with caboose posed on the trestle!  

Today on the FSJR, we start with  a B&O GP9 leading an F3 on the point of a long freight. 

Maryland Short Line Railroads of the post WW2 period gather for a photo.  In order is the Baltimore & Annapolis SW9, Patapsco & Back Rivers VO1000, Canton SW1500, and Maryland & Pennsylvania SW 1. 

B&O Switchers at the ready.

MTH WM BL2 and a Williams 44 tonner ( imitation of the PW Lionel 44 tonner ) w/ crews. 

Have a terrific weekend everyone!!!!!

Brian Silvermustang -  wonderful photos of switchers doing their thing! Especially love the one of the SW1 receiving fuel from the Mack fuel truck.   Prototypical of the way things were done back then  and very modelable ( is that even a word? LOL! ).  

Happy SWSat!

Great switcher stuff everyone!

Some more NY Central action this week.

Bob

Happy Switcher Saturday everyone!

Happy Switcher Saturday everyone! Great pictures, all. 

Here is my panning shot of my Lionel prewar #228, check out those round pegs that show as ovals in the picture :

If any of you belong to the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society, I have an article in the latest edition (Summer 2019) of their quarterly magazine, The Keystone.  I will give you a hint and say it is about a certain class of Pennsylvania Railroad switchers that have slope-back tenders! 

If you don't belong already, it is a wonderful historical society and this issue is one of the best (even if you took mine out of the issue). Coverage of the T-1 and a rubber-tired Budd-Michelin project are just 2 of the stories. 

Going out to run errands now...

Tom 

                                   Late era details, no footboards, correct horn placement and firecracker antenna.

Some Marx switchers in my collection....

Peter

I'm with Andy, that NP thing looks great, whatever it is.

Silver Lake posted:

briansilvermustang posted:

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

Love this one. It looks like a boxcar end was cut down. Very Cool. 

It looks like the cab of a Doodlebug and the rear part being a slug...just my two cents though...so a Doodle-slug? 

Tom 

I got this from a good friend of mine whose stepdad was a conductor and I was a breakman back in 77, the road was the Monessen-Southwestern Railroad. it served the operations of Wheeling-Pittsburgh steel Corp.