Switcher Saturday 3-25-2023

Good morning, SwSat fans!  Last Saturday, while filming the ATS&F scrap train, your Yardmaster had a pleasant surprise.  A Union Pacific local freight, headed by EMD GP20 no. 475, passes on the opposite track.

John

Good morning fellow switcher fans!   Thanks JHZ563 for getting us rolling this morning! Nice pic of the scale test car.  I have a pic of one in my line up today too.  Basically today's photos come from the archives and are dedicated to the EMD SW type switchers ... SW9 and SW1. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone posts today.   Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

New York Central System 0-6-0 #231 is an MTH Premier model (20-3281-1) listed in the 2007 Volume 2 Catalog at MSRP $599.95 with 3-volt PS2, in which I installed a BCR2. It is built to the 0-6-0 steam switcher design developed by the United States Railroad Administration during World War 1.

The tooling for this engine has been sold to Lionel and used on its recently released Legacy version. The MTH model is highly detailed and runs very smoothly.

Chicago River and Indiana Railroad (CR&IRR) #231 was one of 14 USRA 0-6-0 switchers in New York Central’s B-62 class which, I believe, were the only USRA 0-6-0 switcher locomotives on the New York Central System. The engine weight was 165,000 pounds and the tender weight was 144,000 pounds. It operated at a boiler pressure of 190 pounds-per-square-inch on 51-inch driving wheels with a tractive effort of 39,100 pounds.

The videos were taken on my 10’-by-5’ layout (O-54 curves) with the engine running at 16 scale miles-per-hour forward and 11 scale miles-per-hour in reverse.

MELGAR

Happy Switcher Saturday.

Night traffic in Maine.

My RailScope Geep ( which I use as a reliable twin can-motored road switcher with an attractive paint scheme), is bringing new arrivals to the Bronx Zoo…..

Have a great and safe weekend, folks!

Peter

This is an interesting switcher. Along with a C&O, it was, to the best of my knowledge, the first time Lionel had mated “china drive” to one of their GP7/GP9 frames. Offered only in a set, it was conventional with an electronic horn. I don’t know if it predated the introduction of TMCC. It’s a stump puller, and a great engine for conventional operation.

I had some fun running  conventional along with ps3 on one of the variable powered tracks with my dcs this week. It’s a real blast once you get the hang of it. Here is the conventional  RMT Bang s-4 (a great little engine) moving a load out while the PS3 RS3 waits on the siding -

@Putnam Division posted:

My RailScope Geep ( which I use as a reliable twin can-motored road switcher with an attractive paint scheme), is bringing new arrivals to the Bronx Zoo…..

Have a great and safe weekend, folks!

Peter

Peter - are the cans in the shell, or the trucks? Thanks.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Peter - are the cans in the shell, or the trucks? Thanks.

Don't remember.....will have to look.

Peter

A little action on the layout last night. The MTH made Southern SD35 switching some Lionel rooftop hatch kaolin cars. Have a great weekend everyone!

Sally the Yard Goat making her debut on Switcher Saturday. See the swinging bell:

Arnold

Happy SWSat!

Another weekend is upon us! I'm going to follow @Mark V. Spadaro and his sharp WM Geep. I have a TMCC version of # 23 that I just put back on my layout and programmed into my Cab 1L. By coincidence, I have the same WM covered hopper in too. No fireball logo and different lettering on this one also.

I bought both from @Mark Boyce. Thanks again Mark!

Have a great weekend!

Bob

Good morning SWSAT crew!

Last night I participated in an operating session with several local HO guys.  My assignment was yardmaster at one of the three yards on the layout.  My job was to sort the cars in the yard and assemble outgoing trains, accept incoming trains, work the local industries, and switch the interchange track.  All moves are made with car cards. 

Unfortunately, I was so busy that I never had a chance to shoot any video.  I did manage to grab some still shots after we shut down for the evening:

There were six of us running the layout.  I spent over three hours switching the yard and performing other duties.  Very tedious work, and sometimes frustrating, but I HAD A BLAST!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Tom 

A good Switcher Saturday all.

Premier CSX  Genset heading to the yards for this day's work. God speed to all.

@BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Night traffic in Maine.

Can't say enough about the modeling and lighting here Johan.

Really fantastic.

@RSJB18 posted:

Happy SWSat!

Another weekend is upon us! I'm going to follow @Mark V. Spadaro and his sharp WM Geep. I have a TMCC version of # 23 that I just put back on my layout and programmed into my Cab 1L. By coincidence, I have the same WM covered hopper in tow. No fireball logo and different lettering on this one too.

