roundhouse, or enginehouse

[narrowgaugemaster]

I keep on debating on if I should put a roundhouse or an enginehouse on my On30 5x9 layout.  My locomotives are long and an enginehouse would suit them well, but if I add on to my collection of locomotives an enginehouse would not do much good for all them, where as with a roundhouse you can add stalls. WICH ONE SHOULD I GO WITH?

[underworld]

Probably a roundhouse. But you can add on to an engine house as well. Instead of becoming more circular as a roundhouse as you add on.....it just becomes wider.

 

underworld

[tomikawaTT]

Unlike vintage automobiles, locomotives are seldom stored under cover.  Whether you decide on a rectangular or 'segment of a donut' engine house, consider it a place where locomotives go for tuneups and minor repairs.  Locomotives that are ready for service should be positioned on the engine service area's departure tracks.  Locomotives that are not in service can be parked anywhere out of the way - frequently with a chunk of sheet steel over the stack to keep the rain and 'critters' out.

The exception, of course, is heavy snow country.  If you're layout represents Minnesota or Manitoba, any locomotive likely to be used will need weather protection.  Unused locomotives - the majority of the roster on ore or granger roads - become large moguls on ground too flat for downhill skiing.

Now, think like a visitor to your layout.  Which is more visibly interesting, a lineup of locos on the ready tracks, or the boring ends of a bunch of tenders visible through open engine house doors?

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with lots of locos and NO engine house)

[dwiemer]

Another option would be a transfer table with stalls.  In the Animations book that OGR has, the guy built the transfere table with the stalls under a city scene.  One benefit of this is that it takes up a lot less realestate.  On a modest layout, that could be crucial.  I have a larger size layout and do not have any of these, just a lot of sidings that I can park some trains/engines, besides, who says you need to have all your engines on the layout at any given time?

Dennis