Inspection pit depth

[robsmith_nc]

Anybody know about how deep an engine house inspection pit would typically be?

[NeO6874]

based on the ones I've been in (roundhouse built in 1906/7) they're about waist/chest-deep (give or take a little ... though I think some "ingenious" people filled in the pits with dirt/sand ... since from what I can tell in old videos, the workers could walk beneath the locomotives.

[DigitalGriffin]

Waist/chest-deep is about right.  Most of the steam trains parts aren't at ground level and you don't want your arms constantly above your head, or on a ladder.

There is actually very little on the underside of a steam engine that needs looking at in a roundhouse.  Most of the heavy work typically takes place on the boiler front, and pistons. where the roundhouse is biggest/widest.

 

 

 

[tomikawaTT]

DigitalGriffin

There is actually very little on the underside of a steam engine that needs looking at in a roundhouse.  Most of the heavy work typically takes place on the boiler front, and pistons. where the roundhouse is biggest/widest.

Drive axle journal boxes and their adjustment wedges, pilot axle journal boxes, leaf springs, equalizing levers and bearings, inside valve motion...

On the SP and UP, three-cylinder locos had the main rod, crosshead, crosshead guides, piston rod and packing gland to consider.

For that matter, how about the driver axles and the frame itself?  Seems to me there's plenty to be inspected, and adjusted or repaired as necessary, on the underside of a steamer.

I've seen step boxes in pits that were waist deep, so the wrench-benders could get a little extra height when working on things at or above axle level.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

 

[maxman]

Some discussion by those who claim to have made measurements may be found here: http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6538

[robsmith_nc]

Thanks everyone!

[DSchmitt]

roundhouse1 by Donald Schmitt, on Flickr

santafe1 by Donald Schmitt, on Flickr

[robsmith_nc]

Schmitt - Thanks for the blueprints. They actually clarified a few other things for me as well.

Rob

[DSchmitt]

 

santafe2 by Donald Schmitt, on Flickr

[selector]

Inside a facility that allowed drivers to be removed for resurfacing the tires, the pit would be deep enough to accommodate the diameter of the largest drivers by dropping them on a lift, and then sliding them sideways while clearing the rails and supports at the edge of the pit.  Typically, the pits would have a floor about 6' below the tops of the rails, but somewhat deeper if the pit held a lift to raise and lower steam locomotive driver sets.

Crandell

[southernnscale]

I also wanted to thank you! I always figure they would be deep enought to stand up but I have never been in one. I designed one in 3D printing. I guess I will have to fill it with sand to make the depth right! 

[gmpullman]

southernnscale

I guess I will have to fill it with sand to make the depth right! 

Cut some strips of styrene sheet paver brick and lay those in the bottom of the inspection pits over some shim material to raise the pit bottom to the required height. 

Here's a look at a drop pit as Crandell mentioned above:

Drop_pit_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

This one is wide enough to drop two sets. Most that I have been familiar with were not quite that wide.

Cheers, Ed

[Overmod]

Ed, have you got a picture of the NYC drop table(s) at Beech Grove that Staufer said were the only ones capable of tabling Niagara mains?

[OT Dean]

robsmith_nc

Anybody know about how deep an engine house inspection pit would typically be?

 

Rob, you didn't specify which type of enginehouse you're interested in, steam or diesel?  Since I've been hip deep in researching and building a 2-stall O scale brick enginehouse, I'll respond with the depth typical for steam locomotive inspection pits.  I pulled out Joseph Follmer's "Locomotive Facilities - C&NW and CStPM&O," which opened my eyes.  When I built a 4-stall "stone" roundhouse for my HO Colorado Western, I made the pits four feet deep and put steps in both ends of them.  So I was surprised to find the standard pits for both the above roads was two feet, six inches--from the crown of the pit floor to the bases of the rails.  This makes sense, as so many of the maintenance concerns were at axle height.  I don't imagine rail height is of much concern in this day and age, but from the first time I started in O, back in 1965, I determined that the most realistic rails for an old-time pike in O would be Code 100, which as it later turned out was the size AHM chose for their sectional track.  (I think Atlas may have used Code 125, but they may have used the lighter rail too.)  Hope this helps.  Have fun!

Deano

[gmpullman]

Overmod

Ed, have you got a picture of the NYC drop table(s) at Beech Grove

Good question, Overmod. I'll have to browse the stacks and see if I can find anything. Were the S-1s sent to Indianapolis for major shopping? I'm sure any of the NYC's bigger (back)shops could lift the boiler and frame off the drivers but this can be awfully time consuming when only one wheel set needs work.

I'll see what I can find.

Regards, Ed

 

[doctorwayne]

robsmith_nc

Anybody know about how deep an engine house inspection pit would typically be?

 

I wasn't all that concerned about the depth, so mine have merely a "suggested" depth...

...despite the fact that the roundhouse is located very close to the front edge of the layout, and is at eye-level.
Looking through the large windows or through the open doors, you'd see very little.  I had considered adding interior lighting, but I'm not sure that I want to open-up a new can of worms....

Here's a look through an aisle-side window, which is about 2" from the viewer...

...and through a rear window...

This one's taken through a front doorway...

...and similar shots with the camera adjusted to allow more light...

For the LPBs, it would be similar to placing your car on blocks to do an oil change.

Wayne