Small Tank Facility

 Since I model spring 1955 I have a coal facility located in the town of Little Chicago on my Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company.  I always felt I should also have small tank facility as the one I modeled which I saw in many small towns during railfan trips.

Doug Harding Collection
(Click on this or any photo to enlarge)

This past winter I started to look for an area that might hold a small tank facility in Little Chicago on my railroad.  At first I thought land (a space) was not available; however, one day the “light bulb” went on.   I could see a location.  An area, 5 x 6 inches, between the stock pens and backdrop that would work.

Area for tank facility next to backdrop

First the few trees and bushes on the sight were moved to new locations on the railroad.  The ground was scraped, painted with a tan latex paint I like to use under ground cover and a fine sifted common sand from a local road was shifted with a a tea strainer over brushed on white glue.  The tanks were added next.

Prepared area for tank facility and basic tanks.

The tanks were cut from old Roundhouse tank car kits I have had in freight car inventory since 1982.  The tanks were in inventory as too modern for the railroad.  And, maybe the lettering?  The lettering on the tank cars was removed by light sanding with fine grit sandpaper.  After sanding the tanks were wiped down with isopropyl alcohol to remove all residue.

Roundhouse Tank Car Kit Used for tanks.

The details added to tanks came next.  I added Walthers ladders and Williams Brothers (I believe no longer available) pipes and valves.  Walthers piping (available) would work as well.

Piping and fittings used.

Piping and valves added to tanks.

Standpipes for unloading tank cars were needed at the facility.   Photos of appropriate standpipes for unloading tank cars a this type facility were received from friends.   In addition to photos, plans from a May 1997 RailModel Journal were provided to aid in the build.   Standpipes (prototype I measured 2 1/2 inches in diameter) were built with Williams Brothers piping and fittings.  A piece of scribed balsa wood was used for the base.  The scribing represents the boards used to form the cement base.

Standpipes installed.

Closer view of standpipes.

The final items needed to finish the facility were a pump house and truck loading platform.  I used measurements I took of these structures at small three tank facility in Buffalo, Minnesota in the early 1970s to build these structures.  The facility is no longer in existence.

I built the pump house (prototype 8 x 10 ft. x 8 ft. high with door 3 feet wide 7 feet tall) using parts from my box of left over kit parts.  The rounded corrugated roof had a prototype distance of 1 foot 5 inches at it high center point above the door.

The truck loading stand  (prototype 3 feet 10 inches wide by 8 feet long) was scratch built.  On a prototype I measured, the truck loading stand was located 2 feet 8 inches from the pump house. Components for the truck loading stand were as follows: the floor a scrap piece of styrene, Plastruct railings, Walthers stairs ( prototype 1 foot 6 inches by 2 feet 4 inches wide), Walthers stair railing and Williams Brothers pipes and fittings.

During railfan trips most of the small tank facilities I visited had the tanks painted white.   Therefore, I painted the tanks in my new tank facility an enamel white using a rattle can. 

Tanks painted white.

I felt a tank sign was needed to identify the tank facility.  A search of 1955 signs on the internet produced a Mobile sign I liked.   A print screen, and image crop with Photoshop Elements produced a sign ready for sizing.  I asked a friend to down size my image to a HO scale 5 feet wide sign which he did.   I printed the digital Mobile image on white letter computer paper, cut it out, and applied it to the entrance tank with Elmers white glue.

Sign glued to tank with white glue.

The final step was to enhance the backdrop behind the tanks.  I painted the masonite backdrop area behind the tank facility with a latex sky blue color used on all my backdrops.  I had the Sky Blue color mixed at the local paint store to match sky color from photos taken.  I used a photo I took of an open grass area with trees in the distance to provide depth behind the tanks on the backdrop.  I printed the photo on letter size computer and cut it to fit the backdrop.  I sprayed the back of the printed backdrop photo with 3M Scotch Super 77 Multi-Purpose spray adhesive and applied it over the sky blue painted backdrop.

Backdrop behind tanks added.

