Well, I decided to just install the one lead and the other roundhouse tracks and then decide about the other peice of track and where to put things, I can finish everything else.
This one is from Walthers, modified somewhat with Tichy and scratchbuilt parts:
It can also be built with an additional coal chute on the side with the access stairs and ladders, but I didn't have room for another locomotive track.If space is really tight, you could probably eliminate the coal delivery shed and include some appropriate grate detail in the track under the tower: hopper of coal is spotted and unloaded, then removed so locomotives can be refueled. It needn't be much wider than the single track, plus the tower support legs and the bucket elevator.
Wayne
carl425 How about a coaling tower that straddles the tracks?
How about a coaling tower that straddles the tracks?
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Thanks for the info, it it dosn't help this yard, I do have another yard with even less space and the clamshell idea, I like very much!
You seem to have a mindset that dictates the usual North American practice: Lead from the main line runs to the service area, then to the turntable, which is at the center of a conventional roundhouse. I can think of a few prototypical situations that might be worth considering.
I grew up in Akron, Ohio where B&O's "roundhouse" was the traditional pie-shape, but had no turntable. The lead tracks fanned out to access the house. The wye was used for turning, and it was located beside the roundhouse. I now live in Hagerstown, MD, where the PRR had a similar arrangement. In Barberton, Ohio, the Akron & Barberton Belt did the same thing, but never turned their engines so they never installed a turntable. At the B&O location, the coal station was a couple hundred yards away, on the other side of a public street.
At Coleville, PA, the Bellefonte Central located its coal dock right in front of a rectangular concrete engine house, but their turntable was on the other side of the mainline, on the other side of a public street, and had only one lead track.
At the East Broad Top in Rockhill Furnace, PA, the engine terminal is located on Meadow Street, right near the station. But the coal dock is located several hundred yards away, at the other end of the shop complex, on the other side of the main line. There is only one turntable lead track.
On the Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain RR at Saxton, PA, the roundhouse was served by a lead that came in from the south. In early days, there was a ramp coal dock located about 2 or 3 city blocks away. Between the dock and the termnal, there was at least one overpass that carried the track over a public road. After the coal dock was taken down, coal was unceremoniously dumped on the ground beside the turntable lead and loaded into tenders with a clamshell bucket on a steam-powered crane.
In England, it was very common for the turntable and square engine shed to be separated by a considerable distance, and there was a variety of locations for the coal facility.
In short, while the traditional arrangement was common because it tends to be efficient, there was no one absolute standard. Railroads did whatever worked for them.
In your case I'd probably choose one of two options: 1. Put a clamshell crane on your second track, with a big coal pile near it, anyplace it will fit, or 2. Put the coal dock some distance from the roundhouse.
Tom
Because that track would run too close to the buildings if run to the table, definatly not even fudging distance from NMRA gauge, need about 1/2" more and to get that I would have to move the roundhouse, but not only that, there is no way the second lead could line up with the table then as both leads Y off the main about 2 1/2 feet from the table.
Okay. If there's room between the two tracks for the coal and sand facilities, why not leave the second track also as an access to the turntable? It wouldn't normally be used for that, but would be there in an emergency if the other track were out-of-service.
doctorwayne Not sure I understand the situation. If you have room for only one lead to the turntable, coal sand and water can all be situated on it, and I'm sure I've seen photos of a prototype situation where coal and sand supply was also on the same track. It's not something which would work well for a busy terminal, but yours seems to be a little less hectic.A track layout drawing of the area might prove useful for getting more suggestions. Wayne
Not sure I understand the situation. If you have room for only one lead to the turntable, coal sand and water can all be situated on it, and I'm sure I've seen photos of a prototype situation where coal and sand supply was also on the same track. It's not something which would work well for a busy terminal, but yours seems to be a little less hectic.A track layout drawing of the area might prove useful for getting more suggestions.
I agree with selector that a second TT lead can be dispensed with if you have little choice. It's like a lot of things with the prototype, nice to have, but still works even if you have less than is typical on a RR.
The main reasons for the second lead are to facilitate servicing at busier locations. A hostler could bring up another loco while the loco spinning is run off on a different lead. Then there is the problem this redundacy is usually targetted at. If the turnout to the TT lead is disabled, then what? Having the second lead ensures availability if maintenance or other things take the primary one out of commission.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Thought about that but space is limited as it is modular built, this yard is the only part of a 15x30' layout that is old school, it is 19" wide at both ends (my original standard), with a bulge about a foot in to accomadate the turntable and roundhouse with the turntable lead coming off an extention from the back end of an origingal 60" piece or I wouldn't have room even for a lead track. Can't fudge the area much as a doorway is there. Can use the second lead track which was to lead to the turntable and also supply the sand and coal to the sand house and coaling station, just to supply stuff and end there, there will be tight turns but coal and sand cars can be short and take tight turns, maybe just enough to work that way.
I would think that a minimum of two leads would afford access to the turntable if practicable, but who is to say a division point always managed to do that...in every single case...everywhere...all roads? If it can only be one, and you would like to show the other kits in a reasonable placement, I would forego the second lead.
Can the other two facilities be placed on another yard track, or on a siding out on the main?
I am just finishing my yard and it seems I was a little optimistic in the space allowed for the sanding area and coaling, water is fine. Now this is not all my fault as things shiffed a bit once the turntable was it, 1/4" wider, more straightaway needed, clearance for grown throws so I could use them without worry, etc. guess I could model them off layout (not realy there) but I have finnished Campbell kits for them. I could kill the second lead track to the pit, which leads to the question, how many non-storage tracks did turntables have that lead out to the main? My area's round house is only three stall, might rebuild as four and about two or three outside storage, so a rather small operation as far as real railroads go.