True, but a team track can consume a good deal of space if one is forced to model the necessary drive ways for truck access. One could put the team track along the front of the layout assuming that the drive ways are in the aisle, but that would block the view of the passing trains which some might find objectionable. One other solution might be to space short loading docks with ramps along the team track. That would allow normal trucks to park parallel to the track while loading and/or unloading saving some space. It would also allow the local auto dealerships to unload their new inventory (cars were shipped in box cars at one time). Placing an end ramp at the end of one track could allow the unloading of items such as construction equipment and farm machinery.
True, how about one those four truck Walthers depressed center flat cars. We all tend to buy cars that do not really belong on ours pikes.
Clearly, almost any standard gauge RR is going to need at least one interchange track. If one has two or more such tracks, it creates to possibility of bridge traffic between the connecting RR’s. The Old Dog has read about an old interurban line that survived for while by simply by hauling cars between two RR’s that were
Maybe I overlooked it but I don’t think anyone mentioned the dairy industry. This could be modeled at both ends. Small creameries along the line would collect milk from nearby farms and milk trains would gather collect the milk cars along the way and deliver them to a central processing and bottling plant. Depending on space, a modeler could model either or both ends of this arrangement.
In the 1950s, trucks began taking over the pickups from the online creameries but there was still the central processing plant that could ship processed dairy products by rail.
Here’s a pitch for our hosts of this site. PartII of their trackside Industries book is now out.
I have both I & II and they should be on every modelers book shelf they both are jammed packed with info. Jeff Wilson out did himself again with no.II.
For a moment, let’s not talk about new industries but getting the most out of what ever industries are already on your pike.
Clearly, most industries use raw materials (primary inputs) to product finished goods (primary outputs).But there are often other commodities involved.
For example, a blast furnace mainly uses coke, iron ore, and limestone to make pig iron. But it also produces a good deal of slag, a product of some but limited value (by-product or waste product). In addition, between campaigns, the mill will need a good deal of fire brick to replace the furnace lining (maintenance supplies). Then there is the matter of the molding sand needed to cast the pigs. (secondary input).
Consider a furniture factory, the primary input probably would be hardwood lumber. The primary output would be furniture. But the plant would also need metal fasteners, glue, and varnish (secondary or minor inputs). The plant would also need fuel for heating the building (fuel for heating) (Note that the fuel demands would be somewhat independent on the level of production and very dependent on the season of the year). In the period before centralized electric plants common, the plant would need fuel to power the machinery (fuel for power). In addition, the plant would probably need inexpensive soft lumber for crating or corrugated card board (packing materials). In rare cases the plant might receive new machinery (maintenance supplies). The plant would also create scrape wood and saw dust (scrape outputs) although that would probably used for fuel.
Consider a small cannery, it would certainly need materials to can, say meats, vegetables, and/or fruits (primary inputs). But it would also need empty cans (secondary input). It is also going to need labels and the glue to stick them to the cans (secondary inputs or packing materials). The plant will need boil
I saw a pickle factory modeled once. It was really facinating. Lots of spices, cucumbers, glass jars, metal lids, labels, crates, barrels, and purified water going in, crated and jared pickles going out. Now thats a lot of traffic for one industry! And it was VERY different!
Or how about a slate quarry? Or a marble quarry? Both used specialized cars to ship their product, but both required shipments of tools of all sorts.
Down south textile mills make for great modeling. Raw materials need to be brought in and finished ggods need to taken away. We also have numerous lumber mills that require a good deal of rail traffic.
This one may have been mentioned, but scrap yards need rail service and make an intersesting industry to model.