I have made some changes to the tracks in the yard, to give more operating potential, and find a use for my various tank cars For the story and pictures of the changes, go here Lots to do yet, like concreting some loading areas, and plumbing lots of pipes
Looks like you put a lot of thought into this change Alan. One benefit to being a modeller is to be able to do the changes the way you want to. It all makes sense and adds to the interest of your layout. I sure admire you concrete skills.
Looking real good Alan.One of the neat things about forums like Trainboard is all the neat ideas that are posted to fuel your own trackplan ideas.
I have laid some "concrete" strips alongside the loading sidings, now I need to add lots of piping. Not sure what I need, though
Looks great, Alan! As far as the piping issue, what about that soft, aluminum(?) tube stock? Would be easy to form and bend. Probably just enough to give the appearance of an established piping system would do. seems piping of this nature runs in pairs or groups of 3 or 4. They run underground, above ground along concret pads and are even suspended above roads. They typically make 90 degree turns (I used to work in refineries...never took one stinkin' picture though! ). Russ
Some of the tank car sidings will be unloading only, some loading only and some loading and unloading. I have searched the internet for pics of these items, but not found much. I suppose that pipes emerging from the ground, with a connection for a flexible pipe would be ok for unloading. Loading seems to be gantries with one or more loading pipe nozzles, similar to one I used in my HO days (Walthers).
I too have been looking for info about loading tank cars for my oil refinery. For pipes, I use pieces of household wiring. This wiring comes with two wires and a ground in a plastic sheath. The wires are just under 1/8 inch in diameter. I spray paint them with automotive laquer, white or silver or any colour I want. It bends easy and really looks like piping. In Canada we are on a 110 volt system so wiring is light. This may be different elsewhere where voltages are higher then wiring has to be heavier I guess.
Good thinking Robin. We have mains wiring of various sizes, depending on the amperage they are intended to carry. I expect that slivers of the plastic sheath could look like pipe flanges. We can get small dia rod and pipes in Aluminium or brass in our local hobby shop, so could do the same with these. Just need to figure out where to put 'em!
