You 'could' show it in a

You 'could' show it in a state of disrepair, but it would not be my expectation necessarily that an engine shed would look more than well-used and weathered in 1956.  I suppose it depends on both its construction and its age in 1956.   A prototype's history, if you are somewhat closely following one, will be your best guide if you have no access to images from within four or five years of that time.  A 50 year-old board and batten shed would probably look old if it hadn't housed an engine in several years and was used only for storage, or to shelter a long-cold steamer that nobody wanted, or needed/wanted to submit to the cutting torch.  However, it if had been creosoted even once in the intervening years, chances are good that it will still look pretty good.  A tinned roof might be well rust-streaked, but not perforated yet.  A brick structure might show some replaced bricks and some repaired pointing, but other than that, it should not look too bad in that year.  Perhaps it kept a switcher in it out of the elements, or away from teenagers prowling the yard on Sundays if no watchman were for hire cheaply.

Move up to 1976, and now were' talking iffy.  A lot can happen, especially to a roof, in twenty years.  Once the roof is compromised, nasty things happen in a hurry to the structure and its foundation.

Crandell

Beecher Falls, VT

The Maine Central, and later North Stratford Railroad, had a turntable and wood framed/clapboard sided engine house (I believe it was a single stall) in Beecher Falls,VT well into the mid-1980's and maybe beyond.  I remember exploring that parcel of land while my dad was consulting for Ethan Allen, which had/has a plant right across the street.  Looking at Google Maps now, it appears that the engine house and turntable are gone and replaced by an expansion to the plant.  As I recall, both were in decent condition when I was there (would have been owned by the NSRC by then) and may still have actively been used for storage of an S-2/4 or 44-tonner. 

I doubt that there would be

I doubt that there would be an engine facility at this small a location with only one industry. The modern, shortlines I have managed and/or run on as an engineer, generally never had the expensive luxury of an engine house. Generally, the only time you would find one at a small terminal would be when it was a short line from the 40s-50s where it was their only locomotive and wanted to take care of it or it was a hard winter area where it needed to be kept in a heated house to prevent freezing the block.  At any rate there certainly would be more industries to justify the terminal and the locomotive rather than just an oil storage track.

At first glance, when viewing your great little track plan, I thought your engine house was labeled "lumber shed" as in lumber yard. I thought that's a great choice for an industry which would receive boxcars of fine, mill work/finish lumber and flats of framing lumber. That along with tank cars for the oil and maybe small, two bay hoppers for a coal distributor would make a nice pair of industries which required four types of freight cars, Throw in a wood platform along the run around track to handle team track shipments (box ,flats and reefers) and now you have a busy little terminal with no addition of track. If you added one more switch for the engine house you could make the track into the house long enough to not only handle the locomotive but also a little caboose which often was found on small shortlines like this. I would envision a small, 0-6-0, steam, tank engine or a 44 ton, center cab, diesel switcher to handle freight on a line like this since both are bi-directional and don't require turning on a turntable or wye. Bachmann makes some sweet, little, reliable, DCC, locomotives which would be at home here.

Just some thoughts.

Barry 

Your thoughts are much

Your thoughts are much appreciated Barry.

I'm modeling a branch line that ended at the coast in a small fishing/lobster village frequented by tourists in the summer. There would be a very small family run lobster cannery in this village and a small lumber yard that gets its lumber from a tree farm. The winters are harsh and long; up to 5 months. Do you think a small coal and oil distributor located at what I labeled at the "oil storage track" would be OK? I did some research and found out that by 1956 (in the locale I'm modeling), most homes/businesses were heated by oil and the rest with coal and wood. I thought of putting a little elevated coal bin off on a siding off the inbound track on the other module; this way the "oil storage" area can be eliminated when the module eventually will be integrated into a future layout. Note there is a team track coming in from a (future) turnout from the other module.

Where along the runaround track would you place the wooden platform? Perhaps a wooden platform along the team track?

