Switcher Saturday 7-17-21

New York Central SW1500 #9654 is an MTH Railking model (30-2217-1) with 5-volt PS2 and a BCR. Delivered in 2001, shown on my 10’-by-5’ layout.

MELGAR

I have bought my first ATLAS SW switcher second hand, nice engine but it has some cosmetic issues, especially missing handrails but the ATLAS service has been excellent as they send me replacement parts in France; now main problem is broken stanchions along the hood but I can fix that.  One of the engineer was unglued from his seat in the cab, it took a long time to replace it in correct position, has you have to remove many parts to access the cab interior. This switcher is a really smooth running model.

Have a nice weekend, Daniel

Happy SWSat!

This week the yardmaster called in some extra power for the local jobs.

PRR 5984 sits idling and waiting for orders. This is a MTH PS-1 model of a FM H10-44.

Have a great weekend.

Bob

Happy switcher Saturday everyone! Next to the Plymouth, this little  Bang S-4 diesel from RMT trains is my second favorite  conventional engine in my fleet.  It pulls and runs great and to think I was able to pay menard’s prices for it  back in the day! Here she is pulling some of my other RMT mta subway rolling stock -

Now here is a special treat for you switcher fans - a conventional consist with my Plymouth and my RMT bang switcher. Kids, don’t try this at home as I think I’ve gotten very lucky that both seem to operate at the same relative speed at specific track voltages. In fact, I can let them run independently on my track and it will take hours for one to catch up to the other. Go figure!

We're off to another great SWSAT!

Everyone, great pictures, beautiful switchers, awesome videos and great layouts. This is a fun to review thread. I’m sure Don McErlean will chime in sometime soon, Happy Railroading Everyone

Penn Central SW8 8616 (Atlas O) switches a cut of covered hoppers in this vintage photo:

Tom

CNJ  Baldwin VO-1000 1065 handles the yard drill in (of course) my yard...

Meanwhile, FM 15-44 road switcher 1508 (with her undercarriage side cladding removed) prepares for her daily duties...

My mother (age 99) used to say “sometimes you can get too much of a good thing”.  With that lesson in mind, TALES OF THE DOCKSIDER will be taking a hiatus so your Yardmaster can feature some other switchers in his collection.  Fear not, fans of plucky shop switcher X-8688 and her crew, she will return in the future!

Today we find C&O NW2 switcher 624, heading up a local freight, preparing to pull a B&A State of ME boxcar from a loading dock.  The loading dock crew hasn’t finished loading the boxcar; they better hurry, because 624 needs to return to the train to clear the main for an approaching mail and express train!

John

It is a hot summer day in 1949.  An ES10 is moving a consist of army equipment to the westbound classification track in preparation for its movement to the local base.  A local freight is leaving the yard and in the back ground is the Pullman "Golden Terrace" off the Broadway Limited from New York.  It is waiting to be picked up by the Rock Island Golden State to continue its journey to Los Angeles.  Another busy day here at the Yard.

The ES10 (NW2) is Lionel, the cars are a mix of all brands.

I wish would have pulled this out a few weeks ago when the carpet central was down to run the 4-6-6T.

Thsi is a little jewel just under a foot long but with mass and two motors.

This represents Pennsy's first commercial Diesel engine venture.  In 1937 they both an EMD SW road number 8511 their class ES6.  Then during period  of 1942-50 they both 85 more SW-1's also class ES6 which this road number 9138 would have been of.

Got it because it represented Pennsy first diesel plus due to its size it could sift the 4'X22' yard planned.

Just to put  the size into perspective.

Ron

Good morning fellow switcher fans!!  JHZ thanks for notching out the throttle and getting us rolling today!  I love the demo of the NYC switcher whistle and what sounds to be an post war Lionel  air whistle .... although the air whistle could be a digitally recorded version such as the one that comes with the MTH work caboose?  There's a HUGE difference in the sounds for sure!  Wonderful photos and videos everyone!   Daniel -  enjoy the process of restoring your Atlas switcher and please show photos once completed.  The only Atlas O switcher I have is an RS-1 and I enjoy it immensely!  

Strap - that's a nice looking Bang ( and yes they were a good "Bang for the buck" back in the day ) and I love the Plymouth/Bang consist as well ... very unusual ... and rest assured I will not try that at my home lol!  Btw - you have a terrific looking layout!  

RSJB - Got to love those FM H10-44 switchers!  Raymond Lowey did a nice job with their styling.   Too bad the FM opposed piston engine was not railroad friendly.   One day ( funds willing )  I hope to have a H10-44 on the FSJR in B&O livery.  Thanks for posting your photo of this locomotive and re-wetting my appetite for this cool looking switcher.

MELGAR - your SW1500 looks great!  Is that NYC boxcar the MTH signal man boxcar?  If so how do you like it?

