Hi, I am about to model a paper mill switching layout in a 2’x8’ space, based on the Highland Central layout I found on the internet. I was wondering how to model the unloading area for the tank cars and the covered hoppers?
Are there kits for sale for this purpose?
I would most likely be unloading the sulfur chemicals from the tank cars, along with the clay slurry from the tank car. I might also model a covered hopper unloading area for unloading the kaolin in dry form. I am not sure if they dumped this above ground on a tressle, like a coal unloading area, or into a pit between the rails with a conveyer to tranport the powder elsewhere.
The current edition of Model Railroader shows the various industries on the MR&T’s new branch line. One of which is a paper mill, and includes a tank car facility. I believe David Popp built the models and describes them in the article. Recommended reading…
Depends if you are doing the north or south. I have seen unloading areas in the south that are uncovered. The tank cars are parked on the spur and long green hoses go to the tank car bottoms and air line to the top. The area is usually concrete just because the unloaders have to drag the hose around. In the north were we get that stuff called snow and they need to worry about freezing. THe unloading area is covered with the same hoses and stuff. In the mill that I work at you have number two papermachine rail loading docks, the spur to the coating plant, then number 3 paper machine rail loading dock. Hope this helps Kevin