Large Scale Central

Two Track Diesel Fueling Facility for the Spatially Challenged

Modeling
#1

I have a crossing just north of Lizard Lane where trains stop automatically. I thought it would be nice to add a diesel fueling facility here, but space is extremely limited.

My smallest tank is from the 2-axle LGB tank car and has served well at the Tortoise Town station for many years. But Tortoise Town got a new larger tank making this LGB tank available for relocation.

A walkway and tank/equipment pad (pre-existing tile scraps) were attached to the main station pad using Goop and brass strips so that everything stays in alignment. The fit of these pieces was perfect for the space.

I have no doubts that this tank WILL get whacked by passing trains if they have derailed. As such, Plastruct “saddle locators” locate and keep the tank in the best spot for clearance, but allow the tank to easily “come away” with no damage if it is struck by a passing railcar. The bottom “L-fitting” is a drip system “multi-head” fitting and is a perfect fit for the existing hole in the tank. A piece of drip tube and spacer provide a pipe and collar into the cement.

Because the tank is at ground level, you can’t use gravity feed and a pump system is necessary. But with limited space… My review diesel fueling facilities showed that many of these were underground in vaults with covers.

The top of an LGB turnout motor provides the cover for the vault. A POLA roof hatch provides access to the vault. The end of the hatch was filed at an angle so the hatch will remain open without “stressing the glue.” I’ll put a scale wrench under the lip to look like it is holding up the access cover.

The valves are “spitters” from the drip system. If you remove the “deflector” there is a small hole that is ideal for a brass wire and left over brake wheel. Two holes in the turnout cover were enlarges and tapped for the spitters. The “collar” that holds the “hose” is also from the multi-head fitting used to cover the unused ports. I drilled these through and re-tapped them for the proper thread, which is different than the other thread on the fitting. The hoses are Malibu wire and the stripped end fits into the spitter while the insulation fits within the collar.

Paint comes next.

Enjoy

#2

Nice :slight_smile:

#3

A good use of bits and pieces to make a realistic scene.

#4

This won’t do. Sorry I am going to have to blow the whistle on this fueling station. It does not have the required containment catch basin that any self respecting government environmental agency would require.

Very nice and a great use of both recycled items and a challenging space. It looks like it belongs there and was not simply placed there to take up space. Well done.

#5

Nice!

#6

Very cool. Great use of parts and space.

-Kevin.

#7

Thanks guys.

BTW, if the LGB switch cover is stil too large, the AristoCraft manual cover also has the “diamond plate” pattern, and is a smaller square with only two holes to deal with.

#8

I thought it would be nice to put a fueling nozzle on the end of the hose for the guy to hang on to or such. I went on-line and found these could vary from a typical pump fitting that you could find in a gas station, to special fittlings with twist locks and … But most of the high volume pieces had some sort handle/sturrup.

Anyway, to demonstrate the the versatility drip sprinker fittings, I did a bit of trimming, added a small piece of brass tube, and a piece of brass wire that was flattened and shaped and voila! Once painted, close enough.

#9

Todd is proudly displaying his hose here on LSC!

#10

http://www.moviewavs.com/php/sounds/?id=bst&media=WAVS&type=Movies&movie=Blazing_Saddles"e=whipout.txt&file=whipout.wav

Actually when you think about it, who models a large scale semi-modern diesel fuel hose/nozzle? The PIKO nozzle looks like a simple tapered stick with an oversized loop for someone to put his hand in.

And certainly no one has done this using a drip spitter to make something that could be convincing.

I have seen several people use the drip fitting straight barbed coupler fitting as a fire hose nozzle, but none that I’ve seen were modified in any way. The latest itteration I saw of this was in Nancy Norris’s helicopter dropping water article. But those were just straight, unadorned, drip-fitting barbed couplers. If I were to do that, I would take an Ozark mini block and tackle hanger (horseshoe shaped clip) and drill the fitting to take it like a handle, like a real fire hose. I almost did that on this nozzle, but went with the brass wire to save drilling the fitting for the clip with a tiny drill that I don’t have. Again, I’ve never seen anyone do this.

Small victories. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#11

Todd Brody said:

http://www.moviewavs.com/php/sounds/?id=bst&media=WAVS&type=Movies&movie=Blazing_Saddles&quote=whipout.txt&file=whipout.wav

Actually when you think about it, who models a large scale semi-modern diesel fuel hose/nozzle? The PIKO nozzle looks like a simple tapered stick with an oversized loop for someone to put his hand in.

And certainly no one has done this using a drip spitter to make something that could be convincing.

I have seen several people use the drip fitting straight barbed coupler fitting as a fire hose nozzle, but none that I’ve seen were modified in any way. The latest itteration I saw of this was in Nancy Norris’s helicopter dropping water article. But those were just straight, unadorned, drip-fitting barbed couplers. If I were to do that, I would take an Ozark mini block and tackle hanger (horseshoe shaped clip) and drill the fitting to take it like a handle, like a real fire hose. I almost did that on this nozzle, but went with the brass wire to save drilling the fitting for the clip with a tiny drill that I don’t have. Again, I’ve never seen anyone do this.

Small victories. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Dude you need to lighten up and find yourself a hobby!

#12

Back in college when I studied the “anatomy of the spitter,” we were referring to the salivary glands. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#13

Linda thought the fueling nozzle looked a bit large, but has never seen a high volume filler. Anyway, to accomodate our 44-tonner, we further cut a spitter making the body smaller, added a smaller piece of copper tube within the brass tube, to fit in the fuel tank, and used a cut down cotter pin for the handle/trigger, which is much more conventional, and a slightly thinner hose. This actually looks about right.

#14

You should give your workers a break and secure your coils with rope.

Looks good.

John

#15

Only thing left is some paint and stencil for the tank and we’ll be ready for the next season.

And there we have a no cost (to me) fueling station in a small area that will add visual interest and is totally unique and worthy of any railroad. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

#16

But aren’t the hoses usually suspended from masts, with an automatic rope coiling mechanism? Kinda like fueling islands at truck stops.

#17

It’s only 1957 and these operations are conducted on a shoe string. Many small operations dealt with the hand they were dealt and if budget and/or spatial constraints got in the way, they made do. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#18

Ah, oh, uh huh. Yep, I understand.

#19

Todd, that looks really good.

#20

Now all you have to do is get it real grimy!