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Let's talk engine servicing...this was a key goal of mine for the layout. In fact, if the entire layout had to be one big engine servicing terminal, I'm good with that--it would be a great layout to me! (actually, Model Railroader DID publish a layout that was just this--servicing terminal with staging--all the rest was left to your imagination. I loved it!)

Anyway, I have reserved a nice-sized section of my 0 gauge, 3-rail layout for the engine terminal with the theory being that engine servicing is a good "switching" industry, It turns out that engine terminal layout and design isn't a "gimme". There's LOTS to think about.

I found a used Bowser 26" turntable at a train show in very clean shape. To go with it, I wanted a great roundhouse, so I got one of Brennan's limited edition models. I added stalls to go up to 7 which s really all I have room for. The turntable is in and the RH is just getting started. I have an MTH Marklin tin plate backshop that has to go in there somewhere (repro). Beyond that, let's see if we can list the rest....

Coaling (with service track for 

Sanding

water (towers or plugs or both)

Blow down wash out 

Pump house for wash-out

Ash pits

Diesel fuel, wash and sand

Diesel house

Diesel shop (if space....)

Icing house and platform (if desired)

Terminal light towers

Office

Stores

Any shops you want (boiler, foundry, mechanical, electrical, etc).

Outhouses--several

Specialty tracks--RIP, MOW, caboose, office/inspection/testing cars, wheels

Storage tracks

And this is about as far as I have gotten. I'd LOVE to see some pix of your engine servicing areas and hear any discussion that would help me make progress. 

Don Merz

IMG_0195IMG_0197IMG_0198IMG_0199

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Don, 

Here are a few photos of my locomotive service area “in progress”...  The roundhouse was built using IHC engine house kits, bashed over a wood frame of scale 24” timbers cut on a table saw.

The coaling/sand tower was scratch built by a friend.  I added the chute/gate, sand pipe detail.

The control tower is an O scale ITLA laser kit I built with a custom Interior—gear kit.

The Roebling gon I painted an decaled on an Atlas gon—-hauling out scrap from the facility.

last but not least, the turntable is a Bowser, with a custom drive that my friend designed using off the shelf gears, motor, shaft <$100! 

54CEF8C2-B026-4BE2-A37E-679927BACD6BD81C8146-BA8A-4E7F-86E1-FC9056EF9334

EB5078AA-5D0E-4549-AFEF-9DF832C921909D6AF8ED-3FBD-4617-A44C-C28C960E6D581623E407-F4F5-4290-AFEA-0B1BB9EAE21DF6CD2C5F-538F-49F0-927E-D63A1090FA108D430447-0237-42AD-B1DE-8F1766172F59009F2B91-75BC-428A-9EE4-8DC4A9FFE926

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  • 54CEF8C2-B026-4BE2-A37E-679927BACD6B
  • D81C8146-BA8A-4E7F-86E1-FC9056EF9334
  • EB5078AA-5D0E-4549-AFEF-9DF832C92190
  • 9D6AF8ED-3FBD-4617-A44C-C28C960E6D58
  • 1623E407-F4F5-4290-AFEA-0B1BB9EAE21D
  • F6CD2C5F-538F-49F0-927E-D63A1090FA10
  • 8D430447-0237-42AD-B1DE-8F1766172F59
  • 009F2B91-75BC-428A-9EE4-8DC4A9FFE926

Don, 

Here are a few photos of my locomotive service area “in progress”...  The roundhouse was built using IHC engine house kits, bashed over a wood frame of scale 24” timbers cut on a table saw.

The coaling/sand tower was scratch built by a friend.  I added the chute/gate, sand pipe detail.

The control tower is an O scale ITLA laser kit I built with a custom Interior—gear kit.

The Roebling gon I painted an decaled on an Atlas gon—-hauling out scrap from the facility.

last but not least, the turntable is a Bowser, with a custom drive that my friend designed using off the shelf gears, motor, shaft <$100! 

54CEF8C2-B026-4BE2-A37E-679927BACD6BD81C8146-BA8A-4E7F-86E1-FC9056EF9334

EB5078AA-5D0E-4549-AFEF-9DF832C921909D6AF8ED-3FBD-4617-A44C-C28C960E6D581623E407-F4F5-4290-AFEA-0B1BB9EAE21DF6CD2C5F-538F-49F0-927E-D63A1090FA108D430447-0237-42AD-B1DE-8F1766172F59009F2B91-75BC-428A-9EE4-8DC4A9FFE926

WOW! If I can do a fraction of this, I'd be thrilled! What inspiring work!

Thanks.

Don

 

Guys, 

first let me thank you for the positive reinforcement !   The old adage applies: a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  (forward is always a good direction...)

I’ve been at this layout since we built our home, in 2006.  But I had collections or articles and internet downloads as well as a dozen “advisors” in an operations group.  My layout is about 32 x 56 and the locomotive service area is 5 x 11.  I’m adding a  a diesel house soon.  If you need any detailed photos let me know.  I didn’t mention that the ash hoist is from Crescent Locomotive Works....

I use a mix of polymeric sand and actual rail yard sifted dirt for the ground, but that needs work. I like your 8x7 space.  That will serve you well!

We alternate operating session locations but when we’re here, one person is assigned to the loco service hostler job.  Fun!

Don

Don, you just made my day. My overall dimensions will be similar to yours. And I know I can carve out a suitable facility. Please post additional photos!

Thanks

Jay

Well, the last thing I would recommend is copying anything I have done! I have taken every shortcut possible and thrown standards out the door. Not good. Last night I almost finished laying out the service area. I have done the whole layout by eye--no computer and hardly any pencil or paper. I bought all the track and switches I thought I'd need and just started laying them out on the platform. I've had to rip things out and re-do things sometimes. But overall it hasn't gone too badly. 

Lots of bridges. But the part that got cut from my original goals was staging. I was originally going to have staging yards under the layout. But I just decided my tired old 67 year old body would not enjoy the work. So I gave up staging. I suspect that decision will make operations shall we say....uh...."less interesting" than they otherwise could have been. But I just couldn't face the "under the table" work. L-A-Z-Y-r-me. 

My primary goal is simple--to get it into the fun-to-run stage before I meet my maker. I don't expect it will ever be done, nor do I want it to be. I like building. So Lord please just let me run some trains and smell the smoke and hear the 567's whine. I'll be fine with that.

Don

Guys, 

first let me thank you for the positive reinforcement !   The old adage applies: a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  (forward is always a good direction...)

I’ve been at this layout since we built our home, in 2006.  But I had collections or articles and internet downloads as well as a dozen “advisors” in an operations group.  My layout is about 32 x 56 and the locomotive service area is 5 x 11.  I’m adding a  a diesel house soon.  If you need any detailed photos let me know.  I didn’t mention that the ash hoist is from Crescent Locomotive Works....

I use a mix of polymeric sand and actual rail yard sifted dirt for the ground, but that needs work. I like your 8x7 space.  That will serve you well!

We alternate operating session locations but when we’re here, one person is assigned to the loco service hostler job.  Fun!

Don

32 by 56 !?!? Ye GADS. I can't even imagine the workload involved in that. I am happy with this. There's lots to complain about. But I just tell myself to stop whining and get to work.

Thanks for your kind reply.

Don

 

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