I guess the newer diesel era really doesn’t use roundouses anymore right. Do they just use 2 or 3 bay engine service facilities. what buildings would you normally find in or near a freight yard/ diesel servicing facility
Most railroads erect two or three bay metal buildings, with at least one service pit and an overhead crane. They basically need the same facilities as an automobile service garage, only much larger.
I’d suggest buying Track Planning for Realistic Operation by John Amstrobg, from Kalmach publishings, in there, you can find all the answers to that sort of question.
Speedtracer,
Depending on what you like you could easily model a “modern” metal building type of shop as Cacole mentioned (these are usually post 1980 ), or go with the 1950s style kit offered by Walther’s as these brick buildings were build to last and can still be found in operation in the U.S.
The Duluth Missabi & Iron Range facilities in Proctor Minnesota have an old brick roundhouse still on the plant. Also, it appears a turntable and modern steel roundhouse are provided a bit N.W. from the old brick roundhouse. The old brick one appears to be used as a storage & shop and the turntable has been removed.
Does anyone know for sure if the new modern DM&IR round building has a turntable? I don’t know why they would be using one for diesels, but, hey!?!
The roundhouse may indeed be used in the early diesel era. Cab units may need to be turned if there’s no room for a wye. also, the turntable may be needed to use more than 2 stalls of the roundhouse.
One window may have a big shhet of plywood from the time a hostler came in too fast & could not stop in time.