Switcher Saturday Mark II, Thanksgiving weekend edition 2020

Happy SWSAT fellow forum friends.  My newly acquired C and O 624 sans antenna.  A shipping mishap.

A bit of personal history.  During a period in the 1970s, I  was a fireman/ engineer on the above mentioned RR. At that time you hired in as a fireman and later promoted to engineer.

Shortly after promotion, I was an extra board fill in on the midnight LOF (Libby Owens Ford) job.  That was a glass plant about 10 miles from our yard. After arriving at the yard shanty the yard master brought out our assignments.  The engine number was not familiar to me.  We usually had a GP 7/9 or GP 30s for that job.  Hmmmmm?  I got to the hostler track and found the NW-2.  They were rare in our zone and I had never been on one before.  Yikes!!!

Not to worry, these were easy to operate and a successful shift ensued.  

Happy Switcher Saturday. I am back. I lost my big brother a couple of months ago and it took time to recover from the worst grief. Now I’m trying to build some new Maine landscape again. Hope you like it.

Johan, I am sorry for your loss. May your brother Rest In Peace.

My condolences on your loss.  Hope you find some comfort and distraction in your trains and the interaction with your fellow Forumites.  Good to have you back.

Johan - so very sorry to hear of your brother's passing.  May you find peace and healing in the days going forward.  

@BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday. I am back. I lost my big brother a couple of months ago and it took time to recover from the worst grief. Now I’m trying to build some new Maine landscape again. Hope you like it.

Very sorry to hear Johan. My condolences to you and the family as well.

Hopefully your trains will provide some much needed distraction from the recent loss.

Bob

Good morning switcher fans!  Great info., and photos everyone!!  I always learn LOTS from this thread!!  Today the FSJR is featuring their short line switcher fleet.  Those lines being .... the Baltimore and Annapolis, Canton, Maryland & Pennsylvania, Patapsco & Back Rivers, and Washington Terminal Co.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!  Be safe = Be well!!

A Patapsco &Back Rivers Baldwin VO1000 heads out of the yard.  

A Baltimore and Annapolis SW9 brings it's train through a grade crossing as a B&O Docksider idles on the adjacent track.

A Washington Terminal Co. RS 1 idles on track 2.

Washington Terminal crew member is ready to give the B&O GP9 and it's train a roll by inspection.

Patapsco and Back Rivers VO1000 with a brand new hot ladle car.

A P&BR on the main with a transfer freight.

Canton Railroad SW 1500 and caboose.

MA & PA SW 1  switching the yard.

Short line power on the ready track.

@BAR GP7 #63

My condolences on the loss of your brother.  I hope you find peace in the days to come.  Thank you for sharing your beautiful modeling.

A quick post before putting lights up today.  Happy SwSat!

OK- Back to SWSat!

Happy SWSat to all. I think I've emerged from my food coma unscathed. I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and celebrated with proper social distancing .

Apparently while I was unconscious, a new diesel was acquired and joined the fleet on the RSJ&B. New Haven # 1406 is a Lionel RS-11 w/ command. It's from a freight set break up and I just bought it here on the forum. It's my second RS-11 and when I saw it listed I jumped.

So the crew went right to work this morning pulling a couple of loaded cars from the local factory in town. They stopped along the way to wave to the crew in D&H 1505 and picked up their orders from the yard master in the tower before heading out of town.

(Notice the three different depictions on the NH logo?) Box car- Menards, Plymouth- K-line, and Lionel.

Enjoy the rest of this long weekend.

Bob

Johan,  very sorry for your loss.  May you find solace in your wonderful modeling.

Johan,

I extend my deepest sympathies to you and your family.  I hope you can find comfort with your friends here at SWSAT.

Tom

Penn Central GP9 7180 (Atlas O) run light with a transfer caboose:

Tom

Good morning to all here on this Thanksgiving SWSAT.

A before pic:

And after shot of the shortened Crane:

As well as aesthetics there was a very practical reason for lowering the Crane. With the train room sloping Cape Cod ceiling it was possible to jamb the crane boom against the ceiling if not careful and that issue has thus been resolved.

The same design issue was addressed at the West End by placing the Paint Factory siding behind the structure, thus allowing clearance to the ceiling:

Serendipitously this permitted a longer siding enabling more switching opportunities (you knew I was going somewhere with this ).

