Hey Folks
I'm just getting back into MRR after a decade and a half hiatus and my how things have changed. I'm looking at putting together a small-ish urban switching layout and thought it would be instructive to see what everyone likes in n-scale switchers. So let's hear it boys and girls! What do you like and why?
My favs. are listed as follows
1. Atlas Baldwin VO-1000 , I remember seeing them in the yards as a kid in SP Tiger Stripe. The Baldwins shook and vibrated and chugged when they ran.
2. Kato NW-2, in Tiger Stripes of course (SP).
They are both great little yard goats. 
Jacko
MrDNA,
FWIW, and without wishing to be obtuse, could you clarify please exactly what you mean by the term 'Switcher'?
I ask this because the term 'switcher' is uniquely North American, and is unknown outside that continent, with most oveseas railways tending to use larger locomotives for what many of us (especially those in the British Commonwealth) would know as 'Shunting' - moving wagons around to group them together before taking them onto their eventual destinations.
Remembering too that the term 'shunting' is also used to describe the actions needed to place and remove wagons from within sidings, (including those sidings that are to be found 'en route' between main centres)
Small lcomotives ('Shunters') are sometimes used for this purpose, mainly in the larger centres, but Main-line' ('Road'?) locomotives are the main engine-types that are used.
In New Zealand, for instance, we GE U-25B's (Class Dx) for the purpose, along with variations on EMD's G-12 and G-14 types.
These are all 'Mainline' locomotives!
All of which is by way of asking 'What do you mean by the term 'Switcher'?
My own railway, the Tickford Valley Railway Co (London) Ltd (TVR), currently uses modified (Kato) C-11 2-6-4T's as its Mainline (Road) locomotives and for shunting purposes, as these are reliable and are suitable for the purpose. The TVR doesn't have any designated 'shunting' locomotives per se - there is no need - the aforementioned types are both economical and have 'go anywhere' capabilites.
On this basis therefore, I would have to say that my favourite 'Switcher' (aka 'locomotive used for shunting purposes') is the Kato C-11 2-6-4T, yet I somehow get the idea that that is not exactly the information you are seeking.
So, clarification please.
Thanks
"TVR - serving the Northern Taranaki . . . "
The B'mann Plymouth 0-6-0's are good workers... they have great pulling power for their size...
But my favourite shunter would be the WAGR (Westrail) TA Class.
WAGR (Western Australian Government Railways) was renamed "Westrail" in 1975.
Bryan
MrDNA
Thanks for the clarification - it's all to do with the terminology.
'Yard goat' - I understand the term, and for those working on railways developed under British influence it would probably translate as either 'Shunting loco', or 'Shunter', with these units being older locomotives. or those which have been replaced by engines with larger mainline hauling capacity - very rarely purpose-built for the job (though this was/is not unknown).
And as for my 'recommendation' for 'n-scale switchers? I would concur with Bryan - the B'mann's 0-6-0 Plymouth is extremely reliable and can haul a surprising amount. They tend to be relatively cheap and are reasonably 'idiot-proof' as well - always a good point.
Hope this helps.
Komata
"TVR - serving the Northern Taranaki . . . "
Komata, switchers, or shunters, in the US, Canada and South America are small engines specifically designed for that purpose, although most of the MP15s were ordered with "road trucks" to be used for other purposes. Most of the switching I see on the Norfolk Southern and other roads is done, as you stated, by older, usually 4 axle units. Where I live there is a small yard and the local switch engines are assigned here on a rotating basis. Usually GP38s, some with the high short hood. Very seldom do I see a real switch engine but occasionally they will assign an MP15.
MrDNA, as you can probably tell, I favor the Atlas MP15. I have three and they all run great. I think they look neat, all hooked together, hauling a string of hoppers to the mines.
After some disassembly cutting and stuff. Just an idea I have looked at in MS Paint, adjusting a Bachmann 2-6-6-2 to look more like the WM 0-6-6-0's that used to be 2-6-6-2's. Once converted the 0-6-6-0's were used in heady yard service.
But, here's my current favorite of those currently available, the Walthers (Life-Like) USRA 0-8-0:
Now, this one took some work and is made from two models no longer available, but it's my real favorite:
Put the MODELING back in model railroading.
Got myself a Kato NW2 on the way! 
Nice to hear those little bitty Bachmann's are good runners - I'd been eyeing one for a while, but thought they wouldn't work too well. I like how tiny they are. Might pick up the next one I see.
As always, thanks for the advice everyone!
I love my Atlas CR MP-15!
As far as good switchers go, Arnolds S-2's are great and look very sharp in Rio Grande colors. It was a favorite until I started converting all my gear over to DCC.
Honorable mention goes to Bachmann for their old Steam 0-6-0. The engine is pretty much bullet-proof...suprising as it is a pretty old engine.
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