Switcher Saturday November 11, 2023- Veteran's Day Edition

Happy SWSAT and Thanks to all our Veterans.
Thank you Bob for getting us started today!

I have my US Army #41 and US Navy #51 working very hard to make up my Veteran’s Day train. US Navy Switcher USN 65-00637 was standing by to take the completed consist but it proved to heavy for the switcher. GG1 #1776 was called in to handle the load.

I keep a model of an army Jeep at the front of my 10'-by-5' layout. It is in memory of my father, a US Army veteran who served as a Technical Sergeant maintaining motor vehicles and in combat in France and Germany during World War 2. On this Veterans Day, the Jeep is a reminder of the debt we owe to all who have served.

My switcher for today is Norfolk & Western #244, the first Railking model of a USRA 0-8-0 steam engine made by MTH Trains – as indicated by the product number (30-1111-1). The model was delivered in 1997 at MSRP $379.00 with PS1. I run mine with a BCR. This die-cast model is often listed by forum sponsor Trainz at prices between $100 and $200. It doesn’t have speed control and runs fast, but I run it without concern – unlike more expensive locomotives.

The USRA 0-8-0 steam engine was one of 12 locomotive types designed by the United States Railroad Administration when it controlled American railroads between 1917 and 1920 during World War 1. 175 0-8-0 locomotives were built to this design during the period of USRA control and some 1200 more were constructed afterward, making the USRA 0-8-0s one of the most common types of steam engines on American rails. They had a total weight of 364,000 pounds (loco and tender) and produced about 51,000 pounds of tractive effort.

MELGAR

Good morning fellow switcher enthusiasts.

Below are photos of a train with a military theme in honor of this Veterans Day weekend, including the classic Postwar Lionel 41 US Army switcher, military cars and US Army caboose. I had both the US Army switcher and submarine car as a child.

I find that young boys in particular are fond of military train cars.

Arnold

Thanks, Bob, for the wonderful poem to start us off on this special Veterans' Day SWSAT. Here's my tribute this Veterans' Day:

My little #41 "threw" her lower delrin bearing yesterday, but really wanted to participate today, so I was able to repair her in time and she happily (and noisily) pulled this "tribute train" in honor of our National Guard, Navy, Marines and, of course, Army veterans as well as those serving around the world keeping us all safe now. Air Force veterans and those on active duty around the world are honored in spirit until I can get USAF-themed rolling stock items.

Happy Switcher Saturday from Finland. Maine Central's ALCO S2 #301 prepares for the day's work.

Boston & Maine SW-9 #1223 and Maine Central SW-9 #334 meet somewhere in Maine.

Boston & Maine coal hopper.

B&M ALCO S2 #1264.

The milk car BAR #11713.

  The Maine Central F3 #683 & SW-9 #334.

Good morning SwSat nation!  Thank you, veterans, for your service!  As a tribute to those who have served, I can think of nothing more appropriate than a trip to the archives for some views of my custom military vehicle train.

John

@BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday from Finland. Maine Central's ALCO S2 #301 prepares for the day's work.

Boston & Maine SW-9 #1223 and Maine Central SW-9 #334 meet somewhere in Maine.

Boston & Maine coal hopper.

B&M ALCO S2 #1264.

The milk car BAR #11713.

  The Maine Central F3 #683 & SW-9 #334.

Gorgeous scenery, Johan.

Happy Veterans Day edition of Switcher Saturday!  My these weeks are going fast.  Time to move out our US Army GP20 for the Holiday -

@BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Happy Switcher Saturday from Finland. Maine Central's ALCO S2 #301 prepares for the day's work.

Great shot Johan. Welcome back to SWSat. Anything new on the layout to share?

Bob

Good morning SWSAT crew!

Happy Veterans Day!  Thank you to all that have served and those still serving.

U.S. Army switcher 41 (retired), stands guard at the grain elevator while a  Penn Central GP20 (Lionel) handles the switching duties at the adjacent agri-business:

Have a great weekend!

Tom 

Johan it's been said before but I'll say it again, your backdrops and how you blend your scenery into them are just amazing.  What are you using for those backdrops, commercially available or your own photos?  If your own how do you get them printed?

@RSJB18 posted:

Great shot Johan. Welcome back to SWSat. Anything new on the layout to share?

Bob

Bob. Thank you. A new landscape has been made and backdrops have been installed. Recently, the idea has been to make a landscape of the Aroostook Valley.

The potato houses will be completed in the next few weeks and then I will add them to the landscape.

The SW-9's shown in the pictures are new, as is the MEC F3. In addition, I have bought about ten new cars, all Maine/New England themed. More stuff coming soon.

Johan

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Gorgeous scenery, Johan.

Arnold. Thank you very much. 🤝

Johan

@coach joe posted:

Johan it's been said before but I'll say it again, your backdrops and how you blend your scenery into them are just amazing.  What are you using for those backdrops, commercially available or your own photos?  If your own how do you get them printed?

Joe.

Many thanks. Everything comes from a thought when I see a landscape in my mind. The pictures I've used are partly taken by myself from last year's trip to Maine, but all the pictures have been created with photoshop. The brick houses that appear in the pictures I took in Portland, but then just planted them in a new landscape with photoshop. One picture was gifted to me by Shawn Duren. Thank you Shawn.

My friend Juha owns a photography shop and he helps with the construction of the images, for example by printing them and then mounting them on composite boards.

Johan

Johan, welcome back to SwSat!  I'll look forward to seeing the updates to your layout.

John

@Steam Crazy posted:

Johan, welcome back to SwSat!  I'll look forward to seeing the updates to your layout.

John

John.

