Is this a good Idea?

[CNWman]

Hi all
I found this kit for a warehouse from Kibri on sale @ a hobby shop, and from what it looks like, there is a freight car on tracks leading inside the building. Now, I'd been looking for a single-stall engine shed that could be passed off as American and not make me go bankrupt, and I was losing my patience trying to find one, so I got the kit thinking I could convert it into an engine shed. However, what I'm concerned about is if this kit can be passed off as an engine shed. Here's a pic I found of the kit (the one I have, for the kit mold is now some fabricator industry, according to Walther's catalog):

What do you think?

 

[TruckLover]

To me it looks like more of an Engine shop rather then an Engine Shed but you could prolly pass it off as a Shed :mrgreen: :thumb:

 

[CRed]

To me it looks like more of an Engine shop rather then an Engine Shed but you could prolly pass it off as a Shed :mrgreen: :thumb:

That's what I think,it would make a great engine shop:thumb:.Of course it wouldn't make a bad shed either.

Chris

 

[CNWman]

To me it looks like more of an Engine shop rather then an Engine Shed but you could prolly pass it off as a Shed :mrgreen: :thumb:

Actualy, I though so too on the shop, but it could work if the shed is not only where the engine is sheltered but also repaired. Plus if I ever get DCC on this thing I could probably store one engine in there while the other runs arouns Riverside:mrgreen: Thanks for the imput guys:thumb:

 

[Relic]

I'm guessin' not knowing the dimensions but, what if you modified it,...took out the three big windows,replaced them with big,wooden double doors,then you could put in three engines{if it's big enough}
have fun

 

[TruckLover]

Actualy, I though so too on the shop, but it could work if the shed is not only where the engine is sheltered but also repaired.

That sounds like a good idea :thumb: :thumb:

I'm guessin' not knowing the dimensions but, what if you modified it,...took out the three big windows,replaced them with big,wooden double doors,then you could put in three engines{if it's big enough}

It might be bigg enought for 3 switchers but it doesnt look like it would be long enought for anything bigger, but you could sertainly do that if they will fit in there side by side like that. You will have to measure the wall and then measure the longest engine you would want to store.

Maybe one bay could be like a repair track and the other 2 could be where they are stored?

 

[CNWman]

I'm guessin' not knowing the dimensions but, what if you modified it,...took out the three big windows,replaced them with big,wooden double doors,then you could put in three engines{if it's big enough}
have fun

That's a good idea, but to do that I'd have to kit bash 2 of these kits together 'cause this building width wise would just barley fit a 44-ton center cab switcher, plus the only real 'big' modification would be those really large doors you see on the back either being rmoved completley or proped open to allow the engines in (upon test fit, the RS-32 barley makes the opening where the doors are!) Also, that would require getting a wye track and right now the next switches I'm thinking about adding are so my 4'X8' can conect to other layouts or to incorperate it in a larger layout.

 

[MasonJar]

Since it is an older building, and you are running diesels, why not do it up as a nighly modified building that the railway did not tear down?

I would put a single engine in it, since engine sheds are few and far between now. Here are my suggestions:

• replace the big doors with a roll-up steel type
• block out some of the windows
• cut a new-type person door somewhere in the building
• remove or board up/roof over some of the skylights
• add some roof-top ventilation equipment, like an air conditioner or ventilation unit
• add a "homebuilt" lean-to to one side made with noticably different materials - maybe metal sheathing with a shingle roof
• put modern signage on it - the "newer" herald of whatever your road is, maybe over a faded. painted version of the old logo

Hope that helps...!

 

[TruckLover]

That's a good idea, but to do that I'd have to kit bash 2 of these kits together 'cause this building width wise would just barley fit a 44-ton center cab switcher, plus the only real 'big' modification would be those really large doors you see on the back either being rmoved completley or proped open to allow the engines in (upon test fit, the RS-32 barley makes the opening where the doors are!) Also, that would require getting a wye track and right now the next switches I'm thinking about adding are so my 4'X8' can conect to other layouts or to incorperate it in a larger layout.

So with that in mind, will you be buying another one or are you going to keep it how it is?

Also, it wouldnt be a WYE turnout that you would need, that only branches off into 2 seperate tracks, you would need a 3-way turnout which branches into 3 seperate tracks.

