a N Scale Module Idea (and some questions for my US friends)


AemJaY1

Well-Known Member
Hey forum folks

I have some questions about US railways and stuff. I was thinking of building 2 modules for maybe display or just because i can :p
i have a turntable, and thats where we start. The turntable is big enought to fit all my Diesels i have. so i was thinking of building on one module a roundhouse with maybe 5 sheds. also i want to build a diesel workshop. but if i want to build a railyard maintenance (is it called like this?) in german its Betriebswerk. so maybe someone can help here. What is also needed if i want to build something like that?

the idea is, to build 2 straight mainlines in front or maybe one and then some turnouts that lead into the "big" yard. and on the other module maybe a small industry and of course a bridge :D

But so far i really asking for what do i need for a maintenance area. and are there specific buildings in a specific way so the engines have to go trough step by step, or can they be placed random?

thank you for your help.

cheers
jay
 
That's a question I was asking myself. So this book is on the wish list:

 
oh thats nice troy. thnx for the link
so far we know:

- engine house
- roundhouse
- refueling station
- service pits?
- maybe also a track for tanker cars that bring in the fuel?
- also some storage buildings where boxcars bring in materials for the engine maintenance?
 
oh thats nice troy. thnx for the link
so far we know:

- engine house
- roundhouse
- refueling station
- service pits?
- maybe also a track for tanker cars that bring in the fuel?
- also some storage buildings where boxcars bring in materials for the engine maintenance?
How large do you want this place to be? Most diesels don’t require turntables, and are stored outdoors other than for some repairs.
A small fuel tank would be enough for anything other than a huge facility, and could be served by a single tanker truck.
A small sand tower would be sufficient.
So, if all you want is a place to display a small handful of engines, a pair of tracks, a two stall engine house, a single fuel hose and sand dispenser would be more than enough to take care of the basics, and provide everything needed.
Now, if you are trying to use what you already have, and make it believable, that’s another story.
 
Here is a real shortline terminal in the town I grew up in, Lewiston, ID, USA:
The Paper Tiger warehouse stands where the original roundhouse was, there used to be a large standing fuel tank but has been replaced with smaller tanks on the ground. The original tank can be seen if you go to StreetView and under "all dates" is a link to photos from 2008. I'm not sure what the container/trailer mounted tanks are being used for, usually they are for water but there are 11 of them. The building next to the warehouse is the current "engine house". The cars all parked individually are on repair tracks. Back in steam days, my guess is the facility would service between 10 and 20 locomotives a day.

Here is what is left of a larger service area in Missoula, MT, USA: https://maps.app.goo.gl/x5DCyQNJQ8vDRqBA9 You can see where the roundhouse used to be and the current service tracks to the west.

This is a very small service are in Rapid City, SD, https://maps.app.goo.gl/yrdGJS8tCAvNzkCZA It looks like the only infrastructure is the three stall engine house and a covered hopper for sand.

Here is the diesel repair facility in Alliance, NE: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SwppoxC1jzTydvjx7 It is capable of repairing locomotives after the worst of wrecks.

A service area in Nampa, ID: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9mDK4vVUdQS4FUfc7

One in Los Angeles, CA: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kFeQ1fTWaAsKLaGN8

Another one a few miles away in LA, CA: https://maps.app.goo.gl/E3h7dWU1UK9zNA4t6 There are about 60 stored locos there.

This is a modelgenic facility in Rockland, ME: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VnimkWKMfPb1Mdit8
 
Okay Tony K would tie me to the tracks for leaking this, but if you go to google books you can preview most of the book…


In my case there’s just a single track maintenance building perched precariously on the edge of the world that services the local power…

PXL_20250129_200717668.jpeg


Also check out this thread from Guilfordrailman:
https://modelrailroadforums.com/for...-familiar-with-the-vermont-rail-system.38153/
 
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Okay Tony K would tie me to the tracks for leaking this, but if you go to google books you can preview most of the book…


In my case there’s just a single track maintenance building perched precariously on the edge of the world that services the local power…

