I’m presently installing the Walther’s Fueling Kit. Due to space restrictions I’ve already modified it and because of the real estate restrictions I’ve created several other issues.
As the layout is 1960 with Steam (coal and Oil) and Diesel power the fueling station will have to have both Bunker and Diesel fuel availability.
With the following in scale feet:
Distance from Sand House to Sanding Tower is approx. 400 feet. is this prototypical or is the distance too great?
Distance of Fuel Tanks to Pumps/Spouts is 400 feet. Is this prototypical and where the fuel lines above or below ground level (Canadian climate)
When did they start using fuel grates instead of gravel in their fueling facility? were grates used in 1960
Did they wash down engines inside of Roundhouses or was this strictly outside, even in January?
Thanks
Fergie
Sand is usually blown by compressed air to the sand tower, 400 ft would be awful far to blow sand, maybe 100 ft would be a more reasonable distance.
Oil/fuel can be piped virtually any distance. Above frost line pipes could have problems in really cold weather.
I can see no real problems with 400’, as long as you have good air piping with no leaks! More important is how are you getting the bulk sand to the sand house? Usually it is rail delivered in company service covered hoppers, so a rail connection by the sand house would be required.
Fuel oil can be run that distance with no problem, other than freezing. The pipes would need to be below the ‘frost line’ if in a northern climate, or insulated/heated if above ground. Diesel fuel will ‘gel’ in cold weather, and ‘Bunker C’ for the steamers will always need to be heated to make it flow.
Wash racks or steam spray hoses are an issue in cold weather. When I worked for a railroad, we just did not wash the engines when the temp was below freezing(in Minnesota, that can be several months). Usually steam cleaning of the running gear was done outside.
Jim
Fergie,Each Locomotive service facility is unique to space on each railroad. Depending on the railroad you model, if you operate large railroad with lots of power on the layout more space is needed,if not you can sqeeze the service area anywhere it fits with other tracks, stuctures and terrain. Wash racks I noticed in the old Bensonville ILL, Milwaukee Road yard had the wash rack just outside the sanding tower tracks. Many facilities have tore down steam service buildings and built structures to accommodate diesel service requiring less tracks and space.
Thank You Gentlemen
It’s given me fuel for thought. Pipes under ground would be easy to model but pipes above ground improved access and make for a more interesting scenery… We’ll have to wait and see.
Fergie