BTW, Andrew and I posted at the same time lol, he had some really great ideas!!

 

[CNWman]

Since it is an older building, and you are running diesels, why not do it up as a nighly modified building that the railway did not tear down?

I would put a single engine in it, since engine sheds are few and far between now. Here are my suggestions:

• replace the big doors with a roll-up steel type
• block out some of the windows
• cut a new-type person door somewhere in the building
• remove or board up/roof over some of the skylights
• add some roof-top ventilation equipment, like an air conditioner or ventilation unit
• add a "homebuilt" lean-to to one side made with noticably different materials - maybe metal sheathing with a shingle roof
• put modern signage on it - the "newer" herald of whatever your road is, maybe over a faded. painted version of the old logo

Hope that helps...!

Now THOSE are great ideas,MasonJar! The original purpose for the shed was only to hold one engine, so no problem there. THe side of the building that you don't see (opisite to the large doors) has some human sized doors, as does the large doors (there's a smaller steel door conected to the large doors, but it's blocked from veiw in the pic). However, the signage isn't going to be easy, because I honestly haven't come up with the Riverside Railroad's herald yet, and I would like and orignal herald on this baby (although it's not getting done untill next year at my rate, I still have detailing the mill and assembling a spectaular brick building to do!).

 

[CNWman]

So with that in mind, will you be buying another one or are you going to keep it how it is?

Also, it wouldnt be a WYE turnout that you would need, that only branches off into 2 seperate tracks, you would need a 3-way turnout which branches into 3 seperate tracks.

For the building, I'm keeping it the way it is because the LHS in question was Davis Trains and they were having a clearance sale because they were closing up shop, and the kit was the last one in stock. Plus having a building kitbashed from two of these things would be too big for the area that it's supposed to go in.
For the 3-way switch, I've never seen a 3-way switch for sale anywhere, and plus I don't have a block system up on my layout, and the last thing I need are 3 engines trying to go out on the same track!

 

[TruckLover]

For the building, I'm keeping it the way it is because the LHS in question was Davis Trains and they were having a clearance sale because they were closing up shop, and the kit was the last one in stock. Plus having a building kitbashed from two of these things would be too big for the area that it's supposed to go in.
For the 3-way switch, I've never seen a 3-way switch for sale anywhere, and plus I don't have a block system up on my layout, and the last thing I need are 3 engines trying to go out on the same track!

It really is sad when a LHS closes up, dang internet just kills them :cry: :curse: :curse:

Anyways, here is an example of a 3-way switch, Walthers Model Railroad Mall -- product information page for 552-1055

Now you can say you have seen one :mrgreen:

 

[MasonJar]

Now THOSE are great ideas,MasonJar! The original purpose for the shed was only to hold one engine, so no problem there. THe side of the building that you don't see (opisite to the large doors) has some human sized doors, as does the large doors (there's a smaller steel door conected to the large doors, but it's blocked from veiw in the pic).

Thanks! The idea is basically to bring a building built in the steam era into at least a second generation diesel era (what's your timeframe for your layout?). Any ideas along this line would do - another one might be to add a window air conditioner to a part of the building that might be an office...

However, the signage isn't going to be easy, because I honestly haven't come up with the Riverside Railroad's herald yet, and I would like and orignal herald on this baby (although it's not getting done untill next year at my rate, I still have detailing the mill and assembling a spectaular brick building to do!).

I can't recall the story of your railroad, but one way to tackle at least half of this problem is to propose that the Riverside Railroad is a new shortline that took over trackage from a "prototype" abandonment. That way, the "old" logo on the building is the CNW or whatever. Then you can print your new logo, mount it on some styrene to represent a metal sign, and "nail" it up over the old one.

Andrew

 

[Russ Bellinis]

I think I would change the roof/skylights to a shape that would blend in with front & back of the building better. If you need to lengthen the building, you could use DPM modular wall sections to extend the sides a bit, and paint the brick to match.

