I wrote a similar post on the “prototype” forum but thought maybe there’s more traffic here… I’m becoming frustrated with basic research for my next layout. I read several web sites and MRR articles describing some mainline or branchline that serves X-Y-Z Paper Co., or a Goodyear tire factory, or Bob’s packaging company, etc. Once I decide on a 50-mile or-so stretch of line that I want to model, how would I find out what industries /factories/ plants populate it (I’m modeling modern NS)? Google maps and such only gives so much info. Also, I’m finding it somewhat difficult to piece together what products get shipped in what railcars. Is there a “one-stop shopping” resource somewhere to find this out? I feel very lost…
Hi!
I have a surefire suggestion, but it may not be what you are looking for… As you live on the east coast, why not take a weekender and drive the route you want to model? With a camera and note pad and some Google maps, you should be able to get pretty much what you need.
I find it unusual that you want to model something you haven’t seen or know well. Most folks that model prototypes know the territory before they model.
As far as what products get shipped in what railcars, well you name the business and a few details like size and rail/truck or whatever access, etc., and I the good folks on this Forum should be able to help you out.
Good Luck!
Here’s a better Idea:
Do a google search for “Norfolk SOuthern Railway” and you will turn up many wesites about NS, including a whole page of info about NS {nscorp.com}, including a list of the following industries served:
Facilities Served
|
General warehouses/distribution centers |
354 |
|
Bulk transfer facilities |
175 |
|
Active coal-loading facilities |
161 |
|
Power generation plants served |
103 |
|
Paper mills |
78 |
|
Steel mills and processing facilities |
75 |
|
Metals distribution centers |
64 |
|
Lumber reload centers |
58 |
|
Intermodal terminals |
51 |
|
Paper distribution centers |
34 |
|
Auto distribution facilities |
30 |
|
Coal and iron ore transload facilities |
27 |
|
Auto assem |
Sheesh…you guys sure know how to wring all the fun out of the hobby. [:^)]
It’s supposed to be one with burned fingers, sore heads from banging them under the layout, misplaced tools and materials, scads of articles and periodicals in stacks that have absolutely no order to them. There is meant to be dozens of misleading links and false-promises in the hits in search results. There should be a box where we ordered the wrong thing, particularly if it is from the wrong scale! [:-^]
Where the heck is the fun in a simple google search that instantly yields all this nifty information?
Like, we should have to strive for success or it just isn’t worth it. [(-D]
Crandell
Sorry, Crandell. If it’s any help to ya, I did loose just a tad bit of skin off my fingers typing and copy/pasting all that gorgeous information!
Aw, Shucks, It weren’t nuttin’.
[8-|]
Personally, I think you’re making things harder than they need to be.
If you really, truly want to model a 50 mile stretch of NS down to the last detail of accurate industries / businesses, then you absolutely have to go there yourself with a digital camera and take pictures of absolutely everything that will be present on your layout. Otherwise, how can you be sure that you have adequately represented it on your layout. Are you really trying to reproduce every significant detail (including the roughly 3300 feet of HO track it will take to model it)? If so, you have to see it for yourself and have lots of photos.
Or, you could do what most of us do, and model representative industries that could conceivably be in that location, but aren’t necessarily the exact ones in the prototype. Furthermore, Google Images, Bing Maps, Google Earth, etc. can give you pretty clear overhead imagery, in which you can tell a coal mine from a steel mill from a lumberyard. Do you really care whether it’s Bob’s Boards or Acme Lumber? OK, so there’s a non-descript factory building. Is is making furniture, transistors, or magazines? Do you really need to know? Pick the one that gives you the most variety in freight traffic. Odds are, no one who sees your layout is going to know any better anyway.
Everyone pretty much has it. Also, ask buddies, someone might know (or be) an NS local Conductor. Their good for all kinds of info.
It’s a wonderful tool for modern era modeling as everything is still there. Heck, I use it to trace a lot of old railbeds for transition era modelling as well. Often, large indiustries aren’t gone, and you can just make out the tracks where all they did was pave over parts of it and you can see where thye kinda went in at.
Picking up a recent employee timetable - often available online or at a RR fleamarket - will offer a listing of all the industries the RR serves. If you’re modelling “today”, generally a timetable from the last 5-10 years will be recent enough to have the info you need.
I have to agree with mobilman here. Hop on in the car with a camera a drive the 50 mile stretch taking photos of interesting industries and structures as you go. That would be downright fun.
Also, as mobilman said, if you can be so specific as to pin down a 50 mile stretch to model, you need to know the area well, if you don’t already. Otherwise, how can you even model that specific area.
Rich
Sorry - no one-stop shopping. But at least some suggestions:
One trick I use is to use several different mapping services. Two I use a lot are:
http://www.google.com/maps let you see the street addresses. You can also use the street view to “walk” along streets looking at building facades - sometimes being able to read signs.
http://www.bing.com/maps has the “bird’s eye view”, allowing you to see the buildings from above, at an angle - good for seeing different sides of the building, tracks etc.
One trick is that when you find the name of the street or even an address, you can google that street name or that street address to find what businesses are located on that street - a lot of companies these days are on the web.
To get an idea about what types of cars are used for different types of goods: http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Customers/
Smile,
Stein