Steven OtteI like DoctorWayne's idea. I did something similar years ago for the MR&T, only I used an old-fashioned clerestory-roof wood combine.
Brings to mind the old Revell Yardmaster's Office or Engine Crew Shanty!
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Ed
Hmm, in the modern era I think either a repurposed container or an office trailer would be more likely, if not as "railroady" as a reused boxcar. A short (20ft) container could serve as the storage shed for either.
I was about to say the same thing as DoctorWayne and Steve, except that I would suggest a caboose. The Kendallville Railway uses a bay window caboose for its office.
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Mike Kieran
Port Able Railway
I just do what the majority of the voices in my head vote on.
I like DoctorWayne's idea. I did something similar years ago for the MR&T, only I used an old-fashioned clerestory-roof wood combine. Tools on one side, offices on the other. Added a scratchbuilt dock, some vents, an air conditioner mounted through the walls, and cribbed ties in place of the trucks.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
A local yard near me used an old wooden boxcar, with its trucks removed, and on some sort of foundation - perhaps ties or cement blocks. When they needed to increase its size, they added another. This arrangement lasted well into the '90s, I think, and a more modern set-up could use a steel boxcar.Remove the car's doors and block the openings as required, then add man-doors wherever appropriate, along with windows, perhaps some awnings over the latter, a porch at the doorways, smoke jacks, toilet vents, an oil tank, some tool lockers outside...the list of details is as endless as your imagination. Tichy offers a variety of suitable door and window castings.
Wayne
If the office is 12' square, and the locker room is 12' square, and you add a bathroom and closet, you get 12' x 27'. Allowing for a roof overhang gets it up to maybe 16' x 30'.
Or 2 1/4" x 4 1/8" in HO.
Fitting adequately into 2 1/2" x 10".
That 2 1/2" space is pretty narrow, and I am not sure if you want to scratch build or just purchase a kit.
If you Google 'ho scale yard office', a lot of results pop up for HO scale kits.
Rich
Alton Junction
I just did a search for "railroad yard office" and got lots and lots of pictures. More than enough for your purposes, I think.
I once scratchbuilt a yard office for a friend. I just made it up. I thought about what I figured happens in a yard office, and built a building for the purpose.
This is what my yardoffice contained: a locker room, a bathroom, an office. I designed it towards the small end, for a small yard. For example, no more than 2 desks in the office.
With 2 1/2" by 10", you can easily fit something that size in, with room to spare. You might consider a small storage building, maybe containing brake shoes, tools, cans of stuff--tools of the trade for a small yard.
I just installed a new house track on my HO scale layout where the local switching job will be based. The engine and caboose will "tie up for the night" there. I want to put a simple crew house/yard office adjacent to this track. Real estate is limited, as it is between two tracks; it is approximately 2 1/2" x 10" in that area. I intend to build a a simple wooden structure, with board and batten siding, and either a peaked or a lean-to roof. Any ideas? pictures of typical designs? Thanks.