Locomotive servicingfacilities were fascinatingplaces to watch as steamengines were servicedbetween runs. Anarmy of workerswould attend tothe big machinesby coaling,watering, oilingand inspectingthem fromcoupler tocoupler. Therewas always plentygoing on and if you wantedto see locomotives, there was nobetter location. The LocomotiveServicing Facility Series ofstructures brings the excitementof a bustling terminal for large,modern steam locos to your HOScale pike.

The Bigger the BetterThe long trains, heavier cars and faster schedules of the post-World War Iera demandedlocomotives ofever-increasingsize. Prior to1920, 2-8-2swere among

the largest locomotives. Newdesigns for larger locos quicklyswept the industry and beforelong 4-8-4, 2-10-2 andarticulateds like the 4-6-6-4Challengers took to the rails.

Along with these gloriousmachines came the need

for facilities capable ofhandling larger

power; older 90'turntables and

100' roundhouses were simply toosmall.

Railroads began building modernfacilities capable of handlingeverything from tiny 0-4-0s tohuge articulateds. Roundhousestalls up to 125' could accom-modate articulated locos, andturntables as large as 130' becamecommon. But engine lengthcontinued to climb and soon 125'stalls were too short. Rather thanreplace relatively newroundhouses, railroads simplyextended a few stalls to handleeven 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—ittook too long to send them to

the system backshop—somost roundhouses had

an attached machineshop that could

handle mostrepairs short

of anoverhaul.

t h e m o d e l i n g s t o p

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

A Place for your Modern Steam Power

16

ModernCoalingTower,933-2903$54.98,FebruaryDelivery

Other facilities were alsomodernized to handle the bigengines and to speed servicing.Bigger coaling towers werenecessary—150-ton models werereplaced by huge 400-ton orlarger concrete monoliths capableof filling tenders on three or fourlocos at once. Cinder conveyorswere modernized and mechanizedfor increased speed and sandingfacilities received upgrades andnew towers that could serve twoor more tracks.

While most steam servicingfacilities continued to grow at afurious pace until after World WarII, diesels were making inroads.That diesel fueling column on“track one” soon had company onthe other tracks. In many cases,however, the servicing facilityscene changed little for decadesafter the last steamers were off tothe scrapyard—the roundhouse,machine shop, turntable andsanding facility were stillnecessities and the monumentalcoaling towers remained standingstripped of their metal hardware.

Steam’s Glory and Twilight on your RailroadLocomotive Servicing FacilitySeries structures mimic the hugebuildings erected when steam wasat its zenith, making it easy to adda busy, fascinating scene to yourlayout.

While most major terminals werehuge, the accompanying trackdiagram will fit in a four-foot-widespace with room for a mainlinetrack on one side (not shown).

As diesels became more prevalentafter 1940, many roads added adiesel fueling rack as shown onone servicing track. In operation,diesels could be inspected, fueled,washed, sanded and turned, ifnecessary, avoiding theroundhouse altogether.

The structures in the series canalso be the heart of a much largerfacility where the companyperformed overhauls and otherrepairs.

Such large terminals would havemore roundhouse stalls, morewhisker tracks off the turntableand the system shops. These are easily modeled using theBackshop, 933-3039, or CarShop, 933-3040, kits, each soldse[arately.

For more information about eachstructure and how it was used, seethe special section of the Walthers2004 HO Reference Book. Inaddition to the structures from theseries, we’ve added a few otheroutbuildings and details to fill outthe scene. While they’re notmentioned in the Reference Bookpiece, they’ll add a big slice ofauthenticity to your scene. ■

Cinder Conveyor & Ash Pit,933-3181 $24.98

17

Additional Kits that'll add Realism to your Servicing SceneHere 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 Product Name Part Number NotesPeco Inspection Pit 552-121129 (includes Code 75 rail)Faller Inspection Pits 272-120136Walthers Golden Valley Freight House 933-2821, Use as storehouse

