Does anyone know or can you refer me to a source for information?
I’m working on a track plan for a small powerplant, for say, a university serviced by a Midwest shortline in the early 1950’s.
I’d like to know about how many cars would be delivered and how often, and possible scenarios for unloading, track arrangements etc.
Thanks in advance.
.
There was a good article a number of years back about exactly that - a university power plant. I believe it may have accompanied a Mike Tylick layout article. Try searching in the magazine index (under ‘Resources’ at the very top of this page). I know I have the issue with that article, but I don’t remember exactly which year or month - I’m thinking it was early/mid 90’s.
–Randy
I don’t know how much information is available, but Frankfort, Indiana had a plant like you are describing. It has been sitting empty since (I think) the 1980’s, but building is still there as are the remnants of the spur which served it. As far as I can recall, there were 2-3 hoppers spotted on the spur at a time. I don’t know how they were moved to be emptied by the power company. This plant was on the northeast side of town, right alongside the former NKP line which runs to Kokomo.
Good luck!
Thanks for the replies so far. I’ll look for the article and do live in Indiana so might check out Frankfort. I will also inquire on the NKP Yahoo group. Tony Koester does respond there from time to time so he might be a good source as he is quite knowledgeable about Frankfort as is his friend, former NKP railroader Don Daily.
I found my copy of Industries Along the Tracks, Two by Jeff Wilson. He covers power plants small and large but I am looking for more.
I would suggest you try looking at several universities on Google Earth since it has satellite views of nearly every area in the country. University power plants are fairly small and the ones I have seen don’t have very many cars. The aerial views would show you building size which can be measured in feet with the ruler feature and track arrangement.
While in Yahoo!! Groups you could look up the University of Minnesota Railroad Club’s group. The U of MN still has a working coal-fired plant on campus which I believe is still served by the U’s Alco S-4 diesel switcher…
That’s a FAQ (Frequently Asked/Answered Question). Do a search for power plant in the search box on the right side of screen, and you will find several discussions about this subject.
One example: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/83971/995334.aspx
Smile,
Stein
The kind of small power plant that hospitals, colleges, even some high schools, and small industries had very likely got one car at a time back when there was rail service to such customers (and those were probably small 2 bay hoppers at that). Page 4 to 7 of this old Walthers publication
http://www.walthers.com/page/ir23.pdf
has some information that should interest you. Kalmbach has a book devoted to coal as an industry that should be useful. and their Industries Along the Tracks 2 has a major feature on coal customers.
Dave Nelson
I’m thinking I’ll have one coal delivery track (into the power house building) and one track used by a clamshell crane to stock pile coal on the ground from hoppers in the event of an interuption in coal supply. But that brings up a question: (Remember I’m modeling an older style power plant in the early 50’s.) How would the stockpiled emergency coal be delivered to the furnace? Would the clamshell put the coal in emptied hoppers or the railroad supply empty cars and then the hoppers switched into the power house building? Or would the power plant have a secondhand car they own for this kind of emergency?