Atlas SW's left.  K-Line B6 switcher, Weaver A5 switcher.

Thank you Guys, I really much appciate Your kind words. I love my hobby and this wonderful group is very important to me.

Johan

@BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday. I am back. I lost my big brother a couple of months ago and it took time to recover from the worst grief. Now I’m trying to build some new Maine landscape again. Hope you like it.

Very sorry to hear. This is a tough time all around. I lost my best friend from my younger days to Covid-19 last week and have another one in ICU with it.

My condolences on your wrenching loss.

@trumptrain posted:

Good morning switcher fans!  Great info., and photos everyone!!  I always learn LOTS from this thread!!  Today the FSJR is featuring their short line switcher fleet.  Those lines being .... the Baltimore and Annapolis, Canton, Maryland & Pennsylvania, Patapsco & Back Rivers, and Washington Terminal Co.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!  Be safe = Be well!!

A Patapsco &Back Rivers Baldwin VO1000 heads out of the yard.  

A Baltimore and Annapolis SW9 brings it's train through a grade crossing as a B&O Docksider idles on the adjacent track.

A Washington Terminal Co. RS 1 idles on track 2.

Washington Terminal crew member is ready to give the B&O GP9 and it's train a roll by inspection.

Patapsco and Back Rivers VO1000 with a brand new hot ladle car.

A P&BR on the main with a transfer freight.

Canton Railroad SW 1500 and caboose.

MA & PA SW 1  switching the yard.

Short line power on the ready track.

Great modeling. Great photos. As always. Thanks for sharing!

@BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday. I am back. I lost my big brother a couple of months ago and it took time to recover from the worst grief. Now I’m trying to build some new Maine landscape again. Hope you like it.

Johan,

I'm sorry for the loss of your big brother. I always admire your scenic modeling of Maine and the B&M - especially when you are working from so far away.

MELGAR

Johan, my condolences. As others have mentioned, you’re modeling is first rate. I’m very impressed, especially impressed with the blending of backdrop, and foreground elements.

Johan, As others have said, I’m sorry for your loss. But it’s good to have you back here. Your modeling is truly inspiring!

For my contribution, Chessie S4 #9009 takes a trip through town to pick up a loaded box car from the team track on the far side of town!

@Dave Warburton posted:

Very sorry to hear. This is a tough time all around. I lost my best friend from my younger days to Covid-19 last week and have another one in ICU with it.

My condolences on your wrenching loss.

Dave. Thank you and my condolences for your loss.

Johan

@MELGAR posted:

Johan,

I'm sorry for the loss of your big brother. I always admire your scenic modeling of Maine and the B&M - especially when you are working from so far away.

MELGAR

MELGAR. Thank you.I really love your beautiful layout and all fabulous buildings.

Johan

Here is one of my favorite little switchers in action.

@Artie-DL&W posted:

Johan, my condolences. As others have mentioned, you’re modeling is first rate. I’m very impressed, especially impressed with the blending of backdrop, and foreground elements.

Artie-DL&W. Thank you very much.

Johan

@NYC Z-MAN posted:

Johan, As others have said, I’m sorry for your loss. But it’s good to have you back here. Your modeling is truly inspiring!

For my contribution, Chessie S4 #9009 takes a trip through town to pick up a loaded box car from the team track on the far side of town!

Jim Z. Thank you very much. Your layout looking a very nice.

Johan

Johan / BARGP7 : Very sorry to hear of the loss of your brother.  Condolences.  Welcome back to the thread.  I ,like others have already said,  love to see your fantastic modeling.  Hopefully your hobby work will bring you some comfort.

Well my back story today is that the Leonardtown and Savannah (L&S) is trying to switch from steam to diesel in the late 1940's.  Ever looking for the cheapest solution, L&S management has leased a NYC (Marx 588) switcher to see if the economy promised will work out.  Today, Harry ("the kid") so nicknamed as he is the only non-steam qualified engineer and he is only 33 years old and low in seniority but he is the only hand at the moment who is familiar with these new diesels. He got his experience running Army diesels during the war.   Harry's assignment  is taking a couple of merchandise / LCL boxcars from the port of Savannah to get them going up the line to NYC.  Now on any other line, the two cars he is charged with moving might cause some conflict, after all they represent the new merchandise service of two bitter rival RR's.  We have the NYC "Pacemaker" service , started in 1946 and the PRR "Merchandise  Service" started slightly later.  These special boxcars normally do not leave their home line but have been routed directly to the port of Savannah for some high priority cargo.  Today this little train is going to use the NYC caboose that came down with the diesel for departing Savannah and it will pick up an L&S caboose at Macon then forward the NYC caboose up to NY along with those special boxcars.  Harry, has his hands full for sure making sure these competitive cars are not delayed and no favoritism is shown to either one.  L&S management philosophy is simple..."We love best whoever pays us the most!"