I bought both from @Mark Boyce. Thanks again Mark!

Have a great weekend!

Bob

Bob, you are quite welcome!  What is so ironic is that a little later @leapinlarry contacted me to see if I was interested in A Legacy WM #21 before he listed it for sale.  😄  He offered it at a price that was too good to pass up.  Now I will have to get a photograph of it up on this page since you were so kind to mention me!!  👍🏻👍🏻

It's 1951, Mickey Mantle's rookie year. He will be starting in right field with the Yankee Clipper in center.

The fans can't wait to get to the House that Ruth built to see this phenom hayseed from Oklahoma, who hits the ball over the moon and runs like a deer. Some of these fans are taking The Ole Put, shown below, to get to the ballpark with  NY Central RS3 on the point:

Arnold

PS: That's an MTH PS3 NY Central RS3, which was made special run for one of our Forum Sponsors, JR Junction Hobby, and MTH heavyweight Madison NY Central Pullman green passenger cars.

Have a good Switcher of a Saturday all. Support your Troops in Syria

Carload Express / Allegheny Valley Railroad SW1500 switching in Pittsburgh, PA

Here’s a photograph of the Legacy WM GP7 #21 I mentioned earlier in response to Bob’s post showing the #23.  It is just as nice as Bob’s!  

Well SwSat fans, here is one from my archives.  The WBB 44 Ton from Southern moving a little freight from the wharf are to local industries in Small Town.

Best wishes

Don

My newly acquired Lionel RS-27 moving a couple freight cars.

Gene

@Don McErlean posted:

Well SwSat fans, here is one from my archives.  The WBB 44 Ton from Southern moving a little freight from the wharf are to local industries in Small Town.

Best wishes

Don

Don like that tank car tried to pause to get a better look, you were highballing! That new or old stock?

Mark

@Don McErlean posted:

Well SwSat fans, here is one from my archives.  The WBB 44 Ton from Southern moving a little freight from the wharf are to local industries in Small Town.

Best wishes

Don

Great run Don glad you shared it. It’s always a treat to see your videos from your layout I always picture my self looking in a a 1950-60s Hobby shop.

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Can't say enough about the modeling and lighting here Johan.

Really fantastic.

Dallas,

Thank you. I am satisfied that now the lighting of the three modules has mostly been connected. It again inspires me to "night photography". Adjustable LED lighting also runs above the modules.

Johan

@Sitka- No the tank car is not old stock, its a Lionel # 29629 from Lionel (LLC) in 2009-2010.  It is however "Glow in the Dark" as its supposed to be carrying radioactive waste for the AEC (Atomic Energy Commission).

@lee drennen - thank you for the compliment.  I like the idea that my little layout  resembles a 50's-60's hobby shop.  There is no question that was my boyhood era when I was heavy into Lionel.  Dad and I started in '47 and continued to build Christmas layouts ( Thanksgiving to the middle of January) every year through about 1960 when I guess I got too involved in high school activities (like many of us).  I returned to the hobby in about 1975 when I bought a Lionel set for my oldest son...he never really maintained an interest in trains but I was hooked and have not stopped since!!

Best Wishes

Don

Been lot's of discussion about the humble BL-2 on another thread recently. Happened to find these pictures scrolling through my train pix this afternoon.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Been lot's of discussion about the humble BL-2 on another thread recently. Happened to find these pictures scrolling through my train pix this afternoon.

Bob

Bob,

One BL2 more.

Johan

A couple of old ones

Bob and Johan I love your BL2s!!  I'm a a big fan of this locomotive!   I'm grateful to both Williams and MTH for producing these diesel locomotives.  Mine is a MTH Premier model from back in the mid 2000s..  

I saw Montgomery's local switch yard added a new unit, so I got pictures of all 3 parked for the weekend. I haven't seen their GP16 lately so it may have been replaced.

@Don McErlean posted:

Watching this Don makes me think that one of these days I'm going to make enough revenue on my RR  to get one of these 44 Ton switchers.

.........and now a second switcher heading to the yards this afternoon.  RK  PS3  / B&P.

Pete

@Putnam Division posted:

Don't remember.....will have to look.

Peter

Truck mounted.

A BL1.

Ron

@Mark Boyce posted:

Here’s a photograph of the Legacy WM GP7 #21 I mentioned earlier in response to Bob’s post showing the #23.  It is just as nice as Bob’s!  

