Not sure how to incorporate coaling tower

In the photo it looks like the needed track runs to the edge of the table. Could you do that, cut it to match the edge and "imagine" that the track comes from off the layout to deliver your needed coal?

I thought about doing exactly that, but adding a bumper opposite of the diagonal. I guess I could just imagine it comes from some other yard track.

This is how I laid my service facility out.

Could you replace one of the switches with a Ross 3-way switch?

The right part of the structure is an elevator used to add coal to the elevated holding bin. Gravity supplies the coal to the locomotive tender.   There would be a dump station,where coal is supplied to the elevator, either under the tower or to the right in the picture.    GGD (Golden Gate Depot, Sunset Thirdrail)  tower, several years ago. 

Unfortunately I don't have the room in that area for a Ross 3 way switch. I thought about that already and tried the template in the area. It didn't fit.

I know the side opposite of the chute is the elevator for the coal. Perhaps I could build a bin under the tower and have a dump truck delivering coal to the tower? I'm not sure if that would happen in real life. Or perhaps build a larger angled bin that would be serviced buy a side dump car? One that extends out from the tower and then under it.

This may sound weird but how about delivering the coal by truck from your 'local mine'

Joe

It's hard to provide suggestions when you can't view the entire area, but it looks like you could put another switch off of your mainline just to service your coal tower deliveries and pickups.  If you move that coal tower a little closer to your mainline, could you curve that track to join with your last yard track and service it from there?

Finally, I'm guessing that the only reason the 3-way Ross will not work is because you don't want to tear up your current yard.  Is that right as a limiting factor?

Chuck

PRR1950 posted:

It's hard to provide suggestions when you can't view the entire area, but it looks like you could put another switch off of your mainline just to service your coal tower deliveries and pickups.  If you move that coal tower a little closer to your mainline, could you curve that track to join with your last yard track and service it from there?

Finally, I'm guessing that the only reason the 3-way Ross will not work is because you don't want to tear up your current yard.  Is that right as a limiting factor?

Chuck

I've thought about a Ross 3 way switch. I printed out the switch template before putting the current yard together and I just couldn't get it to fit correctly in the confines I have. The curved legs weren't sharp enough to make it work. 

The entrance to the yard is off of an 054 curve. I could conceivably replace the curve prior to the yard entrance switch with a Ross 054/031 curve switch to allow a track to run under the coal tower.

I was also thinking of redesigning the support for the coal tower with some plastic girders. If I widened out the base of the tower under the chute I could create an open space that a side dump coal car could use to deposit coal. I may try that first and see how it looks/what I can come up with. 

I'd put a bumper at the end where the table drops off and angle cut the track to give you a "smoother" look. At the other end, I'd add some straight and curved track to almost connect to the yard lead, leaving as small a gap as you can between the last curved piece and the yard lead track, and then fill/cover the gap between the tracks with ballast so it looks like the track is connected to the yard lead but really isn't. I doubt anyone would notice.

I'd put a coal car underneath the tower and dress up the area with loose coal, people, a bin, maybe a truck and whatever else you can think of to make it look prototypical. My guess is no one will ever know it's not operational - except you.

Just my  $ 0.02 

Ross Three way.  A #4 switch. 

Coaling tower on the Cabin Lake & Western Railway.

Scotie posted:

In the photo it looks like the needed track runs to the edge of the table. Could you do that, cut it to match the edge and "imagine" that the track comes from off the layout to deliver your needed coal?

Bingo.  You'll also need a grated pit beneath the tower  for the coal to fall through.

Lou1985,

I have the same supply depot ready for placement on my siding.  

My question is what is the correct placement in order going north to south??? Coal, water, sand, for example....

MikeMike CT,

I would enjoy viewing the bridge and tunnel photos in your train room.  Appear to be several very nice shots!!

Thanks

John d.

So I decided to place the coal tower next to the other locomotive service structures. The tower is loaded from a pit next to an adjacent yard track that is serviced by a side dump car from the local coal dealer. So I made it work decent enough for my space. I just had to move the sand tower and it's power house slightly and the tower fit.