Today on the Free State Junction Railway B&O Dockside 97 has spotted a passenger train at the station.  In the background, that train, now full of passengers,  is pulling away from the station as a slow moving freight moves through the station.  

Brakemen Buster Brown & Feet Murchison ride the footboard.  Any second now Buster will jump off the locomotive and align the switch so the Dockside can duck in the hole ...making way for a passenger train.  Meanwhile the BL-2 on the adjacent track is stopped at a red signal.  Its' headend brakeman, Fluffy Peerson,  steps onto the front porch for some fresh air.  

The BL-2 was ordered to pull ahead a few hundred feet and hold at the station as a Pennsy GG-1, with bell clanging,  gracefully glides its' train in to the station.

Once the GG-1 has cleared, 97 is out of the hole and back onto the main headed toward its' next assignment.

And .... that assignment is to pull this load of farm equipment from the team track.  Looks like the loading crew is not quite finished buckling things down yet.  Good time for 97's crew to take a coffee break.  

Fabulous photos today, guys! Kudos to all who submitted!  

Wilmington & Western #114 sits on a siding ready for action

@trumptrain posted:

Good morning fellow switcher fans!!  JHZ thanks for notching out the throttle and getting us rolling today!  I love the demo of the NYC switcher whistle and what sounds to be an post war Lionel  air whistle .... although the air whistle could be a digitally recorded version such as the one that comes with the MTH work caboose?  There's a HUGE difference in the sounds for sure!  Wonderful photos and videos everyone!   Daniel -  enjoy the process of restoring your Atlas switcher and please show photos once completed.  The only Atlas O switcher I have is an RS-1 and I enjoy it immensely!  

Strap - that's a nice looking Bang ( and yes they were a good "Bang for the buck" back in the day ) and I love the Plymouth/Bang consist as well ... very unusual ... and rest assured I will not try that at my home lol!  Btw - you have a terrific looking layout!  

RSJB - Got to love those FM H10-44 switchers!  Raymond Lowey did a nice job with their styling.   Too bad the FM opposed piston engine was not railroad friendly.   One day ( funds willing )  I hope to have a H10-44 on the FSJR in B&O livery.  Thanks for posting your photo of this locomotive and re-wetting my appetite for this cool looking switcher.

MELGAR - your SW1500 looks great!  Is that NYC boxcar the MTH signal man boxcar?  If so how do you like it?

Today on the Free State Junction Railway B&O Dockside 97 has spotted a passenger train at the station.  In the background, that train, now full of passengers,  is pulling away from the station as a slow moving freight moves through the station.  

Brakemen Buster Brown & Feet Murchison ride the footboard.  Any second now Buster will jump off the locomotive and align the switch so the Dockside can duck in the hole ...making way for a passenger train.  Meanwhile the BL-2 on the adjacent track is stopped at a red signal.  Its' headend brakeman, Fluffy Peerson,  steps onto the front porch for some fresh air.  

The BL-2 was ordered to pull ahead a few hundred feet and hold at the station as a Pennsy GG-1, with bell clanging,  gracefully glides its' train in to the station.

Once the GG-1 has cleared, 97 is out of the hole and back onto the main headed toward its' next assignment.

And .... that assignment is to pull this load of farm equipment from the team track.  Looks like the loading crew is not quite finished buckling things down yet.  Good time for 97's crew to take a coffee break.  

Looking good sir!  I really enjoy your story telling 🙂.

As to the air whistle,  that's an mpc era whistling freight shed.  I have had that since my early youth, and it has always been a favorite.  I don't think it was part of my first gift of trains that I received for my first communion, but it wasn't much long after that it arrived.   I would say I have had it since I was no more than 10, and there's now some grey in my beard.  It works great and as you can see,  I have a like for using door bell buttons to run accessories.   My original engine was a dc only mpc 2-4-0 that of course had no whistle,  so the shed got alot of use.  The biggest thing was learning it works much better on a hard surface compared to shag carpet! 

An Atlas SW8 in Erie Lackawanna dress pulls a short freight past the water tower in Lionelville. This is one of my smoothest running engines, and is almost always on the layout.

@MELGAR posted:

@trumptrain posted:

MELGAR - Is that NYC boxcar the MTH signal man boxcar?  If so how do you like it?

The light blue New York Central boxcar is just an ordinary K-Line boxcar with an Arttista figure in the doorway.

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

The light blue New York Central boxcar is just an ordinary K-Line boxcar with an Arttista figure in the doorway.

MELGAR

Thanks MELGAR!  The figure and boxcar look great!

Happened to catch 2102 parked at the sanding tower today.

Well I missed switcher Saturday and boxcar Sunday so maybe this will make up........

@C_Murley posted:

Well I missed switcher Saturday and boxcar Sunday so maybe this will make up........

Works for both!