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A Place for your Modern Steam Power Locomotive servicing facilities were fascinating places to watch as steam engines were serviced between runs. An army of workers would attend to the big machines by coaling, watering, oiling and inspecting them from coupler to coupler. There was always plenty going on and if you wanted to see locomotives, there was no better location. The Locomotive Servicing Facility Series of structures brings the excitement of a bustling terminal for large, modern steam locos to your HO Scale pike.

The Bigger the Better The long trains, heavier cars and faster schedules of the post-World War I era demanded locomotives of ever-increasing size. Prior to 1920, 2-8-2s were among

Modern Coaling Tower, 933-2903 $54.98, February Delivery

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Sanding Towers & Drying House, 933-3182 $29.98, January Delivery

the largest locomotives. New designs for larger locos quickly swept the industry and before long 4-8-4, 2-10-2 and articulateds like the 4-6-6-4 Challengers took to the rails. Along with these glorious machines came the need for facilities capable of handling larger power; older 90' turntables and

100' roundhouses were simply too small. Railroads began building modern facilities capable of handling everything from tiny 0-4-0s to huge articulateds. Roundhouse stalls up to 125' could accommodate articulated locos, and turntables as large as 130' became common. But engine length continued to climb and soon 125' stalls were too short. Rather than replace relatively new roundhouses, railroads simply extended a few stalls to handle even larger engines like 4-6-6-4s, 2-8-8-2s and Big Boy 4-8-8-4s. These complex machines also needed on-the-spot repairs—it took too long to send them to the system backshop—so most roundhouses had an attached machine shop that could handle most repairs short of an overhaul.

Additional Kits that'll add Realism to your Servicing Scene Here are a few model suggestions. In most cases you’ll need only one of each building. It’s up to you to decide which fit your scene best: Manufacturer Peco Faller Walthers

Product Name Inspection Pit Inspection Pits Golden Valley Freight House

Grandt Line Woodland Scenics Stewart Products American Model Builders Design Preservation Models Walthers

Corrugated Iron Warehouse Diesel Fuel Facility Diesel Oil Storage Tank & Pump House IC Type B Depot C. Smith Packing House Industrial Storage Tanks

Part Number 552-121129 272-120136 933-2821, 2827 or 2828 300-5906 785-232 683-107 152-124 243-203 933-3514

Other facilities were also modernized to handle the big engines and to speed servicing. Bigger coaling towers were necessary—150-ton models were replaced by huge 400-ton or larger concrete monoliths capable of filling tenders on three or four locos at once. Cinder conveyors were modernized and mechanized for increased speed and sanding facilities received upgrades and new towers that could serve two or more tracks.

Steam’s Glory and Twilight on your Railroad

While most steam servicing facilities continued to grow at a furious pace until after World War II, diesels were making inroads. That diesel fueling column on “track one” soon had company on the other tracks. In many cases, however, the servicing facility scene changed little for decades after the last steamers were off to the scrapyard—the roundhouse, machine shop, turntable and sanding facility were still necessities and the monumental coaling towers remained standing stripped of their metal hardware.

As diesels became more prevalent after 1940, many roads added a diesel fueling rack as shown on one servicing track. In operation, diesels could be inspected, fueled, washed, sanded and turned, if necessary, avoiding the roundhouse altogether.

Locomotive Servicing Facility Series structures mimic the huge buildings erected when steam was at its zenith, making it easy to add a busy, fascinating scene to your layout. While most major terminals were huge, the accompanying track diagram will fit in a four-foot-wide space with room for a mainline track on one side (not shown).

Notes (includes Code 75 rail) Use as storehouse Use as storehouse

Use as office/crew room Use as office/crew room

Such large terminals would have more roundhouse stalls, more whisker tracks off the turntable and the system shops. These are easily modeled using the Backshop, 933-3039, or Car Shop, 933-3040, kits, each sold se[arately. For more information about each structure and how it was used, see the special section of the Walthers 2004 HO Reference Book. In addition to the structures from the series, we’ve added a few other outbuildings and details to fill out the scene. While they’re not mentioned in the Reference Book piece, they’ll add a big slice of authenticity to your scene. ■

The structures in the series can also be the heart of a much larger facility where the company performed overhauls and other repairs.