Now all I have left to do is create tank car movements in my card system to the new tank facility for operating sessions.

I want to say, “Thank You” to Doug Harding  and Ron Christensen for the photos they provided to help me with the build of my tank facility.  And, another “Thank You, Thank You and Thank You” to Doug Harding for providing the prototype photo, the standpipe plans and reducing the Mobile sign I sent him to scale for use on the tank.

Thank You for taking time to read my blog.  You can share a comment in the section below if you choose to do so.  Please sign your comment with your name if you choose to leave one.  Please share the blog link with other model railroaders.

Lester Breuer

M&N Expansion - Randolph Benchwork And Trackwork

Time to take a break from building freight cars to work on an expansion to the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company (M&N).  The expansion began with the changes to Tunnel City, Phase One and Two,  I described in a prior published blog.  The major change in the first expansion was adding a  mainline to be able to reach  the new town of Randolph.  The benchwork for Randolph was  Phase Three and the track work with minimal scenery Phase four.

At the end of Phase Two I showed a plan for the future Randolph expansion.  The expansion to Randolph was to have benchwork six feet long, fourteen inches wide, with a possible future flip-up section one foot long.  I continued to review the plan to see if there might be a better way to layout the location of the new industries and Chicago Great Western interchange.  I finally decided it was better to swap the location of the Chicago Great Western interchange and team track.

Original and modified track plan.
(Click on this or any image to enlarge)

With a plan for Randolph ready, I purchased the lumber, number two pine and one side finished 5/8” plywood, for the benchwork at my local lumber yard.  The homasote for the expansion was obtained from a friend, Jeff Rundgren.  The new benchwork, six feet long and fourteen inches wide, is old school L-Girder construction.  I like the L-Girder construction as it is stable, has excellent noise level and the short L-Girders can easily be moved at any time during or after construction is complete.  The reason being the short L-Girders are secured in place with only two coarse thread drywall screws from the lower long L-Girder and are only holding the plywood and homasote town base with two coarse threaded drywall screws that can easily be removed.  The homasote was attached to the plywood base with nails driven at various angles to prevent future movement of the homasote.  A storage shelf added to the benchwork also provides benchwork stability.

L-Girder benchwork with shelf being added.

The new Randolph benchwork was built to be movable on removable furniture moving sliders to allow moving the benchwork to another storage location after an operating session.  Therefore, construction of the Randolph benchwork, completed in another area of the railroad area, was moved to its location during an operating session using the removable furniture sliders purchased at a home improvement store.  The benchwork once in position is secured to the existing railroad with clamps placed on the legs.

Randolph benchwork moved to location for operating session.
Note the furniture sliders next to base of legs.

Now the track work could begin.  I began placing a mix Shinohara code 100 and Walthers code 83 nickel sliver track on the benchwork according to the plan.  I marked track centers to draw layout lines to locate cork roadbed and track location directly on the homasote.

Layout of the track begins.

The layout of the track work and the industries, currently cardboard rectangles, progressed rapidly. 

Track layout progress quickly.

With layout lines drawn, I proceeded to put down the cork roadbed with small finishing nails.  The HO scale cork roadbed was placed under mainline (track one from edge) and track two under the CGW interchange and Wildung team track ( truck near it) on the other end.  If I had N scale cork roadbed on hand I would have used it under track two to make the transition to industry tracks located directly on the homasote easier.  The transition to the industry track was done with cork cut from sheet cork and cardboard.  Ties on turnouts had to be cut and track slightly bent to make a smooth transition. 

Cork roadbed is installed.

Transition from cork roadbed to homasote.

Following the install of cork roadbed, the track was spiked in place on the cork roadbed or homasote.  I use spikes, installed in every sixth tie, to attach commercial track.  Yes, spiking the track does add time to putting the track down; however, in my opinion well worth the time, to provide excellent operation for years to come.  I do not use glue as track nails allow easy pull up and reuse of track for relocation if necessary.  Holes in the ties for track spikes are drilled in every sixth tie using a drill bit mounted in #8050 Dremel tool.  I find it amazing how many track gauges and tools one can use to install cork roadbed and track.