View attachment 210477

Also check out this thread from Guilfordrailman:
https://modelrailroadforums.com/for...-familiar-with-the-vermont-rail-system.38153/
I love the simplicity of your engine facility:)
 
How large do you want this place to be? Most diesels don’t require turntables, and are stored outdoors other than for some repairs.
A small fuel tank would be enough for anything other than a huge facility, and could be served by a single tanker truck.
A small sand tower would be sufficient.
So, if all you want is a place to display a small handful of engines, a pair of tracks, a two stall engine house, a single fuel hose and sand dispenser would be more than enough to take care of the basics, and provide everything needed.
Now, if you are trying to use what you already have, and make it believable, that’s another story.
I agree with @bnsf971, you could create a very prototypical facility with just a few key components.
 
Hey forum folks

I have some questions about US railways and stuff. I was thinking of building 2 modules for maybe display or just because i can :p
i have a turntable, and thats where we start. The turntable is big enought to fit all my Diesels i have. so i was thinking of building on one module a roundhouse with maybe 5 sheds. also i want to build a diesel workshop. but if i want to build a railyard maintenance (is it called like this?) in german its Betriebswerk. so maybe someone can help here. What is also needed if i want to build something like that?

the idea is, to build 2 straight mainlines in front or maybe one and then some turnouts that lead into the "big" yard. and on the other module maybe a small industry and of course a bridge :D

But so far i really asking for what do i need for a maintenance area. and are there specific buildings in a specific way so the engines have to go trough step by step, or can they be placed random?

thank you for your help.

cheers
jay

The BNSF currently has 33 operational turntables over its 32,500 mile rail system. While I suspect (but don't know for sure) that the roundhouses are all long since gone, the turntables are still used to turn PTC locomotives in the right direction for heading a train. Roundhouses eat up a lot of real estate. Turntables, not so much. You could incorporate a turntable into a small diesel maintenance facility and still be prototypical with today's railroading. Of course, if you're talking first generation diesels of the 1940's/1950's, then having a roundhouse would have been the norm back in those days while steam was being phased out.

BNSF Rail Talk: Turntables
 
I didn't look at all the turntables but Seattle, Whitefish, Glendive, Grand Forks and Lincoln have at least part of the roundhouse still standing.
 
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Hey all
Wow thank you all for the Feedback. I have to say, the idea started, just because i have a N Scale Turnout that i cant use on my swiss style layout. No space for it and not the right setting. so i was thinking maybe i can build a US Diesel Maintenance area with a turntable in it :)

The space just to let you know are two modules one module is 120x60cm (yes sry i know but iam from switzerland we work with cm and meters :p).
So for N Scale i would say, i have some room. But if you are telling me you dont need that much track or stuff for beeing prototypical iam also fine.
also if i use the turntable just for turning my engines around maybe iam also fine with that. and maybe add some torn down old round house walls or so. this also could be fun to model i guess.

will now checkout all those google maps links and also the "book" link. and then will make a drawing and let you know.

cheers
jay
 
idee.png


So here is a idea:

- red railroad tracks incoming
- yellow railroad tracks outgoing
- green circle = turntable
- green square = engine facility
- orange square middle (sanding?)
- orange outgoing top (refueling)
- yellow track south just a storage track maybe


so the idea is, if the engines have to resand? and refuel no service, just drive in, get sand go on turntable turn 180 go out on yellow refuel, back in service? Engine Facility could also be flipped 180 to the left, so it gets more compact. of course not that much track is needed. it has to fit on 120x60cm and doesent look to overloaded i think.

what do you think?
 
@bnsf971 yes stuff like this. but i will draw them by myself and also print them, or doing it with the laser cutter.
i think i will set myself a goal on this project.

everything structural is made by myself.
why? because i have all the tools i need for. and maybe if i go on a show i also can tell everyone, i did all by myself and sell some of the things i did by myself as kits or so. this would be cool. would take definitely longer, but why not. challenge time :)

iam also thinking of, working with self made tracks and turnouts? but iam not shure if i have the nerves for doing this in nscale haha.
 