Modern Roundhouse, 933-2900 $59.98, Add-On Stalls, 933-2901 $49.98, and Machine Shop, 933-2902 $44.98

Cinder Conveyor & Ash Pit, 933-3181 $24.98

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stop Here’s a look at the diorama used to display the series. The size is 4 x 8' and the scene includes a Steel Water Tank and Backshop. ®

The track and structure arrangement is adapted from the recommended practices of the American Railway Association in the 1920s. As shown, this complex is ideal for turning locos and getting them back on the road. We’ve filled out the scene with a few additional structures and added a diesel fueling facility for the transition era.

Unload ‘em Anywhere Trinity RD®4 Coal Hoppers are popular with railroads, leasing companies and power plants because they can be unloaded two ways: bottom dumped while the train is still moving, or rotary

dumped. The prototypes are equipped with both rapiddischarge bottom gates and rotary couplers, allowing unloading at power plants and ship transloading facilities almost anywhere. Many power companies own fleets of coal gondolas or hoppers to service their plants; these cars,

Trinity RD4 Coal Hopper 6-Packs, $79.98 Roadname BNSF NS CNW IESX (Alliant Energy) NSPX (Northern States Power Co.) NCUX (Transport Capital Rail Partners) TXUX (TXU Electric) JHMX (Alabama Power Company)

Roadnumber Series #1 932-7801 932-7802 932-7803 932-7804 932-7805 932-7806 932-5787 932-5788

Single Car, $16.98 Each Roadname Undecorated

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Roadnumber 932-7800

Roadnumber Series #2 932-7809 932-7810 932-7811 932-7812 932-7813 932-7814 932-7815 932-7816

often of a single design, simply shuttle coal between mines or docks and generating stations. When more cars are needed to haul additional coal during peak demand or to fill in for delayed equipment, RD4s can be operated to almost any power plant. Simulating unit coal train operations is easy with Walthers Trinity RD4 Coal Hoppers. The ready-to-run models come in Trinity RD4 Coal Hopper, 932-7801 BNSF $79.98

six-packs with six different roadnumbers; two different roadnumber series are available for a total of 12 roadnumbers per roadname. Each set includes nearscale dummy knuckle couplers for intermediate cars and a working knuckle coupler on each end car. Individual undecorated cars are also available for those who wish to decorate their own models. ■

Grab Some Groceries

Need More Storage Space? That’s the dilemma faced by many growing businesses. Buildings like the Co-Op Storage Shed were often the answer. Cheap and quick to build, wooden storage sheds were used by feed mills, oil dealers and many other businesses. Because they’re so common, these small trackside structures are naturals for adding realism along any siding. The Co-Op Storage Shed kit is patterned after prototypes used everywhere. The buildings were built on “stilts” to make the floor height even with box car floors and truck beds. Wood siding and a metal roof keep cargo out of the elements and sliding doors allow easy transfer of goods between trucks and box cars.On your layout, the Co-Op Storage Shed is a welcome addition along any siding. In some places, these small buildings are used as stand-alone facilities at team tracks. At feed mills and grain elevators they’re handy for bagged products; fuel dealers, railroads and industrial plants use them to receive oils, lubricants and chemicals in drums; and lumber yards use them to keep specialty woods and building materials under cover.