Happy S.W.S. Everyone,

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Johan / BARGP7 : Very sorry to hear of the loss of your brother.  Condolences.  Welcome back to the thread.  I ,like others have already said,  love to see your fantastic modeling.  Hopefully your hobby work will bring you some comfort.

Well my back story today is that the Leonardtown and Savannah (L&S) is trying to switch from steam to diesel in the late 1940's.  Ever looking for the cheapest solution, L&S management has leased a NYC (Marx 588) switcher to see if the economy promised will work out.  Today, Harry ("the kid") so nicknamed as he is the only non-steam qualified engineer and he is only 33 years old and low in seniority but he is the only hand at the moment who is familiar with these new diesels. He got his experience running Army diesels during the war.   Harry's assignment  is taking a couple of merchandise / LCL boxcars from the port of Savannah to get them going up the line to NYC.  Now on any other line, the two cars he is charged with moving might cause some conflict, after all they represent the new merchandise service of two bitter rival RR's.  We have the NYC "Pacemaker" service , started in 1946 and the PRR "Merchandise  Service" started slightly later.  These special boxcars normally do not leave their home line but have been routed directly to the port of Savannah for some high priority cargo.  Today this little train is going to use the NYC caboose that came down with the diesel for departing Savannah and it will pick up an L&S caboose at Macon then forward the NYC caboose up to NY along with those special boxcars.  Harry, has his hands full for sure making sure these competitive cars are not delayed and no favoritism is shown to either one.  L&S management philosophy is simple..."We love best whoever pays us the most!"

Happy S.W.S. Everyone,

Don

Don. Thank you so much.

Johan

@BAR GP7 #63

Johann:

My sincerest condolences on the passing of your brother. Hopefully, time will ease the pain of your loss. Though he not here with you, your brother will be with you in spirit. Doing things you enjoy, such as your wonderful train layout, will also help you restore normality to your life. Best wishes.

Johan, I am so saddened by the loss of your brother. Peace and strength be with you and family.
The  Maine coastline is in fact a wondrous sight. You have blended all the right ingredients to the waterfront! A beautiful depiction! All the right structures, background and foreground and weathering accompany your pike. The MEC and the B&M rail equipment are all quite realistic as most of your entries.
I have MEC equipment in 2 rail. I hope that one day I can fabricate a beautiful environment for them to run. Thank you for the inspiration.
Leroof

Johan, I’m sorry for your loss.

@Randy Harrison posted:

@BAR GP7 #63

Johann:

My sincerest condolences on the passing of your brother. Hopefully, time will ease the pain of your loss. Though he not here with you, your brother will be with you in spirit. Doing things you enjoy, such as your wonderful train layout, will also help you restore normality to your life. Best wishes.

Randy. Thank you. Right now i listen music we played together. He was an great drummer.

Johan

Here's a couple pictures from the recently migrated C & P Railroad. It moved from Columbia, MD to Lancaster, PA. It had been down since Oct. 2019 and now back in business Oct. 2020.

Charlie

Switchers getting maintance. WM 44-ton, N & W RS-3 and Canton SW-1500.

WM AS-616 moving in on an ore car.

@Leroof posted:

Johan, I am so saddened by the loss of your brother. Peace and strength be with you and family.
The  Maine coastline is in fact a wondrous sight. You have blended all the right ingredients to the waterfront! A beautiful depiction! All the right structures, background and foreground and weathering accompany your pike. The MEC and the B&M rail equipment are all quite realistic as most of your entries.
I have MEC equipment in 2 rail. I hope that one day I can fabricate a beautiful environment for them to run. Thank you for the inspiration.
Leroof

Leroof. Thank you so much. All the landscape I try to do is just a product of my imagination, the landscape is very similar to southern Finland where i live. Hopefully when the Covid19 eoidemic is over I can visit Maine. It´s would be a nice see Your 2-rail MEC equipment pics.