 

[CNWman]

I can't recall the story of your railroad

Andrew

The timeframe is geared towards around the 1990's to modern times (according to offical reports, CNW RS-32 no.4242 is an ex-Conrail bought around 1979) and is setup to be the main hub of activity in the farming comunity of Riverside in the midwest states (it was orignaly Riverside, OH, untill I learned that Riverside, OH actualy exists!). The idea of the CNW engines comes from my made up idea that the CNW owned trackage in eastern OH (in reality, they never went past Indiana), and so CNW engines hauling farming equipment to and grain-hauling freights from Riverside were common up untill the mid-1980's when the CNW sold the trackage rights to CSX, which CSX sold to the newly created Riverside Railroad( a.k.a. the RRR), which only had leased engines. It was when the old, abandoned engine shed's doors were opened was a relic from the past re-discovered. It was believed that CNW no.4056, an EMD F3, had been scraped, but instead it was found that the rare engine had been rusting away in the shed ever since the CNW left the area. Fast foward to the day the layout is suposed to model. Thanks to the CNWHS and help from the U.P., CNW 4056, completley fixed up and shinier than ever, now helps run short grain and other goods freights to and from Riverside while CNW RS-32 no. 4242, another rare 1st generation engine which was bought by the RRR and restored, switches the elevator. Finaly, the engine shed was repaired and keeps the two desiels runing.

That's the story behind the layout (long, ain't it?) I modified it from the orignal story (I didn't have an RS-32 then, nor a grain elevator either) but I think it's better, but still pretty long.

 

[MasonJar]

Good story - I like it! And not nearly as long as my "rationalization" for some of the things I intend to do to make all my favourite equipment "fit"...

But it sounds good. I especially like the "found engine" being put to work on the line. Nothing wrong with that, just be sure to let her run some excursions too...

But I would still go ahead with the "modernization" of the Victorian-era (at least it would be in Canada) engine shed. I am guessing that the CNW would be the historic (if not original) owner of the building?

Andrew

 

[CNWman]

Good story - I like it! And not nearly as long as my "rationalization" for some of the things I intend to do to make all my favourite equipment "fit"...

But it sounds good. I especially like the "found engine" being put to work on the line. Nothing wrong with that, just be sure to let her run some excursions too...

But I would still go ahead with the "modernization" of the Victorian-era (at least it would be in Canada) engine shed. I am guessing that the CNW would be the historic (if not original) owner of the building?

Andrew

Thanks! Ever since I first designed the layout which would become the Riverside RR I wanted the F3 to have some special aspect to it and having a rare F unit found in an old shed just seemed to stick. For the excursions, I have only two problems: 1. I own NO passenger cars at all, and 2. I'd prefer the layout to be bigger and have some eye catching scenery on the excursion (ex. maybe having the train run over a trestle, which is over a good sized trench that conducts a picturesque river through it). Finaly, I agree with making the 'engine shed' a little more modern and less like a warehouse (or european, seeing as how Kibri is a Greman company) and having the CNW the first owners ('cause they built the rails in Riverside).

 

[MasonJar]

Well, passenger cars is no big deal. Even if you don't have the scenery yet, keep an eye out for them - Walthers always has some sort of sale going on, or find them at your local shop. I assume you would get them (one or two) in the CNW colours?

What have you got in mind for the RRR logo?

Andrew

 

[CNWman]

Well, passenger cars is no big deal. Even if you don't have the scenery yet, keep an eye out for them - Walthers always has some sort of sale going on, or find them at your local shop. I assume you would get them (one or two) in the CNW colours?

What have you got in mind for the RRR logo?

Andrew

It would be nice to get some CNW cars, but some dark gray SP cars look nice to me, too. As for the RRR logo, I can't seem to get an idea I really like for it, but I'd like it to have some blue in it and have "Riverside Railroad" on it. Of course, I'm not repainting my locos (they look fine and 4056 still needs new horns after the 'accident' when I first got her in 4th grade), but a special Riverside steamie with the custom logo would be nice (if steam engines wern't so danged pricey!).

 

[doctorwayne]

...I wanted the F3 to have some special aspect to it and having a rare F unit found in an old shed just seemed to stick.

Maybe not that far-fetched, either. This has nothing to do with trains, but I thought it an odd coincidence that a friend sent me this the same day that I read your post about a "found" F-unit.
The story is that a couple bought a farmhouse (in Portugal) with some property and a barn. The house had been vacant for about 15 years. After taking possession, they decided to have a look in the barn, which they hadn't bothered checking out previously. They discovered that the doors were padlocked and welded shut, and after getting the doors open, they found...

Found in a barn...

Wayne