Roundhouse track bumpers?

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I am detailing the insides of my scratch bulit roundhouse (circa 1930) and can’t find any information about what kind of track bumpers might be used at the end of the track. The prototype photos I have looked at don’t have any apparent bumpers. Any info on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks ahead of time!

2

The few photos I’ve seen of roundhouse interiors the railroad used wheel stops…I notice 3 of the photos showed no wheel stops or bumpers.

3

I’ve seen low wheel stops - and nothing. The one thing I haven’t seen is the full-size coupler-stoppers seen on more important spur ends out-of-doors.

There was a lot of work done from ladders/scaffolds/work stands around the front of the smokebox - everything from rubbing in the fresh graphite to changing flues. Things that would get in the way were not welcome. There was also the occasional need to get a pilot wheel set out from under - and the easy way was to roll it forward.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - where engine houses had through tracks)

4

I visited the roundhouses of the B&O in Rossford Ohio, as well as the C&O roundhouse in Walbrige Ohio frequently as a youngster. I distinctly remember the grooves in the concrete floor extending from the ends of the rails out toward the outer wall. I don’t know if they were put there when the concrete was wet, or if they were from frequent excursions of a locomotive past the end of the tracks. The B&O roundhouse also had high bays that were high enough to work high front mounted equipment such as air pumps, headlights, bells and things like that.

Paul

Dayton and Mad River RR

5

I’ve worked in a lot of roundhouses. None had wheel stops and all had the groves in the floor where the pilot truck flanges cut into.

Randy

6

This discussion from a couple months ago may be of interest:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/216507/2380772.aspx#2380772

The idea is the same for modeling the 1930s, the transition era, or the present day. Bumpers and wheel stops in locomotive shops cause more problems than they would prevent.

7

The photos I am referring to can be found on line and in the late 50/60 era Trains Magazine.

I’ve also seen photos the grooves your are talking about.

I’ve also seen photos of steam engines that ran through the roundhouse back walls.[banghead]

8

I played a small part in putting a SOO GP-30 through a roundhouse wall.

9

I have seen a roundhouse or two where there are clear indications of repaired brick opposite the ends of some stalls, and that could be easily modeled just with a change in color for the mortar.

I was just at the old CGW roundhouse in Oelwein Iowa and noticed steel rod supports in the far wall, possibly the consequence of an incident.

By the way that roundhouse has been repurposed by Transco car repair shops and some stalls were entirely filled with sand for sand blasting freight cars that are being repainted. Sand was everywhere and our bootprints on the floor somewhat resembled the photos of the first moonwalks. Another curious detail – a back door had a nice little porch type roof over the door as a protection against rain – and that roof was actually a cutout portion of an autorack roof! The steel lining for one roundhouse stall door had portions of the word “Conrail” on it – that facility believed in recycling that is for sure.

Dave Nelson

10

http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/drake_street/roundhouse.htm

11

Thanks everybody. The info was very helpful. I guess I won’t put those hayes bumpers in after all. Maybe I’ll even cut some small grooves in the concrete at the end of the tracks!

You guys are great!