Thank you. After the busy museum railway summer, it's nice to relax again with your beloved hobby. A new landscape will coming, but it will take time. I have also planned another trip to Maine for next summer.

Johan

Great start RSJB18 on this Veterans Day God Speed to all our Veterans! Buy a Vet a beer

PW Lionel #41 moving some missiles.

Well I want to thank all of our veterans both living and passed as well as retired or serving for their service to our country.  There is no question that our nation would not have survived without their devoted service.  So I thought I would start today with a picture of my front walk in "Veterans Day" decoration.  Our local Boy Scout troop puts the flags out all over the neighborhood (small donation) and makes the entire area shine on this Holiday.

Well if its Veterans Day and Switcher Saturday, we need special switchers.  So here are my four.

First the Army , Lionel #41 from 1955-1957

Next the Navy ... this "Beep" from about 2005

Of course the Air Force "Beep" from about 2003

We can't forget NASA and now our Space Force.  This switcher is Marx from 1959-1964

My personal service includes uniformed time in the Air Force as well as time as a civilian engineer with the Dept of the Air Force, Dept of the Navy, and NASA.

Best Wishes to All

Don

Thanks, Bob, for taking the time, and making the effort to keep this thread going every Saturday. Hopefully, John gets out of the doghouse soon. Thanks to all contributors for their great posts, pictures, and videos.

A tip of the hat to Mel. I had #244 N&W 0-8-0, way back when, before the deluge. Reentering the hobby, I found this guy on eBay, and it was my first engine purchase. Loved the looks and performance, but hated the hooter whistle. So I swapped soundsets, with a 2-8-2, and, even if not prototypical, sounds much better to my ears.

Happy Switcher Saturday on this special Veterans Day edition. I acquired this Lionel post war U.S.Army Switcher years ago in like new condition.

Good afternoon fellow switcher fans!   Today, Verteran's Day, we pay special honor and appreciation to all who have served.  

The Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad whose rails joined those two cities,  served the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, among many other customers for many years.    Today the B&A SW9 switches some flat cars with military vehicles in Patsburg.  

B&A brakeman Jolly Tucker stands watch over his load.

Johan, is Juha the friend that came to Maine with you last summer?

@trumpettrain posted:

Good afternoon fellow switcher fans!   Today, Verteran's Day, we pay special honor and appreciation to all who have served.  

The Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad whose rails joined those two cities,  served the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, among many other customers for many years.    Today the B&A SW9 switches some flat cars with military vehicles in Patsburg.  

B&A brakeman Jolly Tucker stands watch over his load.

So there are 2 famous fallen flag B&A railroads: the Baltimore & Annspolis and the Boston & Albany.

Gorgeous trains, layout and photos as usual, Patrick. Arnold

@coach joe posted:

Johan, is Juha the friend that came to Maine with you last summer?

Joe,

No, that was Hannu.

Johan

@trumpettrain- You know Patrick, I am unsure if you are aware of this but the US Navy had a "railroad" that was put in during WWII and used to move materials and personnel to create the major aircraft test center at Patuxent River, in Southern Md.  I am not sure of the exact dates but it operated from about 1943 to sometime in the middle 50's around '53 or '54.  It went from Alexandria, likely the RF&P yard there, down to the Leonardtown area in St. Mary's county where the test center was (and still is) located.  The Naval Aircraft Museum near the base used to have some pictures of its operations.

Anyway, given the area you model I thought you might like to know.

Don

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

So there are 2 famous fallen flag B&A railroads: the Baltimore & Annspolis and the Boston & Albany.

Gorgeous trains, layout and photos as usual, Patrick. Arnold

Another B&A is the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad in Northern Maine.

MELGAR

Absolutely! Thank you Melgar.

@Don McErlean posted:

@trumpettrain- You know Patrick, I am unsure if you are aware of this but the US Navy had a "railroad" that was put in during WWII and used to move materials and personnel to create the major aircraft test center at Patuxent River, in Southern Md.  I am not sure of the exact dates but it operated from about 1943 to sometime in the middle 50's around '53 or '54.  It went from Alexandria, likely the RF&P yard there, down to the Leonardtown area in St. Mary's county where the test center was (and still is) located.  The Naval Aircraft Museum near the base used to have some pictures of its operations.

Anyway, given the area you model I thought you might like to know.

Don

Thanks for this information Don!  I had no idea this railroad ever existed.  I will check into it.    I do know of the Chesapeake Beach Railroad which ran from DC to Chesapeake Beach in Calvert County, Md.   I'm wondering ( and will research it ) if the Navy railroad used part of the CBRR road bed?    

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

So there are 2 famous fallen flag B&A railroads: the Baltimore & Annspolis and the Boston & Albany.

Gorgeous trains, layout and photos as usual, Patrick. Arnold

Thanks so much Arnold!   And as MELGAR point out there are 3 B&A fallen flags.  Boston & Albany, Bangor & Aroostook, and Baltimore & Annapolis.

@Don McErlean posted:

@trumpettrain- You know Patrick, I am unsure if you are aware of this but the US Navy had a "railroad" that was put in during WWII and used to move materials and personnel to create the major aircraft test center at Patuxent River, in Southern Md.  I am not sure of the exact dates but it operated from about 1943 to sometime in the middle 50's around '53 or '54.  It went from Alexandria, likely the RF&P yard there, down to the Leonardtown area in St. Mary's county where the test center was (and still is) located.  The Naval Aircraft Museum near the base used to have some pictures of its operations.

Anyway, given the area you model I thought you might like to know.

Don

Don,

The Navy has a railroad in NJ that’s been active for 80 years. It is 15 miles long and serves a 2.9 mile pier in Sandy Hook bay. I wrote about this earlier when you commented that the Navy had nothing to ship by rail.