For a couple of years (maybe 2010-12) the Walthers HO catalogue had an article showing how they created a 4x8 layout that was an engine terminal, including a roundhouse and a diesel 'squarehouse'. If you can track it down, that might give you some ideas?
Not off-topic at all!
I'm not sure the facilities I'm using for inspiration had pens, but it's another element for me to consider freelancing in.
My 'protolance' road will be a hybrid between RDG & PRR anyway (that ought to make just about everyone mad ), so I can get away with a lot.
Thank You.
I drive by the Saucon Engine Facility remains from time to time. The coaling tower was removed sometime last year. four or five stalls of the roundhouse still remain, used for truck and gravel storage. It is a sorry sight.
Thanks for the replies, definitely some food for thought. I've been meaning to read Armstrong's Track Planning, but haven't gotten to it yet.
As I said, I'm not exactly modeling RDG, but I was definitely planning on making an homage to the very distinctive Saucon coaling tower with it's twin 'barrels'. Believe it lasted all the way up until just a few years ago though it,and pretty much all the rest of Saucon, are now gone.
dehusmanInteresting note, all the passenger engines (4-6-0, 4-6-2, 4-4-2) and some of the road power, would back into the engine terminal and then be turned and back towards there outbound trains at Bethlehem.
That's what, 2-3 miles, from Bethlehem Union Station back down to Saucon?
I agree that the inspection and ash pits would be on incoming, but I suspect coal/sand/water would be on outbound. Better yet, they'd be on all tracks, for flexibility. Incoming could be used as outgoing in a pinch.
Don't know that I have seen an "inspection pit" on a Reading engine facility (other than in the roundhouse).
If there's an inspection pit, it implies someone is going to do something about a loco that doesn't pass. I think you need some sort of area or building where that something would happen.
That's called the roundhouse. The roundhouse was a repair facility, not a garage to store engines. If an engine needed work, it went to the roundhouse, if it didn't need work it went to the ready track.
Sand and coal could do both, also; but it might cost a little more.
The actual coal tower was a concrete one, it had a covered unloading track and two tracks, one under the bins and one on the east side. The facility was oriented N-S with the turntable at the S end and the roundhouse on the E side. The main track was to the west, with the coal supply track on the west side of the tower and the coal tracks under and to the east of the tower.
Also of interest would be the general concept of "ready tracks". The extent and need for these would depend on the likely flow of locomotives.
The Reading was a working railroad so the majority of engines would be stored outside. The roundhouse only had 5 stalls and there were dozens of engines assigned to that location. The ready tracks would not be "garden tracks" as in a fan around the turntable, they would be parallel tracks next to the coal tracks to hold several engines elephant style awaiting assignment. Interesting note, all the passenger engines (4-6-0, 4-6-2, 4-4-2) and some of the road power, would back into the engine terminal and then be turned and back towards there outbound trains at Bethlehem.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
If you go to www.historicaerials.com and search for Bethlehem, PA, chose the 1955 photo and then scroll to the east a ways there is an aerial photo of the Saucon engine facilities. Its a bit grainy but you can see how the major elements were laid out.
In addition if you search Google for images of Saucon railroad, there are pictures of the roundhouse in varios states of disrepair and demolition, plus some shots of the coling tower (good news is tis a concrete on so it can be scratched from plastic tube and sheet relatively easily.)
As an alternative, there is the CNJ facility at Allentown just a few miles away on the other side of the river that hosted RDG, LV, CNJ engines in the diesel era.
Passenger trains shared the LV station at the opposite end of the steel mill from the Saucon terminal.
There are some good examples of service facilities in John Armstrong's Track Planning for Realistic Operation.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I can't help with research guidance.
But I do wonder at your feature list:
If there's only one in and one out track, the water spout could easily swing to both tracks. Sand and coal could do both, also; but it might cost a little more. Management would have to decide if it's worth it. I would vote yes--see above.
Also of interest would be the general concept of "ready tracks". The extent and need for these would depend on the likely flow of locomotives. Flexibility of use is again a useful thing.
Ed
Hi all,
I'm looking to start planning a ISL-type layout (HO), and since I like playing with steam locos a lot more than switching puzzles I have been considering a modest steam-era service terminal as the subject.
I'm not planning (nor do I have the space) to replicate any existing real terminal, but my 'protolance' inspiration would be Reading's Saucon yard terminal - the end of a substantial double-track branch line that served Bethlehem Steel from Philadelphia. Traffic would have included freight for the steel mill & coke plant, plus local freight and passenger service, and an interchange w/ the Lehigh Valley RR.
I've never modeled an engine terminal before, but from my meager existing knowledge, the features I should definitely make provisions to model for realistic steam turn-around are:
Is there anything critical I'm overlooking here? I'm about ready to start doodling prospective track plans to see if I can make this work in my space.
I've found a few prototype resources around online, and am aware of a Kalmbach book on the subject, but I'd appreciate any research guidance as well.