In regards to adding a switch, do you mean another track running into the engine house?

Here is a shot of my smallest loco that will be used on the module and the doodle bug. I'd rather have a CNR ten wheeler, but no one makes one... yet. 

Crandel, I have a pic of

Crandel,

I have a pic of the wooden engine house I'm basing my shed on and it is sagging, warped, and faded, but it is a photo from 2001.

I'm still looking for an image of what it would have looked like in the late 50's.

might not need to be wood...

if you're modeling California or Arizona, might want to think about metal....I know, this is about 1995, but it is kinda the same idea

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb158/twister302/PHL20005.jpg(for full view)

I didn't know metal engine

I didn't know metal engine sheds existed Bremner.

The locale I'm modeling a structure like that wouldn't survive three winters.

This is the shed that I'm going to try to scratch build, but probably a single version. Note the sides are shingled.

Cheers

I looked up Beecher Falls and

I looked up Beecher Falls and noted it is a very small place Alan.

I'm curious to know what type of industry/businesses were there especially in the 50's.

I'm guessing the plant is a furniture factory?

Beecher Falls, VT

I must admit that I don't know much of the history of the area.  It is indeed a very small town.  When I was there in the mid-80's it was the end of the line, but according to some 1926/7 and 1953 topographical surveys, there was a small yard in Beecher Falls south of the plant, and the line continued north up into Canada, weaving in and out of Canada and New Hampshire as it headed north.  It appears that a plant of some kind was served by rail at least until 1953.  Whether Ethan Allen (a furniture factory, yes) was the industry served back in the 50's or not I do not know.  I don't recall if the factory was still receiving rail service in the mid-80's. 

Topo maps don't show a great deal of detail or information on specifics, but I would imagine that along with the plant, typical small town New England industry would have been present - a coal dealer, maybe oil, maybe a small freight house and a team track.  There was probably some form of servicing facility as well since this is literally a stones throw from the U.S./Canadian border and far from home base for any crew.  This is pure conjecture on my part, however.

My point was more to support your thoughts on a branch line terminus of the type you described and that they did (do?) exist even long after the steam era, and in fairly decent condition - even in a one industry town.  I wish I could locate my photos of that area, but several moves since will make that task next to impossible!

no, it would not be out of place....

The Colorado and Southern built a roundhouse in Leadville, CO in the 1880's. by 1943 it was widened to a standard guage line, and by October 1962, was the LAST Class 1 daily standard gauge steam operation left in the United States. Over the years, many changes happened, including being merged into the Burlington Northern in 1980. Somewhere around 1943, the turntable was removed, but the roundhouse that once housed the last of the standard gauge steam has survived. Today, the Leadville, Colorado and Southern operates a pair of GP9's on one of the highest mountain lines in the world, and that same roundhouse is being used.

http://www.trainweb.org/rradventures/images/2008-08-25_Leadville_Colorado_and_Southern/IMG_8300.jpg

(I did not embed the image since it is not mine, and I don't want MRH to break any copywrite laws)

First, I really like your

First, I really like your choice of power: appears to be re-detailed Bachmann 2-8-0 and a gas electric which fits this type of terminal nicely.

If this was my layout I would make the module independent of any adjoining ones by replacing the engine house with a lumber yard and locating, on the same track, a wood dock for team track shipments just to clear the switch. Just because an industry is located on a spur does not always mean they own it and with more than one customer/spot on an industry track it makes operations more interesting. Then I would put in a switch, off the main track, just to the left of the depot and facing left to become the engine house lead and removing the stub team track. As you indicated even if you only have room for a couple of cars on the oil storage track make one spot for tank cars of heating oil with a pump house and a pair of new tanks and the other spot, a flat area along the track to handle a mobile, conveyor to unload a hopper of coal.