Johan

@RayKay posted:

Johan, I’m sorry for your loss.

RayKay. Thank you and thank you also that video. Looks you have a lot some very nice Maine stuff there.

Johan

@Dave Warburton posted:

Very sorry to hear. This is a tough time all around. I lost my best friend from my younger days to Covid-19 last week and have another one in ICU with it.

My condolences to you as well Dave. This disease is a real PITA to the wrong people. Prayers for your friend in the ICU.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

My condolences to you as well Dave. This disease is a real PITA to the wrong people. Prayers for your friend in the ICU.

Bob

Thank you, Bob. The virus is real and a killer to some. We must all be careful and take proper precautions even though it is tiring. . Hopefully, good vaccines are coming soon!

Took a trip to the AACA (Antique Automobile club of America) today in Hershey PA.  If you have never been there and have even a passing interest in cars, it's worth the trip.  As a bonus they have a nice train layout room.   

And yes the layout has some Switcher locomotives.

Johan, it’s so sad to hear you lost your big brother, your best buddy and friend. You will be in our prayers and thank you for sharing this news with us. Your contributions to our hobby are endless, such great model work. You are an inspiration to our forum and the hobby. Your creative weathering coupled to your scenic detailing is simply awesome. Keep the pictures coming.  Jhz 563, your finds are amazing, thank you for starting this fun to view thread, your Switchers are fantastic. Trumptrain, You, my friend, have a wonderful collection of Switchers as well as large steam and diesels, Wow, Thank You for sharing your beautiful layout scenes with us., NYC -Z Man, oh my, your video of the small S2 Ford switcher was Fantastic, I actually went an bought one, do in soon. Nice layout, fun to watch your switching maneuvers, really cool. Dave Warburton, so sorry to hear this hidden virus is affecting so many of your friends, we will keep you in our prayers and sEwing your model creativity. We all have to stay safe, stay healthy, Pray Continually. And yes, Don McErlean, You always come up with a winning switcher, your finds are so unique and you bring a lot of enjoyment to this forum, your Leonardtown and Savanah NYC switcher is beautiful and keep the tales coming as their always interesting. Have a great Sunday as I’m a day late, and a dollar short. Happy Railroading Everyone

Johan, I am also very sorry to hear about the loss of your brother and I am still a big fan of your modeling of ME railroads.  Be comforted by knowing your Forum “brothers” are thinking of you.

John

I second what John "Steam Crazy" said, Johan.  Did your brother enjoy your model trains with you?  It's good to know that you two were bonded as musicians.

Sincere condolences to you and your family.

TALES OF THE DOCKSIDER

A bit late to the party, perhaps, but NYC shop switcher X-8688 is back in action!  She has been dispatched, as usual, to recover an engine out of service, but this time the ailing engine suffered a real equipment failure!

NYC 0-4-0 no. 901 was pulling the morning milk train when she suddenly stopped, wheels spinning.  When the crew got out to look for the problem, they discovered not one, but two thrown traction tires!

X-8688 will pull 901 back to the shop today, but repair work will have to wait because the shop isn’t fully staffed on Sunday.  The shop foreman believes new tires are in stock and - with a forecast of rain in central MA for the next two days - should be able to complete the repair.  Getting the rods back in perfect alignment after removing them is always a challenge, but he thinks he’s “ up to it”!

PS Tried to attach photos to this post, but they won’t load.  Will try to post separately.

@leapinlarry posted:

Johan, it’s so sad to hear you lost your big brother, your best buddy and friend. You will be in our prayers and thank you for sharing this news with us. Your contributions to our hobby are endless, such great model work. You are an inspiration to our forum and the hobby. Your creative weathering coupled to your scenic detailing is simply awesome. Keep the pictures coming.  Jhz 563, your finds are amazing, thank you for starting this fun to view thread, your Switchers are fantastic. Trumptrain, You, my friend, have a wonderful collection of Switchers as well as large steam and diesels, Wow, Thank You for sharing your beautiful layout scenes with us., NYC -Z Man, oh my, your video of the small S2 Ford switcher was Fantastic, I actually went an bought one, do in soon. Nice layout, fun to watch your switching maneuvers, really cool. Dave Warburton, so sorry to hear this hidden virus is affecting so many of your friends, we will keep you in our prayers and sEwing your model creativity. We all have to stay safe, stay healthy, Pray Continually. And yes, Don McErlean, You always come up with a winning switcher, your finds are so unique and you bring a lot of enjoyment to this forum, your Leonardtown and Savanah NYC switcher is beautiful and keep the tales coming as their always interesting. Have a great Sunday as I’m a day late, and a dollar short. Happy Railroading Everyone