@bnsf971 yes stuff like this. but i will draw them by myself and also print them, or doing it with the laser cutter.
i think i will set myself a goal on this project.

everything structural is made by myself.
why? because i have all the tools i need for. and maybe if i go on a show i also can tell everyone, i did all by myself and sell some of the things i did by myself as kits or so. this would be cool. would take definitely longer, but why not. challenge time :)

iam also thinking of, working with self made tracks and turnouts? but iam not shure if i have the nerves for doing this in nscale haha.
You might consider selling the STLs for 3d printing. Especially of buildings that can be scaled down.

I'm terrible at CAD, but good at 3D printing stuff.
 
hey troy

its in my mind absolutly. atm iam learning all the stuff for my laser cutter. but will definitly consider stuff like stl file selling or so in the future. but there are sooooo many outthere that are allready doing stuff like this. some are good some are bad but we will see :)
 
View attachment 210526

So here is a idea:

- red railroad tracks incoming
- yellow railroad tracks outgoing
- green circle = turntable
- green square = engine facility
- orange square middle (sanding?)
- orange outgoing top (refueling)
- yellow track south just a storage track maybe


so the idea is, if the engines have to resand? and refuel no service, just drive in, get sand go on turntable turn 180 go out on yellow refuel, back in service? Engine Facility could also be flipped 180 to the left, so it gets more compact. of course not that much track is needed. it has to fit on 120x60cm and doesent look to overloaded i think.

what do you think?
In the red and yellow lines area leading to the turntable, there are, in reality, only 3 tracks, two of which are the main part of the service facility. The sand tower can service locos on both tracks while they are being fueled so all the normal servicing can be done without having to move the locomotives. The southernmost tracks and green square are all part of the car repair area. Heavy work, more than day to day service, is done in the square building just south of the turntable. The most involved work I've seen done there is truck replacements. The structure is mostly to keep the rain and snow off in winter and sun off in the summer, the day I moved away it was 106F.

Here is the fuel/sand facility at Interbay in Seattle:
All the locomotive tracks are empty but you can see the sand cars spotted. The fuel comes in a pipe from tanks to the west as can be seen in this view from above: https://maps.app.goo.gl/38P1tSNqALFTo7Ya8 or this view which shows the large storage tank and tank car unloading tracks. The sandtowers can be seen in the background: https://maps.app.goo.gl/aMjdkDyZt7jCMVbd9

Here is another type of facility. This is on the mainline on "The Funnel" in N. Idaho. Complete trains pull through and are fueled. In the image, it looks like a westbound grain load and oil load are getting their DPUs filled up while an eastbound empty is moving through. It is outside an urban area where land is cheaper and right outside the Washington border with its higher taxes. Unit trains will have enough fuel to make it to the ports and back without needing to take fuel in Washington. https://maps.app.goo.gl/igiy44xWS14erdry5
 
The BNSF currently has 33 operational turntables over its 32,500 mile rail system. While I suspect (but don't know for sure) that the roundhouses are all long since gone, the turntables are still used to turn PTC locomotives in the right direction for heading a train. Roundhouses eat up a lot of real estate. Turntables, not so much. You could incorporate a turntable into a small diesel maintenance facility and still be prototypical with today's railroading. Of course, if you're talking first generation diesels of the 1940's/1950's, then having a roundhouse would have been the norm back in those days while steam was being phased out.

BNSF Rail Talk: Turntables
Turntables without roundhouses were popular on the Northern Pacific up until about 1951. Three were at least 3 in operation between St. Paul MN and Rush City MN , each one at the end of spurs which provided extra coverage for along branch lines.


Manual turntable in action, 1950.png


Photo by Ron Nixon, Northern Pacific Historical Association

Specifically, Stillwater MN, Taylors Falls MN, and Grantsburg, WI

Dave LASM
 
In the red and yellow lines area leading to the turntable, there are, in reality, only 3 tracks, two of which are the main part of the service facility. The sand tower can service locos on both tracks while they are being fueled so all the normal servicing can be done without having to move the locomotives. The southernmost tracks and green square are all part of the car repair area. Heavy work, more than day to day service, is done in the square building just south of the turntable. The most involved work I've seen done there is truck replacements. The structure is mostly to keep the rain and snow off in winter and sun off in the summer, the day I moved away it was 106F.