I think trying to make things small and compact on one module with a road crossing or two, a low bridge crossing a creek on the main coming into the scene, several tall mature trees and a small town on the  backdrop would make an interesting, end of the line terminal which could fit any room. The advantage of making just one module along with a fiddle yard/staging track to the "outside world", is that it would be easy and fun to build, maintain and operate for anyone no matter their talent or space. This would be similar to a Lance Mindheim switching layout but set in an earlier era for a short line. Probably more like the Port Rowan layout of Trevor Marshall.

Enjoy, and thanks for letting me add my suggestions.

Barry 

Depot

The "parking" for the depot seems way too much for a "flag stop". 

I would suggest putting a switch in the main just to the right of the siding switch and move the team track to where it passes behind the depot, the track would be buried in the mud & gravel only railheads showing.  then put eiter an overhead crane/lift or a freight dock.

Barry, the 2-8-0 is a brass

Barry, the 2-8-0 is a brass model made Boo Rim and is prototypical. The gas electric is also prototypical and is an old PFM Van Hobbies brass model that I had re-geared.

I like the idea of putting the a turnout to the left of the depot to an engine shed, but I think it might be tight - I have only 6 to 7 inches and the shed would be near the edge of the module. I did notice though engine sheds can be very narrow.

How could I operate in regards to getting the engine to the shed while spotting cars. I'm guessing the cars would have to be already spotted to the oil/coal track and lumber/team track.

Can a lumber yard be just a yard for distributing lumber without a mill? 

I've already made a road to that area of the module and probably still can use it.

By the way, it was Trevor Marshall's layout that inspired me to stop whining about no longer having a layout and to get off my ass in January to start building my first module.

This has crossed my mind

This has crossed my mind Dave, that the parking to the right of the depot would be enough. 

Do you think the cinder platform, that is the painted black for now, is too long for a flag stop locale or branch line terminus? - it is 230 scale feet in length.

It seems that if I put a team track behind the depot, I won't have an area to model the vehicles loading and unloading next to the box cars. Oh the woes of having only room for a module.

"is too long for a flag stop locale or branch line terminus? "

    I'd think I'd move the depot a bit left toward the team track so the industry at right could have it's own spur and not have to be served by the mainline. That way you could spot cars on either side of the main and still be able to run around cars on the siding. Looks like the depot could be moved about halfway toward  the team track and still have plenty of parking for the teamsters. The engine house would make a nice scene with some servicing  equipment along the tracks outside. There's quite a bit of space across the rear but I guess the only way to access it would be some kind of switchback track? Probably depends on what kind of scenery you want back there....DaveBranum

First of all, I apologize for

First of all, I apologize for thinking that your locomotive and gas electric were Bachmann products. Had I looked closer it is evident fine the fine details and road specific equipment these are brass.

Yes the lumber spur can serve a lumber yard or distributor without being a producing mill and I think a way side shed and office would work well. Also most engine houses were designed to handle basic repairs with major ones requiring the locomotive to be sent to a large railroad shop. Therefore they frequently were pretty narrow with small lean to anex for an office, tool bench and storage. I would think six inches would be plenty of room. I also like Dave Husman's suggestion of running a spur of the main to the right of the depot for a team track/dock.

As far as operations are concerned, upon arriving at the terminal from the right, the engine would pull the train down to clear the left run around switch, cut off from the train, holding onto cars for the oil/coal spur and then using the run around track, switch that industry first. After spotting a tank/hopper the engine would complete the run around move coming out the right switch and coupling onto the caboose and any cars for the lumber yard and team track. After spotting a box/flat at the lumber yard and any box/reefer/ flat on the team track, the engine would the shove the caboose ahead on the main to clear the engine house lead, tie it down on the main and back up to clear the house lead, line the switch, run the engine inside the house close and lock the door and tie up (go home). 

