Yard switchers

[zoegraf]

Does anyone know if yard switchers were ever used outside of the yard in the mid 1950's on any railroads? I've seen pics of switchers coupled back to back and wondered why.

 

[diburning]

they may have been used on work trains, locals, or lashed together to work freights when they're short on engines

 

[nephthyr]

I believe they were also double headed for yard transfers taking strings of cars between major yards.

 

[cuyama]

Depends on the railroad. For example, the Montour RR of western PA was famous for running road trains behind strings of EMD SW-9 switchers purchased in the 1950s.

Apparently management recognized that it was cheaper to buy horsepower in switcher form than in road engine form, so they just bought more switchers. Because the suspensions were typically less forgiving than those on road engines (among other reasons), this was not a popular approach on most other railroads.

 

[MRLdave]

The Milwaukee Road used quite a few switchers "out of the yard" during your time frame, doing transfers, locals, and on some branch lines. They also used MU'd SW's in the hump yards.

 

[Selector]

I believe the RS designation intended that the customer could use the motors as they deemed necessary on a given assignment. The SW series were indeed switchers, made short for tighter quarters and frog numbers, but they would occasionally be pressed into service out on the road.

Some short lines used road-switchers on their long hauls pretty much exclusively, although I can't remember their names off hand. I think the Newfoundland Railway might have been one to rely heavily on switchers for motive power.

-Crandell

 

[zoegraf]

Thank you all.

Thanks for the info. You all have inspired me to unpack two old Kato NW2 switchers to do a run on my branchline. I think I'll put shorter length couplers to bring the two switchers closer. Now, should I add marker lights?

 

[FunValleyLine]

Unless you are a diehard prototype person do what you want and make them look great. And sure switchers are used for short runs as stated. Its your mini world enjoy it.

 

[zoegraf]

Unless you are a diehard prototype person do what you want and make them look great. And sure switchers are used for short runs as stated. Its your mini world enjoy it.

I was looking for an excuse to run them.
I doubt it is a prototypical thing with CN in the mid 50's, but WTF. I like to run them. I'm hoping someday I'll have a big enough place to have a yard on my layout.
Cheers.

 

[cajon]

Does anyone know if yard switchers were ever used outside of the yard in the mid 1950's on any railroads? I've seen pics of switchers coupled back to back and wondered why.

zoegraf
The term "yard switcher" is probably something you picked up somewhere. The RRs have mostly called them switch engines that could be used anywhere on their RRs as needed. In fact many RRs have used road engines in the yard as they got older.

 

[Rico]

The first loco I ever operated was a CPR SW1500 at the ripe old age of 14. Knew all the signals and everything!
They ran switchers from Winnipeg MB out to Selkirk to the docks and steel mill and then on to Gimli MB for whiskey and grain, roughly 40 miles or more along the lake.
I seem to recall seeing two lashed up for a longer train.

 

[cv_acr]

CN and CP rostered large numbers of SW1200RS units, with the "RS" standing for Road Switcher. They used them extensively as local and wayfreight units and not specifically as yard units. (Well, not until they got older and demoted to that sort of service). ALCo/MLW S2s and S4s were popular switchers.

Rico - that would likely be what you were operating in since CP didn't have any SW1500s, save for a single pair of ex-RFP units that were acquired secondhand in 2001.

CN did not have any either, but did end up with some after taking over Wisconsin Central. Might have got a few more from Illinois Central, I don't know the IC roster that well.

 

[ICG/SOU]

The only switchers IC had in service at the time of the CN merger were the SW14s (Paducah rebuilt NW2s, SW7s, SW9s, and SW13s). They never had the more recent SW1500s or MP15 series.

I have seen, pre merger, IC running two SW14s nose to nose for yard work (Johnston Yard in Memphis) and taking a local south of Jackson, MS. I imagine running nose to nose (so the cab end is the front) makes visibility very good.

 

[Motley]

Besides the new Gensets, what switcher would be considered new modern? (2006-Present)

 

[IronBeltKen]

Here's a few videos for your enjoyment:

Union RR switchers battling a grade at Bull Run

A pair of Union RR switchers on a scrap train

 

[lmackattack]

at some point in time on any railroad a small engine was put into big service. might not be daily or yearly but it happens. I have seen many switchers used to run cars to and from yards, local pickup/set out or even some local interchanges. I think some of the 1980s switchers even had upgraded trucks to operate at mainline speeds UPRR comes to mind...