My favorite switching locomotive is my old Hobbytown RS-3, the weight of the metal body lets me pull any length of train and its slow speed and flywheel coasting is great for switching.
Rick
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Preferred locomotives for switching layouts
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On our club's freight yard, I use my Athern S-12 modified with a Mashima can motor and with Ernst regearing. And with bits of lead tucked in here and there. A tad noisy until the gears became "lapped" (which took about 5 years) but it moves oh so slow and pulls like a bear!
B.D. in "Joisey"
B.D. in "Joisey"
out of 111 Locomotives in my collection I use the following units for Yard switchers:
Light Yard Power:
1 FM H-12-44---> 1 Ex MILW unit used at the Power Plant.
3 EMD SW-8--->1 Conrail car shop job, 1 BC Hydro, 1 CN. Last 2 used as yard/Local Road jobs.
2 EMD SW-9--->both Lehigh Valley Both used in the Yard.
2 GMDD SW-9--->both TH&B Units used in Transfer, Local, and Yard Jobs.
2 GMD SW-1200RS--->both CN Units used for Local Road & Yard Jobs.
1 EMD SW-1500---> Conrail Yard Switcher.
1 MLW S-3--->CP Rail Yard Job.
2 Plymouth MDT-6's---> 1 for the sea port, 1 for Oil Refinery.
1 BLW VO1000---> one EX SP unit Used at the Quarry & Conrete Plants.
Heavy Yard Power:
2 EMD SD-7--->Both Conrail units used for heavy Yard Drill.
1 EMD SD-9--->Conrail Unit used for Heavy Yard Drill.
1 GMD GP-9 Chop Nose---> CP Rail unit used for heavy Yard Drill.
1 FM H-24-66---> former EL Unit used at the Coal Mine.
1 ALCO RS-1M---> Used at the Lumber Mill.
1 EMD GP-16R---> Used at the Paper Mill.
Light Yard Power:
1 FM H-12-44---> 1 Ex MILW unit used at the Power Plant.
3 EMD SW-8--->1 Conrail car shop job, 1 BC Hydro, 1 CN. Last 2 used as yard/Local Road jobs.
2 EMD SW-9--->both Lehigh Valley Both used in the Yard.
2 GMDD SW-9--->both TH&B Units used in Transfer, Local, and Yard Jobs.
2 GMD SW-1200RS--->both CN Units used for Local Road & Yard Jobs.
1 EMD SW-1500---> Conrail Yard Switcher.
1 MLW S-3--->CP Rail Yard Job.
2 Plymouth MDT-6's---> 1 for the sea port, 1 for Oil Refinery.
1 BLW VO1000---> one EX SP unit Used at the Quarry & Conrete Plants.
Heavy Yard Power:
2 EMD SD-7--->Both Conrail units used for heavy Yard Drill.
1 EMD SD-9--->Conrail Unit used for Heavy Yard Drill.
1 GMD GP-9 Chop Nose---> CP Rail unit used for heavy Yard Drill.
1 FM H-24-66---> former EL Unit used at the Coal Mine.
1 ALCO RS-1M---> Used at the Lumber Mill.
1 EMD GP-16R---> Used at the Paper Mill.
Still in the planning (dreaming) stages of my ERIE layout. have puchased a few ERIE locos and rolling stock for it though. Switching duties will fall on an 0-4-0 shifter, 0-6-0 and an 0-8-0 will double as a switcher and some "local" work along with a Mikado. Main line will be serviced by a couple of Pacifics and a Decapod. Since we live in a mobil home, space is limited so no big yards or heavy switching duties. Ken