Switcher Saturday Mark II!, 04/04/2020

Micah is a senior this spring, off to Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pa, in the fall.  He was here yesterday, delivering supplies, he is our, "go-to, supply provider", for awhile.   Thanks Micah  

Happy SWSat! Hope everyone is healthy and safe.

The Western Maryland RR will be running the rails on the RSJ&B for a while.

Bob

Happy Switcher Saturday. Shark Bay Railroad Alco HH660 #150 Anchor & Shark Bay Terminal FM H10-44 #250 Chum switching around the Cape Shark yard and SBR FM H24-66 wait for the train to be ready.

Here is a link with some old photos of another switcher I used to be associated with.

Elliott Loco

This is/was a GE 25 tonner.  Yup that's right, 25 ton.  Except for the addition of the broken window, it's about the same as it was in these pictures as when my former employer, Elliott Company, donated it to a local rail group who was hoping to use it in tourist work or museum display. I don't know if that ever got off the ground but it was a neat little machine.  It had an air whistle, a single traction motor with chain drive to the other axle.  The full width cab on such a small machine was a nice feature. Of course it needed tons of work, both cosmetic and otherwise.  I think when I was at the company we put a new air compressor in it because the shaft was bent on the original.  It was used on rare occasions to move flat cars full of big pipe pieces or even spot a car that had been delivered by NS, but for the most part it sat in a corner, condemned to obsolescence by trucks.  Maybe I should paint up a replica.

The yard's only B28 is moving some empty express reefers to the classification tracks for later pickup by the westbound #20.  After that, the little 0-6-0 will pick up some boxcars and take them out to some industries associated with the yard.

Some really nice photos so far.  The B28 is Atlas, and the reefers are MTH, GGD, and 3rd Rail.

Penn Central RS11 7608 (Lionel) spots a hopper at a grain elevator:

Tom

More “Tales of the Docksider”:
NYC shop switcher X-8688 never gets a break!  Today the diminutive Docksider is assigned to move massive NYC L3 Mohawk 3000 to the shop.  It’s a tough job, but, if any engine is up to the task, it’s X-8688!

Not on the track yet but I added these to my Buffalo/western New York railroads. Along with these two I have South Buffalo Railway switchers and a couple of TH&B GP's.............Pic ........Paul 2

Happy SWSat everyone. We are off to a great start so far. 

Here is my little contribution this week. Two 2rail Plymouths and a Caddy. 

The big(ger) one is an Atlas from the 70’s I picked it up last year in Austin Texas at King Hobbies. The smaller Plymouth is a K-Line that has been fully 2 railed. Both are having some coupler issues. The Cadillac is a 1978 Seville from “del Prado”. I picked it up at a flea market in Spain in February. 

I still don’t have a layout and just set this up for a photo on the coach. To answer a question from @coach joe from last weeks post without confusingly bringing last weeks SWSat installment to the front. I don’t see 2rail o as the dark side. More people should come over. I have a lot of 3 rail that I am keeping still. A lot of prewar and European tin is still fun to me. And I am still actively seeking out those little 0-27 double door boxcars. I have a few holes in my collection of those. My favorite group of those is a unit train of the different white Toys R Us starter set boxcars. 

My first ever entry into SWSat

Here is my LionChief GP38 painted in FEC colors running on an Inglenook Sidings set up in 2017.  It was originally Pennsy green that I had custom painted by Jimbo at Ready to Roll Trains in Miami.

I don't have many photos of my long gone switchers, so after a couple Saturday's I'll be all out... until I buy a switcher 

                                     NS local switching out a caboose at NJ Hirailers Paterson, NJ.

Ready to head out for the work day

1939

2020

Pete

Good afternoon fellow switcher fans!!  Wonderful posts so far today!   For my contribution today,  I again focus on one type of locomotive from one of the short lines I model ... The Baltimore and Annapolis RR.   This is a SW9 ( by MTH which I purchased from Beth Marshall of the Public Delivery Track ).  

