12-27-13 Update Sand Tower - New Photos

Great. Keep them coming.

Rich....looks like you are on the "right track" so to speak..  I need to add a sand house to my facility but to be honest I never liked the sand tower that came with it.  It appears you are going to greatly improve the model with a new sand tower.  It still would be nice if it were part of the model and next to the house with some piping to add detail...

 

Alan

Looking forward to it, Rich..........Gilly@N&W and I have saved a spot in the center of our yard module for it.

 

Peter

Excellent news Rich. As I posted in another thread, we are in need of a sand house and are waiting for you to re-release that kit with all the improvements.

Rich, I think stability of the tower until attached to the layout is always a problem and not that your design is intended to correct that either.

 

I have some pictures of what is being used in some rail yards today and the stability issues is still inherent even with this design.

 

You also can see the fueling poles along the siding. I think they have so many poles because of the different length of engines and to fuel more than one engine on the consist at a time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Pop's

 

Those are a more modern unit, which is available from a few sources.  I was shooting for something that was more Steam/transitional.

 

In HO Walthers has something like this for the Sand Drying house, and then both a steam and a modern sanding tower.

 

 

I seem to recall a picture of a Milwaukee Road sand tower in Iowa, I think. The tower portion looked similar to your mock up, but the legs were wider at the base and angled inward as they got higher. The sand was hand carried up a ladder to a square, shed-type structure. It was an interesting tower that, I think, could service two tracks. Naturally, I can't find an image of it to post now, though.

Ok Rich.

 

Jim Breener,

I thoughjt about that spread at the bottom also. I might be harder for Rich to do but maybe a simple plate type piece on the bottom that was an inch or so wider than the structure might make it more stable.

 

Typically in the real world there would be a large cement footing that you don't see below ground level.  In a modeling world this would really be done by gluing the unit to the table top, and surrounding with ballast and or dirt.

Hi All,

 

Here is some progress on the prototype of the Sand House. kit.

 

The tower and the sand bind are new changes made of laser cut parts.  There will optionally be another pipe running from the tower to the top of the sand drying house if you like.  The tower can also be located away form the sand house.

 

 

 

 

Happy Hollidays to all, and feedback welcome.

Maybe it's too late, but there was typically a door that led from the drying house to the sand bin to allow workers to get to the sand.

 

Rich thanks for sharing again with us.

Nice but since you asked for comments, I would follow Vulcan's advise.

Thanks guys,

 

Vulcan the molds for the actual house were already complete when we purchased the company.  I was working on the tower and the bins.

 

I appreciate your feedback on this however, your work is simply outstanding.  Not sure our kits are in the same league as your skilled craftsmanship.

 

Rich

I thought that might be the case, Rich, just thought I'd mention it because I noticed it. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

 

Fine modeling as always Rich! 

Thanks guys,

 

Vulcan the molds for the actual house were already complete when we purchased the company.  I was working on the tower and the bins.

 

I appreciate your feedback on this however, your work is simply outstanding.  Not sure our kits are in the same league as your skilled craftsmanship.

 

Rich

 Although may not be seen, Rich you could etch a door out of thin balsa wood and have it as an optional sticky detail to the building wall.

 

I'm curious as to what manufacturers offer a modern sand tower.  The MTH and Lionel models do not have very much detail.  The Weaver sand tower and the really nice one that was previously made (I think) by Overland Models are no longer available.  Are there others that I am not aware of?  Pops, thanks for posting those great photos.

You can still find the Weaver and Overland towers at train shows and Ebay from time to time.

 

I'm waiting patiently for Rich to release this new improved kit!

Sort of on topic

Is there a typical order to how a locomotive yard is laid out?

Sand tower, water tower coal station? Do all locomotive yards have all three?

Are other structures always included? My layout will have space for these but I want to position them to be authentic 

Hi Steve, I am no expert on service areas, but there is a good book from Kalmbach http://www.kalmbachstore.com/12228.html that covers the topic I found helpful.

 

I hope this helps

I think we are progressing through the prototype stage, and moving to production.  Thanks for the feedback.  I have added some additional piping to simulate the feed from the sand house to the tower.  In the actual kit you will be able to locate the tower next to the sand house or away form it, like to service a few tracks, which is what I did on my layout.

 

What I found in my research is that there was not really a standard for these structures, each railroad made them differently., but there were some key similarities.  That is what we have tried to capture here.

 

Photos of the new kit built up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the kit installed on my layout with the sand tower located remotely between two tracks. 

That sanding facility looks good Rich.  Might we be seeing it at York this spring?

nice job, Rich....Tom

Rich, when might these be available for purchase??

Rich. Will it come with a recommendation for a proper looking sand? Or what would our members recommend?

Thanks guys, I expect these to ship by by Feb 1 and will be at York.

 

In the photo I used play sand from home depot (we include that info in the directions as well). I think that O scale sand would be too fine. I use play sand for other parts of the layout as well.

Thanks Rich on the play sand.

Don, Glad to help.

 

Harry, Good question, Yes we plan to make the tower assembly available on it 's own

Now that is a model I will want on the new layout.

 

Looks Great Rich.

thanks Rich

Nice work. Im going to attempt to detail and weather the Lionel sand tower. Any suggestions ?

Thanks for the support on this kit up date guys,

 

Both the new sandhouse and the separate tower are available on our Web site now

 

Thank you

Thanks. I just ordered the two kits.

I got my kit and added a door to the sand bin area, a deck over the bin, electric meter with conduit, and a concrete platform for the sand tower as it will be located away from the drying house.

 

The wood was stained with various ink washes, and the sand is real sand from locomotives. There is tons of it dumped all over the yards from people leaving the sanders on so I just scooped some up.  

 

I just need to finish up the roundhouse so we can continue on with the service facilities. This house needs a home now.

 

Very nice. I have not had a chance to assemble mine. Was thinking of the door per Vulcan"s suggestion. Actually I have two sand towers as I did not realize it came with the kit.

Wow, nice job on the sand house, it looks very nice!

Very nice.

 

Question: what is the deck used for and how is it accessed?