Which locos make good switchers

[bc6]

On my rr I dont have any switchers and Im not too happy with whats available currently. Which available locos could I substitute for switcher duty. I have some SD60s & 60s GEVOs but nothing Id call a switcher.

[Bsklarski]

CSX around here uses back to back GP40s. We use whatever is there, Gp38, 40, SD40. Personally I  like Sd40, they load pretty fast and start moving even if your pipe is only in the 70s.

[cv_acr]

Yep, most modern railways will use any sort of old 4-axle unit for switching. 6-axles are less common on switch jobs, but will do fine in a pinch. I've seen occasional photos of SD60s and C44-9Ws working an industrial jobs, and one of the most bizarre consists a friend of mine shot was a CP SD9043MAC with two chop-nose GP9s on a local job. (This last occuring in the middle of the winter, and two other railfans ran into each other with their cars in an icy parking lot trying to chase.)

[RockGp40]

From my personal point of view, NS has and will use whatever power they have in Seaford, DE, to shuffle cars around the yard, including (but not limited to) Dash 9s and SD70Ms. Back in the day when DuPont (and later Invista) was still receiving cars and unit coal trains, this wouldn't surprise me due to the continuous shifting required. But now that the plant has been closed for several years, I am surprised some four axle isn't stationed in Seaford for the local.

My favorite are still the high hood 38s of Southern vintage though.

[sdodge]

On my layout my favorite locos used for switching are a pair of Atlas GP15-1's. You can't go wrong with just about any 4 axle loco.

Steve

[bc6]

On my layout my favorite locos used for switching are a pair of Atlas GP15-1's. You can't go wrong with just about any 4 axle loco.

Steve

I just purchased my first GP15-1 a couple of minutes ago lol.

[CBQ Fan]

CSX in my area always seems to use GP-15's.

[packers#1]

I've seen Norfolk Southern station High-hood GP50's, high and low hood GP38-2's, and low hood GP40's (including rebuilt power; one was an ex-NW HH GP38AC), as well as recently Dash 8-32B's. The locomotives do runs to kaolin mines and a fiberglass plant, as well as a few other industries, both on the branchline downtown and the mainline in "the Valley"

[jnevis]

Last time I was in Reno the Sparks yard power was a GP 38 and 15 and Fresno had a pair of 15s. The locals were a mix of GP38,40, and 60s. LA has GenSets.

[Bob Bufkin]

MP15 is also used for switching.  The Atlas model is a good runner.

[nkalanaga]

If you plan to do a lot of switching, pick the one that runs best!  On my previous layout, before the current crop of flywheel-equipped diesels, that was an ABA set of MiniTrix F units.  They looked a little odd switching, but with jumper wires seldom stalled, and had good low speed response.  Nothing ruins switching faster than a poor running loco, no matter how nice it looks.

[eja]

I use a very weather Atlas B23-7 ... works great for me.

[robert3985]

U.P. in the Salt Lake City and Riverdale Yards have been using GP-15's for years.  Some of 'em are really dirty, and some are clean as a whistle.  Ex-MOPAC units...meaning that some look like they've been painted using Pollyscale Armour Yellow, while others look like they've been painted with glossy Scalecoat Armour Yellow. It's an interesting contrast.

Looks to me like GP-15's are "it" for you. 

Have fun!

Cheers!!
Bob Gilmore

[CBQ Fan]

I've seen Norfolk Southern station High-hood GP50's, high and low hood GP38-2's, and low hood GP40's (including rebuilt power; one was an ex-NW HH GP38AC), as well as recently Dash 8-32B's. The locomotives do runs to kaolin mines and a fiberglass plant, as well as a few other industries, both on the branchline downtown and the mainline in "the Valley"

I have seen most of the same combinations as well.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

On my rr I dont have any switchers and Im not too happy with whats available currently. Which available locos could I substitute for switcher duty. I have some SD60s & 60s GEVOs but nothing Id call a switcher.

I don't know, NS uses Dash9s and, and CSX routinely uses SD50s.