The number of tools used can be amazing.

After track was put down any missing ties were installed.  Next the rail sides were hand painted with Floquil Rail Brown, R7, paint.  Once track painting was done and dry Caboose Industries ground throws provided by Gary Wildung were installed.  Finally, the gaps are cut in the track with a cutting disk mounted in a Dremel tool.  Later the gaps are filled with styrene filler and 5 minute epoxy. After epoxy is set styrene filler is filed to track profile.

Track work is ready for wiring and ballast.  Note the back industry
track was curved to allow more space at Wildung Team Track.

With the track work done I began the wiring.  The wiring provides the least fun for me when adding new trackage to the railroad.  Before I start to add wires,  I attach shower curtain rings to the long L-Girder with Romex plastic wire staples to hold the bus wire, any other wires for lighting, etc. and Digitrax Loconet cables.  I use shower curtain rings to hold the wires as they can be opened and closed to add additional wires at any time.  The bus wire was run, holes drilled for track feeders and track feeder wires were added.  Track feeders are soldered to the track and bus wire.  Yes, soldering is slower than wire connectors; however, for me reliable on other track work on the railroad since 1974.

Track wiring is held in shower curtain rings.
Note clamps on legs holding Randolph in place
 for work sessions and operating sessions.

Once wiring is installed the testing of the wiring and track is done with my “Cleaner” train.  The “Cleaner” consists of locomotive, box car and caboose have track cleaning sliders made of Masonite mounted on them that will catch on any track work gaps or turnout frogs that are not smooth.  If the gap or turnout gap is not smooth, a file is used to make it smooth.  Of course, if wiring is not correct the train stops running and wiring has to be corrected.  Well, it could be a power routing turnout not thrown correctly.

"Cleaner" train is run to check track is smooth running.
Cleaning pads should not catch on electrical gaps or frogs.

Once wiring and track is tested the homasote is painted with a tan latex paint to seal the homasote to prepare it for scenery.  Next the benchwork is painted with a latex black to seal the wood.  Finally a five inch fascia is added that may or may not be painted.

Homasote painted with a tan latex.

Painting of benchwork has begun.

Fascia installed and benchwork painting finished.

I consider track ballasting an element of scenery.  The mainline ballast I use is a mix of new and used foundry sand obtained for me by a friend who works at a Minneapolis foundry. The new foundry sand color is white and used foundry sand color is black.  Siding tracks are ballasted with the black foundry sand to represent cinder ballast.  I use wet water, a mix of 25% white glue, 75% water, and a few drops of dish soap added, to secure the ballast.  I like this method of attaching the ballast because it is very easy to remove via wetting if removal is necessary.

Randolph track laid, ballasted and some ground cover added.

During the ballasting process I also have a cooking spice shaker filled with Woodland Scenics blended turf to cover grass areas between tracks.  The grass may be the final scenery or the base for static grass to be added later.

Ballast in coffee cans, wet water in Elmers glue container
and ground foam shaker are on shelf below benchwork.

Now the fun provided by running trains on the Randolph trackage can be had in future operating sessions.  Yet there is more work to be done and that of course is the addition of other scenery including ground cover, backdrop and structures.  The addition of structures, the home of future customers as Food Producers and Randolph Anchor Glass Plant to be served by the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company, The Lakeland Route, “Serving Today, Shaping tomorrow.”   I will cover the addition of the remaining items in Phase Five blog.

Randolph benchwork, track and basic scenery finished.

I want to say, “Thank You.” to Jeff Rundgren and Gary Wildung for their help with the Randolph expansion. 

Thank You for taking time to read my blog.  You can share a comment in the section below if you choose to do so.  Please sign your comment with your name if you choose to leave one.  Please share the blog link with other model railroaders.

Lester Breuer

M&N Expands -New Benchwork, Track, Industry, Town

After a steady build of freight cars to expand the freight car fleet I thought it time to start the new town addition I have thought about and planned to expand the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company.  The new branch line begins at Tunnel City and will end in a new town called Randolph.  The new branch line will be added in three phases.  When all three phases are complete the new branch line will be 10 feet 6 inches long.

