Terminal Yard Engine Facility Additions

Greetings All,

Here's the follow up to the Antique Store Finds that I published the other day where my wife and I took a ride to an antiques store in Commerce Georgia as I wanted to check out a vendor located inside the store who sold used trains. 

Upon arrival we were directed to the vendors booth where I noted a posted sign indicating all items purchased this week would receive 20% off their listed price. This was starting off pretty good!! 

I scored a few inexpensive project items but really hit paydirt with the Bachmann Plus Diesel Sanding Rack, item #35113. 

and the Bachmann Plus Diesel Fueling Rack, item #35112 .

I started working on the fueling rack first. Next was the sanding rack which did not readily fit into preferred location. Below I'm in the process of realigning the tracks and attaching the power wires.

The fuel rack is in place and a NYC F7 A-B-A are the first in. The saw horse looking racks contain spare brake shoes and engine cables.

The kit also contains a concrete walkway for each side of the fueling tracks

 A close up shot of the engine cables, fuel pumps, etc.

Next I turned my attention to the sanding rack which was a bit more difficult to install as some of it required it be built in place. Below I'm testing the fit between the tracks before glueing the sanding towers in place. 

Note that I've rattle can sprayed the walkways a much less vivid yellow and hit that with an overspray of Testors Dullcote.

After glueing the fueling rack, walkways and one sanding rack in place I added ballast around them and glued that in place. 

The next day I glued in the remainder of the sanding racks and added ballast and added some sand around the sanding racks to simulate spilled sand. The tools are keeping the racks in place while the glue sets.

I left the area like this overnight with 1/87th scale Big Mike assigned to watch the glue dry from the sand tower platform. 

The following day with everything dry it was time to finish up the sanding rack and add some details.

The Diesel Fueling Rack is officially open for business. Fill 'er up!

A four engine GE / EMD consist makes it way to the Fuel Rack. The Diesel Sanding Rack has it pipework installed and the CA is drying. Some black paint was added between the rails to cover any visible nail heads and simulate leaking engine oil. 

Newly built GP7 #5699 arrives for it's first fueling under the watchful eyes of N.Y.C.T.L. employees including 1/87th scale John B who provided the undecorated well detailed shell and chassis. 

The Sanding Racks are now open!!! 1/87th scale Wet Willie has climbed the ladder and opened the control valves after Big Mike left to join the festivities. 

With all that going on 1/87th scale Big Mike has wandered off to lament another GP30 added to the roster! This is the old Athearn ATSF GP30 shown in the opening photo.

Later in the week I ballasted this area and tracks in the engine facility.

1/87th scale Kar Knocker himself has been assigned to give some of the trainmen a how to on sanding tower operations.

The guys get qualified on working the sanding towers. 

While the conductors enjoy the newly installed cement walkway happy to no longer have to slosh thru the primordial ooze.

And there it is! The Terminal Yard Engine Facility is now an actual engine facility thanks to the fortuitous finds at a second hand train dealer inside an individual vendor type antiques store. This was well worth the 80 mile drive!

Thanks for reading!!!