The next day, the crew would back the engine out of the house pick the caboose off the main and then shove it out of the way on the engine house lead. Next, they would move over to the run around track to switch the oil/coal track pulling any mtys,, pull them out to main and leave them in front of the depot, They would then go back on the run around and pull any mtys out of the lumber yard and team track in the opposite direction and coupling them to the rest of the outbound cars by the depot. The last move before departing for the connection at the mainline interchange, would be to pull all the cars to the right to clear the engine house lead, couple onto the caboose, pull everything out to clear the main line switch, perform an air test of the airbrakes and then with the proper paperwork the crew climbs aboard and departs.

It's amazing how much true operation can be enjoyed by running and switching cars on a small layout like this. I figure the above listed moves would take anywhere from 30-60 minutes to accomplish using a smooth, slow running locomotive, and duplicating the methods prototype crews use in applying/releasing handbrakes, lining switches/derails, coupling/uncoupling/spotting cars and performing air tests. Too many modelers try to make switching a game by trying to make things happen too fast and hurry too much. Real railroaders have to comply with many safety and operating rules which means slower but effecient operations. I could go into more detail about switching but I am sure I bored you long enough with this post. I need to get to bed as I am teaching a class of new conductors and need to be up early for class.

Barry 

Ten wheelers

Van Hobbies imported a CN H-6g 4-6-0 some years ago.  Have you tried getting one used? 

No need to apologize Barry,

No need to apologize Barry, the gas electric is not as detailed as today's plastic or brass and lacks an interior. I'll have to find some images of an interior so I can detail it some day.

I think I'll be able to squeeze that engine shed by having a turnout on the depot track to the left of it.  I'm guessing I'll have to center up the depot in order to get a turnout on each side of it - one for the engine shed and one for the team track. The team track will probably only be long enough for two small cars though. Keep in mind this module is only 6' 8" in length. Instead, could the lumber yard track be also shared as a team track? I think that is what you wrote/meant in your second reply to my post.

I like the operations you described. I'll need to have a module or extension to the right and left of the module to do this. Perhaps just temporary narrow shelves without scenery that would be attached to the lead/main; kind of like staging areas where the train would come from. I'll just use flex track on these extensions.

Now the module can be a switching layout without having to have modules of the equivalent size on both sides of it thanks to the input from this thread.

Now I have to build some new turnouts and figure a way to put a coupler on the front of my brass loco that doesn't have a couple box; just a dummy coupler.

I'll start searching the net

I'll start searching the net Jurgen.

Thanks.

...

The parking is fine....we're used to selectively compressed parking lots as it is...

I don't think you need worry about the engine house and your timeframe.  Would it still be there?  if it was built, yes.  Would it still be used even after steam goes away?  Yes, yes it would.  Engine houses are big barns,they're useful for protecting anything including that doodlebug, if it fits inside.

As long as the railroad ran, they would have used it...

It makes sense Benny. The

It makes sense Benny. The locale I'm modeling gets long winters with nasty wind chills from the ocean. A engine house would certainly be in order.

I put some cars on the

I put some cars on the roadbed to demonstrate the scale of the module. I think I can remove some of the platform to the left of the depot to put in a turnout.

...

you could but...well, I wouldn't try to force it...

Benny, the platform to the

Benny, the platform to the left of the depot is a little over the length of a Budd Rail Diesel Car; a lot of selective compression on this module.

I got out a skeleton turnout and a flex track and test fitted it and the result was not enough room for a spur to an engine shed. There would just be too little track in front of the engine shed, and the engine shed would be up against the edge of the module. As for a team track there, it would only hold two small cars. Therefore, I'm leaving the engine shed where it is to the upper left of the module. I'll have to settle with the team track coming off the mainline from the other module (which will be to the left) onto this one. This way the team track can at least hold four small cars. I still like the idea of the lumber yard, so I'll just model the edge of one near this team track. I might be able to do this by putting a stack of lumber and perhaps a little lumber yard office. For now, It will depict a branch line terminus and trains will come in from the left.