The B&A has a long and interesting history which began in the early 1900s as the Washington Baltimore and Annapolis Electic Railway, primarily a traction railroad.  A totally electrified line that connected Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington DC.  Freight traffic at that time was handled by electric traction motor cars.  Later, through bankruptcy the line was truncated to Baltimore and Annapolis, eventually being re - named the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad Co. which ended passenger service in 1950 when electrification ceased.  1950 was the year the road purchased a GE 70 tonner to handle all freight traffic.  If you are interested " Every Hour on the Hour, A Chronicle of the Washington Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railroad" by John E. Merriken is a great read with lots of photos.   Have a wonderful safe and healthy weekend everyone!  Do some switching on your layouts and ... keep those hands washed!  

At 8:04 this morning Patsburg  Ave grade crossing. 

At 8:06 a.m. B&A SW 9 slowly craws through the grade crossing with bell clanging and horn blowing. Zeke, the brakeman rides the front platform as the second brakeman, Buford, steps off the locomotive.  Benny Sachs guards this side of the crossing as the gate guards the other.  Benny jokingly calls Patsburg Ave.  Zachs' Fifth Ave.LOL!  He's been at this position of  crossing guard going on 17 years. Hank, the engineer, pulls the train of all B&O boxcars so that the last wagon top car will uncouple from the rest of the train just before the crossing.  Once uncoupled by either Zeke, Hank will gently pull the three boxcars forward just beyond the switch.  

Zeke upcouples the rest of the train from the B&O wagon top. 

Hank has pulled the three boxcars forward to clear the switch.  Zeke has opened the switch, signaled to Hank to back up into the siding.  

Zeke uncouples the wagon tops. 

George the conductor, steps out on the rear steps.

Zeke signals "the pull forward " to George who mounts the engine while at the same time giving Hank the " go ahead signal." 

Hank steps out on the rear platform as Zeke closes the switch and calls  in to the dispatcher. 

At 8: 33 With the switching move completed, the B&A local slowly makes it's way down the line at the caboose glides across Patsburg Ave grade crossing. 

Patsburg Ave grade crossing at 8: 35  a.m. this morning 

Pat:

Those are fabulous photos with a great story! Thanks for sharing.

trumptrain posted:

 

Patrick,

That is a great story.  The wagon top on the left, the brown 1937 scheme, do you know who made that?  Thanks.

P.S.  If you ever want to sell that and the blue express car let me know

Great story and photos Patrick!

44 tonners working the main lines.

CAPPilot posted:

trumptrain posted:

 

Patrick,

That is a great story.  The wagon top on the left, the brown 1937 scheme, do you know who made that?  Thanks.

P.S.  If you ever want to sell that and the blue express car let me know

Ron - the car you mention is made by Weaver.  As a matter of fact all three of the pictured wagon tops are Weavers.   I'll let you know if I ever decide to sell those cars, however it will be a looooooooong time from now.  I enjoy those three boxcars immensely!   Out of the 50 plus boxcars in my fleet, those three by far are my favorite :-)    Btw I bought the blue wagon top from fellow OGR forum and SWSat frequenter Charlie Powell.    

Patrick,

I believe this is the first time I have seen the blue car in a photo!

Charlie

cpowell posted:

Patrick,

I believe this is the first time I have seen the blue car in a photo!

Charlie

Charlie - I think I may have one other photo fo the blue wagon top. I'll have to dig it out and post it soon.  Thanks so much for selling me that car!  I love it and   it completes my Weaver  B&O collection of wagon tops.  I don't think Weaver made any more B&O wagon tops beyond those 3.  That blue car looks great in a freight consist, such as today's photos, and it looks great at the head end of a B&O passenger train.  

cpowell posted:

I believe this is the first time I have seen the blue car in a photo!