Here is the fuel/sand facility at Interbay in Seattle:
All the locomotive tracks are empty but you can see the sand cars spotted. The fuel comes in a pipe from tanks to the west as can be seen in this view from above: https://maps.app.goo.gl/38P1tSNqALFTo7Ya8 or this view which shows the large storage tank and tank car unloading tracks. The sandtowers can be seen in the background: https://maps.app.goo.gl/aMjdkDyZt7jCMVbd9

Here is another type of facility. This is on the mainline on "The Funnel" in N. Idaho. Complete trains pull through and are fueled. In the image, it looks like a westbound grain load and oil load are getting their DPUs filled up while an eastbound empty is moving through. It is outside an urban area where land is cheaper and right outside the Washington border with its higher taxes. Unit trains will have enough fuel to make it to the ports and back without needing to take fuel in Washington. https://maps.app.goo.gl/igiy44xWS14erdry5
Paul: I lived in Spokane when Hauser was in the planning. BN tried to get land between Kaiser and the State Line as it would be closer to Parkwater/Yardley. At that time, fuel cost was a minor issue. Tax payers/Nay sayers said no. Most of the problem was access to the prairie from 53 as the facility was planned for about 13,000ft of yard, fueling and ready/storage tracks and emergency crews could not get through. They can fuel 4 at a time, with 10 or 12 adjacent yard tracks for whatever and 2MT. This was back when you could see nothing but grass fields from Sullivan Road to Rathdrum/Haden/CDA. Don't remember exactly, but about the same time period Argonne Road was re-aligned and a car underpass was added. Argonne is/was a major coorodor from the North/South Sprague to Trent for I90 access. You could wait for longer than 45 minutes at times waiting for the trains to clear. Even back then ( 80's ) traffic backup was a nightmare. Heck, I loved it as I would go down and just sit and watch trains; lived about 1.5 miles from that.

Fueling in The Funnel was the ideal location: lines from the West/South ( Wenatchee/Pasco ) came in at Latah/Sunset Junction ( West edge of downtown Spokane ) and split apart again at Sandpoint - both easterly: xNP ( Missoula ) and xGN ( me ). Side note - UP also comes in from the South to Latah trackage at Ares Junction ( from Hinkle ) which melds with Sunset and runs on BN trackage to almost Yardley before splitting off for the run East to Coeur D'Alene Junction ( East of Hauser a mile or two ) then North to Bonners Ferry and the border, East/South to CDA/Plummer. UP and BNSF cross each other in The Funnel 3 times; UP under at the Spo River and near Athol, over near Naples. As far as I know, UP was not involved with the fueling facility.

Oh, and I think that I saw new bridge footings going in over the Spo River just east of Irwin. If so, that would finish the 2MT between Sunset and Sandpoint. Will look again next time through. Think they are also working on 2MT from Latah to Pasco - quite a bit of it already in place but there are spots. Probably not going to happen Sunset to Wenachee as the Latah bridge spans about 1/2 mile of Latah Creek Canyon with 1MT. Most people don't know that there is a flyover to the Latah trackage that starts on the bridge. Ya, have a dang wye type switch on the bridge. 2MT there would be something to see.

I think that The Funnel is the best place just to watch trains. Over the years I have stood on all those junctions, sans the Latah Flyover on the bridge.

L8r
 
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I grew up in N Idaho and lived in Rathdrum for a short time in 2000 and 2001 and really liked it. My friend and I would go to the model rr club in Spokane then afterward pace a train back to Rathdrum. IIRC, around Harvard Rd was a little sag and trains would throttle down a notch but then it starts climbing up toward Athol again. The older ge and even LMX B39s would often have giant flames coming out the stacks which was even more impressive at night. I had friends in Sandpoint and after recent drives through there on Google street view, I don’t know if I’d recognize it, so much has changed.
 



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