Greetings, fellow N-scalers! As another refugee from that other forum, I figure I'll hang out with the crowd here for a while. Let me contribute a few pics of a diesel fueling facility I just put on the layout, in the hope others will share photos of their service areas. The idea behind this facility, which is primarily made from parts from a Stewart Hobbies kit, is a new facility built in the late 1940s at the top of a helper grade, to fuel the helpers when they cut off a train. Diesel fuel is supplied directly from tank cars on a spur behind the fuel track - a fairly common practice for the Santa Fe's smaller facilities. The volume of helpers didn't warrant one of the bigger facilities, and sand is only available in the roundhouse area on the other side of the main. Pretty limited, but I hope it conveys the feel of a larger service area. Let's see your pics of service areas!
Warbonnet a warm welcome to our site. Hope you enjoy your stay long enough to make this place one of your local sites. Excellent service facility and scenery, your detail is also good to see. One suggestion though would be to add oil and grease spills along the service tracks, something that I need to do as well. Here are a couple of pics of my recently finished service facility although I still need to add more details. I also hope to add a service shed in the near future
I've recently decided to add a service area to my layout so it's great to see what others have used for theirs. I hope to see more versions, as this helps me decide just how I want mine to come together! Hope you don't mind if I steal some ideas
Verne, Colonel, Great to see your stuff. Now I have the inspiration to add some facilities to my yard, and to the Summit, where the helpers cut off. I've got all the platforms (from the Model Expo close-out); now all I need are the fuel hoses and sand domes. I'll scratchbuild those. Verne, I've had a great time at Trainboard. Rick Nicholson asked me to post some stuff about backdrops and nolixes here about six months ago, and the response was incredible.
Here are a couple of pics of the servicing facility on my layout set in Washington state in the 70's. http://www.railimages.com/albums/billbitner/adc.thumb.jpg http://www.railimages.com/albums/billbitner/adg.thumb.jpg http://www.railimages.com/albums/billbitner/agb.thumb.jpg The facility is not quite done yet, I still have to add fuel racks and hoses.
This overview shot shows mine fairly well. Also modified Stewart, just not as much wonderful detail as Verne! I crossbred two sanding towers to make the double one. The prototype is located in the ATSF yard at Corwith, IL. Winslow apparently didn't have one that cool (overhead pipes the length of the concrete service area), and I'm debating on whether I'm going to be completely accurate and pull it, or leave it alone. The three fuel & water stations are Stewart. The sand pit will be roofed someday, and the oil tank pump station is just off scene to the lower left. Winslow's fuel area later expanded directly over to the main line with a run-through fueling facility that is there today. In 1972, power still had to cut off to be refuled.
That's a great looking facility Randgust. I'd like to see more of your layout if you ever get a chance to post some pictures.
Great facilities, everyone! I also have the Stewart servicing platform equipment and will be adding them to mine as well. I also opted to install some of the Peco servicing pits in a concrete pad area seen below. Farther back in the pic is a Stewart pit that will be inside the shop building..... Here's another shot with the shop placed where it will be.... Russ
gee, that's nice facilities. in the 80's i drove a truck for a small oil company 40 miles northwest of birmingham. the railroad (my memory fails me on which one, bham to memphis) would call and give a time and grade crossing where we met the train and fueled the loco from a small 2000 gallon truck. respectfully david model that!
Great looking modeling guys! I have been thinking of doing a diesel servicing facility diarama that can be added to the bench work once I start it. Was hoping for this year, but it is going by so fast and I have been so busy! Really want to get the water problem done before I do my bench work, so I need to stay patiant! LOL I think doing the diarama could hold me back alittle longer. Russ, wish the pits I've been in were that clean!
Verne: I like it a lot. I think the first best thing you did was have a concept. My service facility is sort of hodge-podge as I don't have specific ideas about exactly what should be done on which track. The only saving grace on mine is that the specific trackwork and buildings are based on a prototype. If I get a concept and add details, I will be there or at least better. I do like all your details very much. Where did you get the speeder in the second picture? Really nice details.
Nice Work Guys!!! And Yes Welcome Warbonnet-Fan.... I am hoping to have my area done by the end of Rick's Layout party
Thanks for your comments, guys! Paul, I am finding a lot to like here, including more shots of your beautiful layout...the unit train thread was a real find! Keep them coming, and thanks for the welcome.
Thanks, Paul! Bill, I really like your sand tower...is it scratchbuilt? How did you make it??? Rand, I like the way you combined two of the Steward sand towers...looks very convincing. Pete, glad to hear you benefitted from the kit blowout at Model Expo. John Breen, steal away, that's what this is for! Actually it's not stealing, its trading, and you've shared with us too. John Sing, good to see ya on the board, outlaw! You were going to take a trip back east, did you complete the trip yet, or is it still in the planning stage? I am hoping to do the complete Winslow facility someday, along the lines that Rand has already accomplished so well, but as it was in the late forties...you know, steam service still in place, with the new accommodations for diesel - including half the roundhouse housing FTs.
