I was reading Jeff Wilson’s well-written article on livestock modeling in the April 2007 “How to Build Realistic Layouts” special issue. In the operations section he lays out a very interesting set of operational elements that could be involved in switching a large stockyard facility. I think that type of facility is under-represented on model railroads, and is a fascinating concept.
More than our typical industries that might be switched once, twice, or a few times a day…a stockyard requires almost constant shuffling of cars. Scenario cards combined with a fast clock could keep an operator on their toes moving the cars around as Wilson’s article describes.
I wanted to add one other scenario that would add a fun (complicating) element to the switching. Sometimes when livestock was brought in to a stockyard, a few were found to be diseased. Diseased animals had to be destroyed (typically), and the cars were required to be disinfected immediately. That could add an interesting wrinkle to the crew’s work, having to set out a car away from the others at the clean-out track for a more thorough cleaning.
I discovered this in an October 1956 Department of Agriculture criminal complaint filed against the Green Bay & Western R.R. when 4 steers out of a shipment of 70 were found to be infected with brucellosis and the railroad failed to clean the cars afterwards.
Stockyards are definitely a limited time frame “industry”. If you are modeling anything after approximately the late 60’s stcok car traffic is minimal. Just a word of caution.
I haven’t gotten any special issue. Did they ignore the subscibers once again, and give the special issue only to people who purchased the magazine over the counter?
Limited time frame? 1870-1970 sure doesn’t sound limited to me. Now intermodal (1970-2007); THERE’S a limited time frame modeling endeavor!
Operations in and around large stock yards have always fascinated me, possibly because I vaguely remember hanging out at the Chicago Union Stockyards as a kid (early 1970s; I’m a farm kid. To this day I equate Chicago with the stockyards and rodeos!). I’ve always thought that a LARGE basement dedicated to modeling the yards would make for a great switching layout. Between the yards and the processing plants there’s no end to the traffic and types of cars (even gons!), and it would make for a very intense and thought-driven switching session. Maybe one of these days I’ll break down and work on a layout like that…
They have been splashing advertising for its sale all over this here forum since last fall - I think I ordered mine on-line in November. There were also mail-in cards in almost all issues of [i[Model Railroader[/i]. The advertised title was: How to Build Realistic Layouts: Industries You Can Model. It was advertised as “Order now and save $1 and shipping” which is puff because shipping is included with the cover price of the publication. You will, however, avoid sales tax as well as - and this can be significant depending on how far you have to drive - the cost of gasoline. You can still order it - perchance it was marqueed at the head of this topic when I brought it up for display.
They are currently splashing advertising for another Realistic Layouts special edition scheduled for October circulation. This one is titled: How to Build Realistic Layouts: Freight Yards. It also is being promoted as “Order now and save $1 and shipping” I ordered mine in February, I believe.
These Realistic Layouts special issues are somewhat unique in one way - at least unique coming from Model Railroader magazine. Over the years I have found that their glue-bound special issues contain have tended to contain considerable quantities of rehashed material. For that reason I have become hesitant about shelling out $19.95 sight unseen. I have taken to examining - I believe the proper term is “peruse” - them at the hobby shop - or newstand - and make my decision to buy or not to buy at that time. I did that with the first [i]R
In the absence of being a regular subscriber, or missing an ad-card or print-ad in a Model Railroader newstand purchase, if you sign up for the weekly Model Railroader Newsletter e-mail, you’ll never miss these $1.00 off + free postage specials again => which is what I have done.
In fact, I will go to the link in the e-mail, fill in the order form, print it out, slap postage on an envelope with a personal check, and send it to Kalmbach. It works every time and it keeps another item off of the credit cards to forget to mail in to pay that “at risk” of a late payment bill.
Here’s the “Special Issues” link under the “Our Magazine” menu of Model Railroader’s main webpage…
The next one coming out in August, “How to Build Realistic Layouts - Freight Yards” looks every bit as good as the “How to Build Realistic Layouts - Industries You Can Model” mentioned in this thread, and; my pre-pub $6.95 check is actually in the mail tomorrow.
I am finding that this “How to Build Realistic Layouts” series is becoming my favorite must-purchase over the many other good publications at Model Railroader as a well-thought-out mix of prototype background and how-to-model articles.