Tunnel City prior to mainline.
(Click or tap on this or any photo to enlarge.)

Phase one consisted of adding a benchwork addition of 2 feet long x 2 1/4 inches wide to existing benchwork.  The addition was made with 5/8 inch plywood cut to size and added to existing L-girder benchwork with wood biscuits and a biscuit joiner.  Homasote 1/2” thick was  glued to the top of the 5/8 inch plywood with Titebond II Premium yellow wood glue.  

Benchwork for mainline added.

Phase two consisted of building a 18 inches long and  14 inches wide addition using L-girder benchwork to extend the new main line added in phase one and add an industry.  Again 5/8 inch plywood  with a top of 1/2 inch homasote was added to complete the benchwork.   

New L-Girder benchwork with portion of  plywood top.

New benchwork painted.

The new wood benchwork was painted with a black latex paint while the homasote was painted with a tan latex paint purchased at the home improvement store.  The paint color was matched to existing paint used when existing benchwork was built.    

New benchwork with painted homasote added to complete benchwork.

The addition added allowed me to cut in the Shinohara No. 6 turnout in the existing Tunnel City siding to begin the new mainline.  Before spiking down the new turnout I put down Midwest cork for track grade for the new main line.

Midwest cork nailed for grade to lay track on.

After the cork was down Shinohara track was spiked into position and ballasted.   The ballast is a mix of white and black sand used to make sand casting molds from a foundry in Minneapolis, Minn.

The addition of the new turnout required the existing M&N team track be moved down the track to the location that had been occupied by Rundgren Coal.   Rundgren Coal was moved to the other side of Lester’s Feed Mill on new extended siding section added in phase two.  

Team track moved to prior location of Rundgren Coal and Rundgren
Coal moved to new location  the other side of  Lester"s Feed Mill.

Rundgren Coal in new location.

The new benchwork allowed me to extend the existing siding to add another industry and the mainline started in phase one.  The new building, Sawhorse Millwork  is Design Preservation Models, kit #103, Scissor Company with additions made from the extra parts box.  Black sandpaper was used to cover the white styrene provided in the kit for the two roofs.  The building brick was painted with Floquil Earth, R81, the stone with Polly S Mud, PF67, and the windows and doors with Floquil D&H Gray, 10150.  None of these paints are no-longer available.  The building brick after drying for several weeks was coated with hydrocal plaster with dry tempera paint pigment mixed in to give a building better looking brick.

After siding extended new industry added.

New industry on extended siding.

New industry painted with dock built from parts in extra
parts kit box and dock roof  also from extra parts box added.

Other side of new industry.

Scenery on the new benchwork is Woodland Scenics blended turf, Green Blend, T49, applied out of a spice jar with shaker top (holes in top plastic inside cover) over a white glue and water mix with detergent added.  The roads are common shifted sand and black dirt applied shifted through a tea strainer over again a white glue and water mix with liquid detergent added.  The blended turf base was covered with static grass at a later date.  The Woodland Scenics flag and pole were added after turf had dried overnight.

Hydrocal with dry paint pigment applied to building and
static grass has been applied.

Phase three will be the town of Randolph, a module on wheels section 6 feet long 14 inches wide with an additional flip up section 1' long x 14" wide.  The addition will be stored behind the crew lounge couch and rolled into position and clamped to the phase two addition for operating sessions.  I hope to complete the benchwork and lay the track on the moving module by the end of April.  The new addition will have a run around to which Chicago Great Western, CGW, Interchange will connect and  an industry siding with three industries: Food Producers, glass plant, yet to be named, and a third industry yet to be decided.  At this time the flip up addition is still in planning stage.

Track plan for module addition.

I will post phase three work when completed.

Thank You for taking time to read my blog.  You can share a comment in the section below if you choose to do so.  Please share the blog link with other model railroaders.

Lester Breuer