4-1/4 x 2-3/4" 2-1/4" Tall HO footprint shown

Co-Op Storage Shed: N Scale, 933-3230 $17.98 HO Scale, 933-3529 $19.98

Each kit includes parts molded in appropriate colors and printed signs with several business names. Because they’re so versatile, most layouts can use more than one. Just paint the duplicate structures to match its “owner’s” colors. ■

Every town has a “corner store,” even though few are actually on a corner. Just like today’s convenience stores, establishments like Tomaso’s Market were where the neighborhood shopped while “on the go.” Occupying older storefronts, these businesses carried everything from pasta to shoe polish. Their owners knew their customers on a first-name basis and often carried specialty products that catered to the cultural make-up of their location. Many of these stores also captured the business of area workers and passers-by with freshly made hoagies or other specialties, cold pop and snacks— a perfect lunch on the run for cab and bus drivers, delivery men and others just passing through. Boasting colorful sale signs in the windows and occasional ads painted

This store in Elizabeth, Illinois illustrates the look you can give the front windows by adding a few signs and interior details. The owners also tried to “modernize” the building with masonite panels. Photo by Bob Gallegos on the exterior walls, stores like the Tomaso’s Market Background Building kit add character to any scene. At less than two inches deep, it’ll fit between your rearmost track or scenery and your background, helping to make the transition between your 3-D scenery and painted or printed backdrop look more realistic. The Tomaso’s Market kit includes the brick store facade with parts molded in appropriate colors and decals for several business names and painted wall advertising. By thinning the building from the rear, it’s easy to fit it into almost any space. The wall advertising graphics are easily trimmed to fit your selected building depth. Because many blocks have several similar storefront structures, using more than one kit in a scene is as easy as painting the buildings differently and adding different decals. ■

4-1/8 x 2-1/2" 6-1/2" Tall

Tomaso’s Market, 933-3179 $21.98 ®

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IHC Introduces A Classic In the mid-1920s, freight locos with larger fireboxes supported by a four-wheel truck appeared. With these innovations, heavier trains could be moved at higher speeds. The ideas were tried with a new loco designed for passenger service, creating the 4-6-4. Known as “Hudsons,” engines of this type were soon handling many of the nation’s finest trains. Now International Hobby Corporation pays tribute to the mighty 4-6-4 with a series of powered, ready-to-run HO Scale models. Each Premier Series engine features a prepainted and lettered plastic and diecast body, working valve gear, extra pickups in the tenders, metal handrails, working headlights and Magic-Mate couplers.

PRECISION AUTOMOBILE MODELS

Steam 4-6-4 Hudson Powered Locomotive; 348-23007 MILW #6400

Steam 4-6-4 Hudson Powered Locomotive; 348-23000 ATSF #3456

Steam 4-6-4 Hudson Powered, $149.98 Each 348-23000 ATSF #3456 348-23001 B&O #5047 348-23003 CN #5700 348-23004 CP #2800 348-23005 C&O #301 348-23006 CB&Q #3011 348-23007 MILW #6400 348-23008 CNW #4001

348-23009 Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (Lackawanna) #1151 348-23010 IC #2499 348-23011 Maine Central #702 348-23013 NYC #5200 348-23014 NKP 348-23015 NH #1400 348-23016 Frisco 348-23017 Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo 348-23018 Wabash #703

348-23019 PRR #2003 (Rectangular Tender) 348-23020 UP #2003 (Vanderbilt Tender) 348-23021 GN #2003 (Vanderbilt Tender)

Get Your HO Trains Up & Running! 13 straight sections of various sizes, 29 sections of 22.5° curved track (specially designed for this track pack), one feeder track section, a rerailer and an adapter cord. Contains all the track needed to build the 4 x 8' layout, recommended as the best layout plan in the World’s Greatest Hobby video “Building Your First Layout.” Basic Layout Plan Expanded Layout Plan

381-3103 “World’s Greatest Hobby” Track Pack, $198.00

If you’ve watched the World’s Greatest Hobby video “Building Your First Layout,” you’ve seen the impressive track set-up designed to demonstrate how to create a working HO Scale layout. Kato now makes a track pack that allows you to re-create this impressive design. It’s a great set for beginners, but is

also useful to more skillful hobbyists thanks to a variety of design options. The “World’s Greatest Hobby” Track Pack fits a 4 x 8' area, and can easily be expanded with the purchase of additional Unitrack System track sections, sold separately. The DCC-friendly set includes four manual turnouts,