This is a composite casting for my engine house. This piece measures 9-1/4" long by 3-1/8" high. This will allow a Bachmann 10-wheeler and tender to totally fit within. Actually, it will hold two 10-wheelers as it is going to be 2 bays wide.

The original idea was to cast and fit the curved arch pieces and glue this whole assembly together. After a while, it became evident that speed and strength would be had by making this assembly and then casting it as a unit. I can cast 3 of these per day – which is bunches better than the 3 days it was taking me to make one. What with family, job, and whatnot, finding three contiguous days was impossible. The first side of the engine house is now about 9" high and 30" long.

Rebar from wire coat hangers are cast into this piece. And, additional rebar is being fastened to the inside of the finished wall. I honestly do not know if it is needed. However, as much time as I’m putting into this project, the less I want a wall to crack when I hold my barn rais’n! I hope to have scans of the ends of the project up soon. I have two styles of ends being assembled. One with a pitched roof for steam, and one with a squared, stepped end for a trolley barn. I could not make up my mind which I liked. And then I found that I have to make both left and right sides. And eventually, a center section that will allow 1, 2, 3, or more bays. Both styles of ends include moon windows by using the SM5 casting both right side up and upside down.

The brick in between the arches was poured only one-half a mold thick. This gives an inset that adds to the character of the finished wall. Brick continues down to the base of the windows. From there to the ground is the squared stone, two courses high. The stone and brick colors and textures give a very rich look to the one finished side.