FWIW My engine servicing facilities take a minimum of space on my 4'x8' "layout" due to the triple function of a small crane with a clamshell bucket which actually works, by the way. It transfers: sand from a gondola to the sand bin, ash from the pit to an empty gon, coal from a gon to the tender. Spaced close together are sand hopper, drying shed and receiving bin, fuel oil standpipe, transfer crane, ash pit, wash rack (unfinished), inspection pit, turntable, engine house and shops.
Geohan
Geohan,
You have really done a great job in getting the facilities in such a contained area!
Actually you kind of embarrassed me, for I just finished the mock up of loco facilities on my HO layout and I'm unhappy that I ONLY have a 3x6 foot area for the facilities (layout is 11x15, two level)! So you have brought me back down to earth, and I congratulate you for a job well done!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
mobilman44 Geohan, You have really done a great job in getting the facilities in such a contained area! Actually you kind of embarrassed me, for I just finished the mock up of loco facilities on my HO layout and I'm unhappy that I ONLY have a 3x6 foot area for the facilities (layout is 11x15, two level)! So you have brought me back down to earth, and I congratulate you for a job well done!
Hey, mobilman44, that works both ways. In an attempt to space the structures within the engine servicing facility as close to prototypical as reasonably possible, I wound up consuming a 6' x 6' space on my layout. Not too smart. I, too, envy Geohan's ingenuity.
Rich
Alton Junction
Geohan: Someone once said that necessity is the mother of invention. I think they might have been speaking about your engine facility. Very well done!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Nice. I took the liberty of having a look at the other pictures in your album, since it was made publicly available.
Some other good ones there too showing the same facility from different angles:
Looks good!
Smile,Stein
Thank you; mobilman44, Rick, Dave and Stein for your kind words. And thank you Stein for posting the different views. I was just getting ready to do the same thing. They give a better look at the clam shell bucket which while not typically prototypical, and while somewhat cobbled together in their own shops, actually operates and is quite good enough for a very small branch line of the early 50's on the brink of bankruptsy. I'm very new to posting pictures and each time is torturous experience even posting one at a time. I'll try to post some multiple shots and can only guess what that will be like. Stein, did you also see the "access hatches" to the hidden track under the back of the layout?
Geohan Stein, did you also see the "access hatches" to the hidden track under the back of the layout?
Stein, did you also see the "access hatches" to the hidden track under the back of the layout?
Indeed I did - looked almost like museum dioramas - very impressive!
I also noticed the ingenious way that layout was suspended from the ceiling when not using it:
I have to say that even though I am not usually enthused by 4x8's in general (they tend to force sharp curves, and takes up quite a bit of floor space), I still think you have made a most impressive looking layout there, with very effective use of space and scenic separation. My compliments!
Grin, Stein
Thanks very much Stein for posting the additional pictures. You have saved me from a ton of pain! I grew up with a slide rule....you can imagin what the computer age does to me. LOL
I have to say congrats on the small servicing facilities, and also on your layout, small as it is, I really like the many different dioramas there are. Awesome work!
cheers,
Brett
The Railroad must get through . . . . .
http://blandfordrail.wordpress.com/
Geohan:
Having seen the other pictures posted by Stein I am afraid I have to repeat myself - you are VERY inventive. I would be curious to see some details of the crane and how it works. I am also curious to know how you have worked (apparently) 3 levels into 4' x 8'. Can you run your trains from one level to another? Are all the tracks in use? Also, a track plan would be neat to see as well. Hope I'm not asking for too much.
hon30critter I'll try to get some more pictures up, until then maybe a verbal description may help.
The crane bucket is the critical component, If it doesn't turn out, forget it! Mine is a third iteration with hard learned lessons.
A tip to help is to use silver solder on the first joints so they won't melt and fall apart when later joints are soldered.
Also critical is the line used which has to be absolutely without twist. Otherwise the twisted lines will induce so much friction that the bucket will not operate. I found some symmetrically braided fishing line at Cabella"s which did the trick.
The bucket has to weigh enough to sink into the whatever in order to load. I found aquarium sand was soft enough for a bucket constructed of 1/32 " copper sheet. Brass shim stock from an auto parts store would also work
The hoisting cable dead ends at the lifting shackle, thence down and around the sheave on the main pivot bar, thence up through a fairlead at the shackle, thence over the head block and to the "hoist drum". The dump cable dead ends at the shackle, thence over the head block and to its "hoist drum". The two cables actually lead under the hoist engine to a short piece of 1/8" wooden dowel, one to each end. The dowel is stowed under the roof and can be seen with one black end and one red end. Retriving the dowel and rotating it horizontally, actuates the bucket. Whew!!
So much for the crane hoist. I'll try to get to your other questions in another post...with pictures, I hope.
hon30critter
Here is a sketch and pic of the engine service facility crane, I hope it will clarify things somewhat.
You can see the control bar with the red end (dump cable) rotated back to acuate the bucket. Reverse to close and hoist.
I'll try to open a new thread with the track plan and pics.
Thanks for the drawing and pictures. I can see why it may have taken you three tries to get it right. That is the sort of modeling that I really enjoy. I built the little engine in my avatar from brass sheet and had a ball doing it.
You are welcome. Actually on closer inspection I find that instead of the sheave shown in the sketch, I soldered two small washers on the tubing, spaced apart about 1/16". This has worked well and seems to be the better design.