Help me decide! Industry or Engine Shed?

Hmmm. An industry would make your railroad money from hauling there freight. An engine shed would save your railroad money by performing needed engine service in a timely manner. Decisions of the Model Railroad CEO.

An engine facility IS an industry

Just think of all the different types of commodities required to service locomotives: coal, water, sand, fuel oil, lubricants, spare parts, and a load of other supplies.  Just about every type of rolling stock (except maybe livestock cars) could be utilized and would involve a lot of switching possibilities.

Of course small RRs probably didn't have much in the way of engine facilities, some just used the outdoors (especially in warm climates), but they would still need all the stuff to run the trains.

 Don't ask me! I'd build a bigger house if they both didn't fit!!!

Industry will just sit there. Engine shed can be used with locos coming and going. I bought a long single stall engine shed for my Little Joes. It will be in the Cascade Mountains. It was a long out of production kit and I love it. Don

Build the engine shed on a platform that can be swapped out for an industry.

Engine Shed and as many service towers,etc, you can squeeze in.

I like your ideal of the engine storage/service facility...

Alan

I agree with AGHRMAtt.  Could you find a way to build both?  Then switch them out, like I do with my bucolic little mountain lake/rocket base/brewery trio?  You could build a version of each than you could remove and replace with the other in a few minutes, whenever you wanted.  It would not only give you your cake and the meal, too, but the removeability feature might be a fun challenge to build/add - it was for me.

good morning all

I going to agree with the switch scene group. my whole layout had that in mind. 

Clem

Being able to switch out the scene sounds like a good idea.   Something to consider.  

I also am thinking of using the siding where my grain elevator is.  I think it might be possible to add a small siding in one upper corner of the layout by expanding the table a bit.  I will have to measure it out though because there is a closet door there and if I can not open it all the way with my expansion the wife wont be happy.