2827 or 2828Grandt Line Corrugated Iron Warehouse 300-5906 Use as storehouseWoodland Scenics Diesel Fuel Facility 785-232Stewart Products Diesel Oil Storage Tank & Pump House 683-107American Model Builders IC Type B Depot 152-124 Use as office/crew roomDesign Preservation Models C. Smith Packing House 243-203 Use as office/crew roomWalthers Industrial Storage Tanks 933-3514

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

Unload ‘emAnywhereTrinity RD®4 Coal Hoppers arepopular with railroads, leasingcompanies and power plantsbecause they can be unloaded twoways: bottom dumped while thetrain is still moving, or rotary

dumped. The prototypes areequipped with both rapid-discharge bottom gates and rotarycouplers, allowing unloading atpower plants and ship transloadingfacilities almost anywhere.

Many power companies ownfleets of coal gondolas or hoppersto service their plants; these cars,

often of a single design, simplyshuttle coal between mines ordocks and generating stations.When more cars are needed tohaul additional coal during peakdemand or to fill in for delayedequipment, RD4s can be operatedto almost any power plant.

Simulating unit coal trainoperations is easy with WalthersTrinity RD4 Coal Hoppers. Theready-to-run models come in

six-packs with six differentroadnumbers; two differentroadnumber series are availablefor a total of 12 roadnumbers perroadname. Each set includes near-scale dummy knuckle couplers forintermediate cars and a workingknuckle coupler on each end car.Individual undecorated cars arealso available for those who wishto decorate their own models. ■

18

t h e m o d e l i n g s t o p

Trinity RD4 Coal Hopper 6-Packs, $79.98Roadname Roadnumber Roadnumber

Series #1 Series #2BNSF 932-7801 932-7809NS 932-7802 932-7810CNW 932-7803 932-7811IESX (Alliant Energy) 932-7804 932-7812NSPX (Northern States Power Co.) 932-7805 932-7813NCUX (Transport Capital Rail Partners) 932-7806 932-7814TXUX (TXU Electric) 932-5787 932-7815JHMX (Alabama Power Company) 932-5788 932-7816

Single Car, $16.98 EachRoadname RoadnumberUndecorated 932-7800

The track and structure arrangement isadapted from the recommended practices ofthe American Railway Association in the 1920s.As shown, this complex is ideal for turning locos andgetting them back on the road. We’ve filled out the scenewith a few additional structures and added a diesel fuelingfacility for the transition era.

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

®

Trinity RD4 Coal Hopper, 932-7801 BNSF $79.98

Grab SomeGroceries

Every town has a“corner store,”even though feware actually ona corner. Justlike today’sconveniencestores,establishmentslike Tomaso’s

Market werewhere the

neighborhood shopped while“on the go.”

Occupying older storefronts, thesebusinesses carried everythingfrom pasta to shoe polish. Theirowners knew their customers on afirst-name basis and often carriedspecialty products that catered tothe cultural make-up of theirlocation. Many of these storesalso captured the business of areaworkers and passers-by withfreshly made hoagies or otherspecialties, cold pop and snacks—

a perfect lunch on therun for cab and bus

drivers,deliverymen andothers justpassingthrough.

Boastingcolorful salesigns in thewindowsandoccasionalads painted

on the exterior walls, stores likethe Tomaso’s Market BackgroundBuilding kit add character to anyscene. At less than two inchesdeep, it’ll fit between yourrearmost track or scenery andyour background, helping to makethe transition between your 3-Dscenery and painted or printedbackdrop look more realistic.