The 100 B&O C-16 express boxcars were originally green, with only 5 painted blue late in their express life.  So it makes sense that in the model world they would be scarce too

ADDED: read Patrick's reply above and I understand now.  I'm pretty slow today

For Charlie - the blue B&O wagon top boxcar you sold to me sits on a siding in Lower Patsburg.  Thanks again! 

trumptrain posted:

Good afternoon fellow switcher fans!!  Wonderful posts so far today!   For my contribution today,  I again focus on one type of locomotive from one of the short lines I model ... The Baltimore and Annapolis RR.   This is a SW9 ( by MTH which I purchased from Beth Marshall of the Public Delivery Track ).  

The B&A has a long and interesting history which began in the early 1900s as the Washington Baltimore and Annapolis Electic Railway, primarily a traction railroad.  A totally electrified line that connected Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington DC.  Freight traffic at that time was handled by electric traction motor cars.  Later, through bankruptcy the line was truncated to Baltimore and Annapolis, eventually being re - named the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad Co. which ended passenger service in 1950 when electrification ceased.  1950 was the year the road purchased a GE 70 tonner to handle all freight traffic.  If you are interested " Every Hour on the Hour, A Chronicle of the Washington Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railroad" by John E. Merriken is a great read with lots of photos.   Have a wonderful safe and healthy weekend everyone!  Do some switching on your layouts and ... keep those hands washed!  

At 8:04 this morning Patsburg  Ave grade crossing. 

At 8:06 a.m. B&A SW 9 slowly craws through the grade crossing with bell clanging and horn blowing. Zeke, the brakeman rides the front platform as the second brakeman, Buford, steps off the locomotive.  Benny Sachs guards this side of the crossing as the gate guards the other.  Benny jokingly calls Patsburg Ave.  Zachs' Fifth Ave.LOL!  He's been at this position of  crossing guard going on 17 years. Hank, the engineer, pulls the train of all B&O boxcars so that the last wagon top car will uncouple from the rest of the train just before the crossing.  Once uncoupled by either Zeke, Hank will gently pull the three boxcars forward just beyond the switch.  

Zeke upcouples the rest of the train from the B&O wagon top. 

Hank has pulled the three boxcars forward to clear the switch.  Zeke has opened the switch, signaled to Hank to back up into the siding.  

Zeke uncouples the wagon tops. 

George the conductor, steps out on the rear steps.

Zeke signals "the pull forward " to George who mounts the engine while at the same time giving Hank the " go ahead signal." 

Hank steps out on the rear platform as Zeke closes the switch and calls  in to the dispatcher. 

At 8: 33 With the switching move completed, the B&A local slowly makes it's way down the line at the caboose glides across Patsburg Ave grade crossing. 

Patsburg Ave grade crossing at 8: 35  a.m. this morning 

Patrick, love the narrative!

It's Saturday evening, early August and the heat of the day still lingering in the air, but the heat isn't the only thing lingering around.  A few ladies of ill repute are hanging out on the station platform just outside the yard, it looks like Harley Quinn is among the group, there's always trouble when Harley's around.

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The guys running NYC 2231 are supposed to be taking the old MP-15 and an even-older caboose to the yard, but they slow down to wave to all the good folks at the station.

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Of course Harley Quinn and the other ladies cross the tracks, and the guys have to quickly stop good 'ol 2231, just to say hello - ya know!

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But those boys are no fools, once they see Harley's baseball bat they wave off those birds of prey, there's no time for goofing off on the NYC.

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All the best...Rich

p.s.  Great pictures everyone, stay safe and healthy...

Rich Murnane - nice story and pics.  Certainly another dimension of life by switcher crews down around the rail yards .... and I would wager that your story may have been the experience of some  1:1 scale  railroaders   ... if you know what I mean

trumptrain posted:

 

 

 

Zeke uncouples the wagon tops. 

George the conductor, steps out on the rear steps.

 

Patsburg Ave grade crossing at 8: 35  a.m. this morning 

Patrick, that is a great story you put together and shared, narrative and pics.  

