Frac sand and fertilzer transloading facility

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Since I cut out the middle section of the layout. I now have some room on the right side wall for a small industy.

Walthers just released a new kit called Rail to Road Aggregate transfer. Here http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-4036

I just picked up this kit. Since I’m still working on laying the inside mainline tracks, I’ll add a switch there for this industy. It will hold about 4-5 covered hoppers. The sand or fertilzer is unloaded under the tracks, then a conveyor takes it up to the two storage silos. Then the trucks pull under the silos for loading, then delivery to the oil companies for sand fracking, or to farmers with the fertilizer.

This kit doesn’t include a hopper shed though. So I had an idea. I have a shed from an unbuilt kit I have for my Ethanol Plant. The shed fits perfectly here for the hoppers. I will cut out an opening in the shed for the conveyor.

The road for the trucks will curve down around to the edge of the benchwork at the bottom.

Here is what it look like. I placed the base down there for the two silos.

Here is the prototype:

2

Looks like a neat kit, and a great idea using the ethanol shed. I’ll be watching this build.

3

Very cool, and I love that prototype photo… the trackside scene is so clean and immaculate, you’d swear it was a model! It would make a good addition to the “Yes, it’s a Prototype” thread on the MRH forum [:D]

4

Ya thats what I was thinking also. Look at the ballast on my mainlines there, it matches perfectly with that prototype photo.

5

Michael,

Yes, a credible depiction of the prototype. Looks like it will create a great scene.

One thing to consider, if you haven’t already, is extending the tail of the spur some more, curving it around to parallel the main. I’ve done this with several tracks that ended up being too short to really accomodate all the traffic they needed. Ideally, you’d want this extension to be as long as the longest cut of cars, but every little bit you can put down helps operations later on.

6

Hey Mike. Yes I thought about that. But I need to create a roadway for the trucks, and extending the track would not have room for the road.

Edit: I was just looking at it. And I can extend the track, and just have a grade crossing for the road over the tail track. On the top side, there is room for a road to curve around the edge of the benchwork. Make another grade crossing there too.

Thanks for the idea Mike.