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Yard Switchers

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  • Member since
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Yard Switchers
Posted by eZAK on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 4:15 PM
I maybe in the market for Yard switcher.

What would you recomend for a switcher that has good low end torque and slow speed.

I run mostly TMCC, But have several conv. engines by Lionel &
One BL-2 by Williams.
Relax, Don't Worry, Have a Home Brew!</font id="size2"> Pat Zak</font id="size3">
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Posted by Dr. John on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 4:36 PM
My personal favorite is the Williams NW-2, a dead-ringer for the Lionel post-war version but with better performance. These are conventional but can be upgraded to TMCC.

I have one of K-Line's Pennsy A-5 0-4-0 switchers. They were part of their collector's club a couple of years ago. Great little scale switcher with TMCC.
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  • From: North Texas
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Posted by wrmcclellan on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 4:38 PM
I have the recent Lionel 080. Gearing is extremely low and it has realistic four chuffs per driver revolution. Electrocouplers at each end.

Regards,
Roy

Regards, Roy

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 17, 2005 9:09 PM
Check out Atlas' very affordable, TMCC-equipped SW series switchers. I have an SW8 and it's easily my favorite toy - powerful, slow, noisy and sharp. I enjoy yard operations.
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Posted by FJ and G on Friday, March 18, 2005 6:38 AM
It appears that everyone who has a road switcher from Lionel, MTH and Atlas are pleased with its performance. My MTH SW-9 is my favorite locomotive because I'm a big switching fan. Pat, no matter what you do you can't go wrong.
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 18, 2005 3:05 PM
Wrote a long dissent this morning because nothing should be unanimous. Must have thrown it in the bit-bucket.

I've got a Lionel 8516 0-4-0 that I am using for a switcher, and it is not worth the powder and shot it would take to blow it up. Takes at least eight volts to start, and then it starts with a leap. Once you overcome inertia it runs pretty well, and will pull six or seven cars at dead slow. Won't push any, that is because the reverse electronics died and I have forward and three neutrals. Warren says they are sending me the stuff to fix it.

What I would really like is a worm gear driven 0-6-0 with remote controlled couplers at both ends. Anyone know of such an animal?
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  • From: Watkinsville, GA
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Posted by Roger Bielen on Friday, March 18, 2005 5:11 PM
I have the K-Line 0-4-0 and love it. The couplers work well, really creeps along (TMCC), is a great smoker (not fan driven), and can move a long string of coal hoppers (cast and plastic). I have the Burlington Lionel 0-8-0 on order and hope I'm just as satisfied since I'll get rid of the 0-4-0 when it comes in (already promised someone first right of refusal), a Penn doesn't quite fit in on the ELM Ry.
Roger B.
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    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 18, 2005 11:43 PM
I have two atlas sw switchers. They work great.
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    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 19, 2005 7:01 PM
Did the PRR ever use a slope back tender on engines other than the A3-040?
Bob

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