That's a very nice backdrop, Mark, as well as a very nice locomotive. If you painted that backdrop, IMO you have considerable artistic skill. Your backdrop looks to me like a very nice Impressionist landscape painting. Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

That's a very nice backdrop, Mark, as well as a very nice locomotive. If you painted that backdrop, IMO you have considerable artistic skill. Your backdrop looks to me like a very nice Impressionist landscape painting. Arnold

Arnold, thank you!  No, I didn’t paint it.  I bought the backdrop from a forum member who had it painted for him.

Wow, so many great pictures, nice layouts, cool videos, Switcher Saturdays are just fun to review. Happy Railroading Everyone

@trumptrain posted:

Bob and Johan I love your BL2s!!  I'm a a big fan of this locomotive!   I'm grateful to both Williams and MTH for producing these diesel locomotives.  Mine is a MTH Premier model from back in the mid 2000s..  

Patrick,

Last summer's trip to Maine also allowed me to see the real Bangor & Aroostook BL2 and it made a big impression on me. I'm also a real BL2 fan.

Johan, where is the B&A BL2 located?  I need to see it on one of my trips to Maine!

John

@trumptrain posted:

Bob and Johan I love your BL2s!!  I'm a a big fan of this locomotive!   I'm grateful to both Williams and MTH for producing these diesel locomotives.  Mine is a MTH Premier model from back in the mid 2000s..  

That is one very sharp looking BL2  Patrick.

Since we’re looking at BL2s, here’s my Williams model from the archives.

John

@Steam Crazy posted:

Johan, where is the B&A BL2 located?  I need to see it on one of my trips to Maine!

John

John,

It's located Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor ME.

Johan

Here’s my first (and hopefully, not my last), experience with being in a diesel. Heber Valley Scenic RR in Nevada. GP7 painted for MEC. No idea of it’s history.

Driver was kindofa crabby guy. Had to exert all my charm to get in the cab. Asked for him to take a pic of me behind the controls - nope - can I take a pic of you? - nope. “I’m busy you have to step out” He was on his phone. At least he let me in for 30 seconds. 🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️

@BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Patrick,

Last summer's trip to Maine also allowed me to see the real Bangor & Aroostook BL2 and it made a big impression on me. I'm also a real BL2 fan.

Johan - WOW!  Such beautiful photos both in prototype and model!  I love the livery of the B&A livery!  Where is the museum at which this BL2 is located in Maine?  

I've seen the prototype Western Maryland BL2 number 81 as it is at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum which is only 30 minutes from where I live.   Unfortunately the Western Maryland BL2 does not have a very attractive livery, however, the WM is one of the roads I model.    I think all the other roads that purchased the BL2 all had much more attractive liveries and Bangor & Aroostok was the most attractive in my humble opinion.  Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos!!  

Looks like I need to jump on the BL2 bandwagon too!  😄  Here is mine.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Here’s my first (and hopefully, not my last), experience with being in a diesel. Heber Valley Scenic RR in Nevada. GP7 painted for MEC. No idea of it’s history.

Driver was kindofa crabby guy. Had to exert all my charm to get in the cab. Asked for him to take a pic of me behind the controls - nope - can I take a pic of you? - nope. “I’m busy you have to step out” He was on his phone. At least he let me in for 30 seconds. 🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️

Mark, what a great opportunity!  I’m glad you were able to charm him into it!

Let's see more BL2s!

John

@trumptrain posted:

Johan - WOW!  Such beautiful photos both in prototype and model!  I love the livery of the B&A livery!  Where is the museum at which this BL2 is located in Maine?  

I've seen the prototype Western Maryland BL2 number 81 as it is at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum which is only 30 minutes from where I live.   Unfortunately the Western Maryland BL2 does not have a very attractive livery, however, the WM is one of the roads I model.    I think all the other roads that purchased the BL2 all had much more attractive liveries and Bangor & Aroostok was the most attractive in my humble opinion.  Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos!!  

Patrick,

It's located Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor ME. Very, interested place.

Johan

@Norton posted:

Pete

Nice Rochester scene. A friend of mine attended RIT for a couple of years so I visited several times. Beautiful waterfalls!

Wow- another Fantastic Switcher Saturday everyone! @Mark V. Spadaro, I am glad you got into the cab of that handsome GP unit.  @BAR GP7 #63, those night photos look amazing.

As to all those BL2's, well I'm sure the designer's mother thought it was beautiful.

Have a great week everyone, make sure the water is topped off before you leave the yard!