The Tomaso’s Market kit includesthe brick store facade with partsmolded in appropriate colors anddecals for several business namesand painted wall advertising. Bythinning the building from therear, it’s easy to fit it into almostany space. The wall advertisinggraphics are easily trimmed to fityour selected building depth.Because many blocks haveseveral similar storefrontstructures, using more than onekit in a scene is as easy aspainting the buildings differentlyand adding different decals. ■

This store in Elizabeth, Illinoisillustrates the look you can givethe front windows by adding a fewsigns and interior details. Theowners also tried to “modernize”the building with masonitepanels. Photo by Bob Gallegos

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19

That’s the dilemma faced by manygrowing businesses. Buildings likethe Co-Op Storage Shed wereoften the answer. Cheap and quickto build, wooden storage shedswere used by feed mills, oildealers and many otherbusinesses. Because they’re socommon, these small tracksidestructures are naturals for addingrealism along any siding. The Co-Op Storage Shed kit ispatterned after prototypes usedeverywhere. The buildings werebuilt on “stilts” to make the floorheight even with box car floorsand truck beds. Wood siding and ametal roof keep cargo out of theelements and sliding doors alloweasy transfer of goods betweentrucks and box cars.On yourlayout, the Co-Op Storage Shed isa welcome addition along anysiding. In some places, these smallbuildings are used as stand-alonefacilities at team tracks. At feedmills and grain elevators they’rehandy for bagged products; fueldealers, railroads and industrialplants use them toreceive oils,lubricants andchemicals indrums; andlumber yards usethem to keepspecialty woodsand buildingmaterials undercover.

Each kit includes parts molded inappropriate colors and printedsigns with several business names.Because they’re so versatile, mostlayouts can use more than one.Just paint the duplicate structuresto match its “owner’s” colors. ■

4-1/4 x 2-3/4" 2-1/4" Tall

Co-Op StorageShed:N Scale, 933-3230$17.98

HO Scale, 933-3529$19.98HO footprint shown

Need More Storage Space?

Tomaso’s Market,933-3179 $21.98

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

IHCIntroduces A ClassicIn the mid-1920s, freight locoswith larger fireboxes supportedby a four-wheel truck appeared.With these innovations, heaviertrains could be moved at higherspeeds. The ideas were triedwith a new loco designed forpassenger service, creating the4-6-4. Known as “Hudsons,”engines of this type were soonhandling many of the nation’sfinest trains.

Now International HobbyCorporation pays tribute to themighty 4-6-4 with a series ofpowered, ready-to-run HO Scalemodels. Each Premier Seriesengine features a prepainted andlettered plastic and diecast body,working valve gear, extra pick-ups in the tenders, metal hand-rails, working headlights andMagic-Mate couplers.

Steam 4-6-4 Hudson PoweredLocomotive; 348-23007 MILW #6400

Steam 4-6-4 Hudson PoweredLocomotive; 348-23000 ATSF #3456

Steam 4-6-4 HudsonPowered, $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) #1151348-23010 IC #2499348-23011 Maine Central #702348-23013 NYC #5200348-23014 NKP348-23015 NH #1400348-23016 Frisco348-23017 Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo348-23018 Wabash #703

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

Get Your HO Trains Up & Running!

If you’ve watched the World’sGreatest Hobby video “BuildingYour First Layout,” you’ve seenthe impressive track set-updesigned to demonstrate how tocreate a working HO Scalelayout. Kato now makes a trackpack that allows you to re-createthis impressive design. It’s agreat set for beginners, but is

also useful to more skillfulhobbyists thanks to a variety ofdesign options.

The “World’s Greatest Hobby”Track Pack fits a 4 x 8' area, andcan easily be expanded with thepurchase of additional UnitrackSystem track sections, soldseparately. The DCC-friendly setincludes four manual turnouts,

13 straight sections of varioussizes, 29 sections of 22.5°curved track (specially designedfor this track pack), one feedertrack section, a rerailer and anadapter cord.

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

Contains all the track neededto build the 4 x 8' layout,recommended as the bestlayout plan in the World’sGreatest Hobby video“Building Your First Layout.”

Basic Layout PlanExpanded Layout Plan

PRECISION AUTOMOBILE MODELS