LeapinLarry. Thank you so much. It is a great honor if I can be a source of inspiration for someone. 🤝

Johan

@Steam Crazy posted:

Johan, I am also very sorry to hear about the loss of your brother and I am still a big fan of your modeling of ME railroads.  Be comforted by knowing your Forum “brothers” are thinking of you.

John

John. Thank you very much. I really appreciate the support of the Forum "brothers" and it is a great honor if someone appreciates my accomplishments.

Johan

@Number 90 posted:

I second what John "Steam Crazy" said, Johan.  Did your brother enjoy your model trains with you?  It's good to know that you two were bonded as musicians.

Sincere condolences to you and your family.

Tom. Thank you Sir. We were more united by music and we were a good ferry group, but yes he also appreciated my railroad hobby.

Johan

Leapinlarry :  Thank you for the complements.  I am glad you and others enjoy my little tales of the L&S.  Your comments are most welcome.

Regards

Don

@Dave Warburton posted:

Great modeling. Great photos. As always. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you so very much Dave!!  Much appreciated!

Johan, Very sorry for the loss of your brother'. May he rest in peace.  You'll always have the memories to hang on to... As mentioned, your modeling is superior and loved by many. I hope it helps you to fill the void.  Best wishes to you for peace of mind... God bless'..

So sorry for the loss of your brother, Johan.  I really like that picture of the two of you.  As many other members have stated above, I’m glad to see you posting again.  I encourage you to lean on the Forum brotherhood when you want or need to.  I’ve always been inspired by your modeling work...and really appreciate your willingness to share it with all of us.

Photos I tried to attach to my earlier post.

Johan,  I  echo the sadness we all feel when we heard your brother passed.  My condolences go out to you and your family.

On a different note,  I always liked your painting and weathering of  MEC locomotives. So in that vein. I just finished weathering my CNW NW2 #1017.  Here it is pulling bottle car #5 from the soon to be built blast furnace cast house at Overbeider Iron and Steel . I was tired of looking  at a clean locomotive next to a well weathered bottle car.

I did the weathering job with a wash Floquil's oily black,  grimy black , mud,   and rust colored powder. The locomotive is much darker in reality.

@Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

Johan, Very sorry for the loss of your brother'. May he rest in peace.  You'll always have the memories to hang on to... As mentioned, your modeling is superior and loved by many. I hope it helps you to fill the void.  Best wishes to you for peace of mind... God bless'..

Ted. Thank you so much. 🤝

Johan

@CNJ #1601 posted:

So sorry for the loss of your brother, Johan.  I really like that picture of the two of you.  As many other members have stated above, I’m glad to see you posting again.  I encourage you to lean on the Forum brotherhood when you want or need to.  I’ve always been inspired by your modeling work...and really appreciate your willingness to share it with all of us.

Joe. Thank you. I really appreciate your kind words. I've always been inspired by your weathering work  (D&H and LV). 🤝

Johan

@third rail posted:

Johan,  I  echo the sadness we all feel when we heard your brother passed.  My condolences go out to you and your family.

On a different note,  I always liked your painting and weathering of  MEC locomotives. So in that vein. I just finished weathering my CNW NW2 #1017.  Here it is pulling bottle car #5 from the soon to be built blast furnace cast house at Overbeider Iron and Steel . I was tired of looking  at a clean locomotive next to a well weathered bottle car.

I did the weathering job with a wash Floquil's oily black,  grimy black , mud,   and rust colored powder. The locomotive is much darker in reality.

Bill T. Thank you so much. It is incredible how much support I have received from this great group, it gives me the strength to continue forward. I'm really glad that you liked my work, keep up your good work too. 🤝

Johan