Picked up a copy of the new "How To Build Realistic Layouts: Freight Yards" from Model Railroader yesterday. I have to say that this looks like the most useful magazine I have bought in a year. I highly recommend it if you'd like to model a freight yard or are interested in how a freight yard works. :-)
-mike
I found the Popp and Dolkos articles on how they operate their model railroad freight yards to be the best part of the issue.
I already have plenty of reference on real freight yards, seeing how others have translated that to an operating model was very useful.
Chris
For what it's worth:
The idea of having a loco 'shed/depot would seem to have its origins in the early years of our hobby, and the concept of modelling a 'complete' railway as an entity, with all the whistles and bells that went with that idea.
If you care to read any MRR 'how-to' books of the 1950's this comes across very clearly, and was considered to be the acceptable way (the ONLY way) to have a model railway - efectively your MR world within 8' x 4'!!
And you didn't go outside it at all!
However, during the '60's this concept changed and it was realised that it was possible to have a 'connection' off-stage - with the real world, and that a loco facility wasn't an 'absolute' in respect of layout design and operation. It could be dispensed with without feeling any gult or shame.
As a result of this 'discovery', having a Loco' Depot on one's layout is not now considered to be mandatory - especially as it inevitably occupies space which could be used for other things, but it is nice to have, and as usual it comes down to individual preference and inclination.
And as for complication or simplicity?
At its most basic, I would suggest that all that is needed is a simple lean-to over a single siding, or at an-end-of track, and that if anyone really wants to see loco-servicing-simplicity they should check-out any 'bush-tramway' logging, sugar-cane, mining or 'backwoods' industrial line. These organisations have to keep costs down (way down) and they certainly know what simplicity means.
Just a thought (or two) which you might care to consider.
Komata
"TVR - serving the Northern Taranaki . . . "
Right as usual, Komata. Of course if a layout is all diesel, a small fueling station hardly takes any room at all. In a way I kind of miss the "self-contained" layout of the steam era. While it took up a lot of space, there were some great looking yards with coaling stations, water towers, ash pits and everything else that goes with steam.
Jim
While I agree that large loco Depots could be amazing, small is also beautiful.
I personally find a single-stall single-track engine shed, with a small coal bunker placed between the 'Loco' Road and another track and a pneumatic coaling crane serving them both, to be quite delightful - which is what I've modelled at Puketeroto - just a small rural Locomotive Depot, but full of charm none the less.
But, to each their own.
Komata
"TVR - serving the Northern Taranaki . . . "
I once watched the crew fuel a Milwaukee geep and 'F' combo at the yard in Mendota IL one afternoon many years ago; to me this is the ultimate in simplicity for 'servicing', as a number of functions can be undertaken in the open air at a siding, or even on the branch line for that matter if traffic is slow.
If the locomotive needs more complex 'servicing', a train can come and collect it after dropping off a replacement (watched the Milwaukee do this as well!) and would give you an interesting 'alternative' switching move, as well as allowing some diversity.
I lack space and will probably go with a variation of the above, with a dedicated 'service track' that has a small fuel tank, with the terminal switchers going 'off scene' for inspections and major maintenance. Just have to decide which switcher it will be, that gets replaced 'temporarily' by an MP15...
Dennis
Since simplicity in the refuelling of Diesel locomotives has been mentioned:
Here in New Zealand, it has now become quite common to refuel diesel-electric locomotives using ordinary small, two-axle road-tankers at designated yards.
The tankers, usually belonging to local road-transport contractors, merely drive-up, couple-up, discharge and leave.
Doing this has many advantages for the national Railway company (currently owned, ironically by a Road Transport operator), as it doesn't require investment in infrastructure which a fixed, designated refuelling facility would require.
Just something to consider, and an interesting twist on road-rail interaction.
For steam era minimal service; in my home town (Busselton, W.A.) there was a 2 bay loco shed with an ash pit in front of it... the next line was raised ~3', and would have two or three coal wagons parked on it, adjacent to the tender... "Break out the shovels boys"...
Beyond that was a water tower, and a small turntable on a spur off to one side... pretty minimal, but did the job.
Bryan
Loco facilities for those of us who model the steam era are a must. Steamers had large appetites for water and coal. It was not uncommon to find these servicing facilities on, adjacent to, or in close proximity to yards. Sometimes, even a small yard was close to a small servicing facility complete with small roundhouse, coaling dock, ash pits, water tanks, and sanding facilities. Along the mainline, water and coaling stops were common. Where I grew up, there was a fairly large yard where the B&M/MEC had a good sized terminal where locos were serviced in a large roundhouse, coaled with a fairly large coaling dock, etc. Through trains stopped for crew changes and/or motive power changes. Often, "foreign" power could be seen on their way north to the B&A on lease (or vice versa) or to the B&A shops or MEC shops in Waterville for work as these shops sometimes did "outside" work on locos, especially in the diesel era. Whether my facilites will be a show-case for motive power or not will be in the eyes of the beholder but, in my opinion, it will represent railroading as I remember it before the need for such facilites diminished with the advent of the diesel loco.
It still comes down to the fact that it's your railroad, your inerpretation of what it should be, and the level of absolute realism to which you aspire is yours to decide. Also, keep in mind that...if you can imagine it, there probably is, or once was, a prototype example somewhere!
Since we seem to have moved into a more general discussion about yards (and engine servicing) there are three excellent books that have been mentioned several time before on this site but it is worth bringing them to the front once again in case there are some who are not aware of them:
The Model Railroader's Guide to Freight Yards by Andy Sperandeo. This book concentrates on freight yards but includes several plans of engine servicing facilities.
The Model Railroader's Guide to Locomotive Servicing Terminals by Marty McGuirk. This book is about engine servicing (both steam and diesel) exclusively.
Trackside Scenes You Can Model by Jim Kelly. This book covers a bit of ground but includes a couple of single track facilities as Komata was discussing above.
All three are Model Railroader books and are available via Amazon from this site. Click the "Search" button (upper right) with an empty search-for box; click the "Amazon.com" tab; enter the book title in the Search For box and click the "Search" button. The book will appear on the page and you can either click the book or the "Go to Page" button to go directly to Amazon's page that discusses that book. If you subsequently purchase it you will be helping this site.
On my layout I don't exactly have the room for a full steam or diesel engine servincing facility in my small classification yard, but I found a few tips in this issue that helped me create the illusion that the facility was a little further down one of the tracks in the yard that goes off the table.
It does help that diesels can be inspected in place though, but they do need sand and fueling facilities somewhere, and it doesnt have to be grandiose either, just something plain and simple. When I was planning my branchline I took into account the fact that my line probably didnt have the money for anything big, just simple equipment that works to get the job done.
I think Blevins has a very good approach to all this. The City of Prinville Railroad in Central Oregon uses a single track Engine house about 80 feet long. It has a lean-to shop on the side of it (at least the last time I saw it). The diesels live outside unless repair is needed. The fueling is quite simple with a fuel hose and a small sanding station. The Steam locomotive they have, a 3 truck shay lives inside alot of the time.
Jacko
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