Belated Happy SWSAT, everyone!

When switching the Paint Factory drilling can get somewhat involved as this string of cars illustrates:            

Yesterday's looong switching job resulted in this looong consist:

The Dinner Train spotted out of the way, the crew is about to whistle-off and head for Interchange:

Guys, fantastic stuff this weekend!

Mike CT - I used to live in New Brighton, I know exactly where that college is - Good luck to your son and I love the picture!

Bob - you can't beat the WM fireball logo.  I used that as an excuse at my last club to run coal trains behind a WM Challenger at 70 scale mph, after all it doesn't say slow freight!

BAR - those shark paint jobs are always amazing!

Ron - you never disappoint with a narrative every week.  I like the low tender on that Atlas unit.

Steam crazy you better be careful or the crew of the X-8688 is gonna start asking for hazard pay with all those big moves

Paul 2, nice new units, can't wait to see what you put them to work doing.

Andy, the 3 axle Plymouth and the Caddy are both pretty sweet.  For a brief time I had an Olds that looked a little like that.

Amfleet Kevin - welcome to the thread.  Thanks for sharing your custom paint GP

Paul - you have more room to switch than anybody else if you are playing at Patterson!

Sidehack Ray that's a pretty impressive picture getting all those loco's lit up for the photo!

Norton - Great recreation!

Patrick you went all out - Great narrative!

Bill T, nice 44's

Dale - thank you for the video

Rich Murmane - your wife wants to talk you about the direction your layout is taking!!....just kidding.  thanks for the cool little narrative

Sorry if I missed anyone - excellent thread this weekend.

Here's a little something extra I found this morning at work (yes I am working on a Sunday, its outage season at a power plant And I'm typing on my break..)

I stumbled across the trackmobile shed while looking for something else.  I didn't realize this thing had its own house!

trumptrain posted:

CAPPilot posted:

trumptrain posted:

 

Patrick,

That is a great story.  The wagon top on the left, the brown 1937 scheme, do you know who made that?  Thanks.

P.S.  If you ever want to sell that and the blue express car let me know

Ron - the car you mention is made by Weaver.  As a matter of fact all three of the pictured wagon tops are Weavers.   I'll let you know if I ever decide to sell those cars, however it will be a looooooooong time from now.  I enjoy those three boxcars immensely!   Out of the 50 plus boxcars in my fleet, those three by far are my favorite :-)    Btw I bought the blue wagon top from fellow OGR forum and SWSat frequenter Charlie Powell.    

Baltimore Railroad Museum, along with the Inner Harbor, and Aquarium,  makes for a great day in Baltimore, MD. 

                happy "SWSat"  everyone !       a little late...

                          have a great day !!

MTH Imperial, USRA, 0-6-0 switcher awaits its next assignment at Great Northeastern Railway headquarters.

CAPPilot posted:

The yard's only B28 is moving some empty express reefers to the classification tracks for later pickup by the westbound #20.  After that, the little 0-6-0 will pick up some boxcars and take them out to some industries associated with the yard.

Some really nice photos so far.  The B28 is Atlas, and the reefers are MTH, GGD, and 3rd Rail.

Hey Ron - Just sent you an e mail regarding a blue B&O boxcar you are looking for.  

Tuesday is a little late for SWSAT but I finally got here.  Andy I was just pulling your leg about the dark side. I believe I've got one of those starter set DD boxcars in Wabash livery from the Cannonball starter set.  I'll have to check to make sure it is double-door.  If that fills I hole in your collection you-re welcome to it

@coach joe Thank you for the offer. That Wabash one is actually actually one I don't have.

Email  or PM me and I can compensate you for it.

If this mentioning things works for finding things I am also looking for a J.C.Penny and a Sears Short double door boxcars.

To keep things SWSat topical,(or in this case tropical) here is my ETS 0-4-0T on my window sill with some of my plants.