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Original drawings of the Union Pacific System dated February 11, 1931 , show two versions of their standard storage building for oxygen and acetylene cylinders. The building without the platform was adopted by the railroad on April 7, 1962 and was revised slightly on February 11, 1931, the same date the building with the platform was adopted.
The basic building design itself is the same for both structures having the same floor plan and general construction. The building without the platform is anchored to a concrete floor having a perimeter foundation. T he building with the platform has a wood plank floor on a wood framing that tests on 10" diameter pile butts . Both buildings have a basic wood framing of walls and roof. This framing is covered on the exterior with 20 gauge corrugated galvanized iron on all sides and on the roof. As the drawings show, the corrugated siding at the end and sidewalls halts just on a line even with the upper door frames. Above the line of the siding, the walls continue on the ends and sides with a covering of No. 8 20 gauge galvanized wire cloth all a round the upper portions. This wire provides for ventilation of the rooms with greatest exposure on the upper end walls. The inside wall partition also has corrugated siding typical for both designs. The rainwater gutter runs on the eave side where the pair of double doors a re located.
The building with the platform has its floor level, even with that of the planked platform. The platform sides and end ramp are also enclosed with corrugated siding as are the lower sides below the floor level.
The length of both buildings may vary in multiples of 4 feet; and the width may vary in multiples of 2 feet; to a maximum of 24 feet. The dimensions shown in the drawings are minimum. Standard lead washers are used under all nail heads for fastening all wire cloth and corrugated siding in place. The exterior of these buildings were painted with a color to harmonize with that of surrounding buildings, but with hardware such as door bolts, padlocks, door handles, etc., painted black.
There are products commercially available in various scales for modeling either of these storage buildings. The "K & L House of Wood and Scratch Builders Work Bench", have an excellent variety of fine basswood for the framing and platform. They also have a selection of corrugated siding in various widths and lengths that is quite suitable for modeling these buildings.
For those interested in styrene construction, Evergreen Scale Models have new corrugated sidings available in the various scales, as well as numerous sizes of styrene strip for interior bracing.
As an added feature, one of K & L's power poles can be placed near one end of the building to complete the overall setting, Depending on the particular scale, some fine gauze may be used to simulate the wire cloth portions above the corrugated siding of the side and endwalls.
As a finishing touch, Durango Press does have a torch set of cylinders and a two wheel cart in "O" Scale, complete with gauges and hoses, Extra cylinders could also be made to any scale from commercial hard wood doweling, such as that from "K & L", Be sure to paint the oxygen cylinders a different color than the acetylene cylinders,
With the corrugated siding of these buildings, some rusted weathering effects would be appropriate for the model on the roofing and lower portions of the walls that is less protected by the roof overhang, Extra finishing details could include " No Smoking" signs, wooden water barrels and buckets, and perhaps a workbench outside with some tools. Both styles of this building are simple but interesting, and will provide a good reason to add another spur line to the model railroad.
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