Anybody got any great ideas?

[FiatFan]

I have a space about 16" X 32" that needs an industry. Rail service is already provided but can be altered somewhat. Here's a photo of the space available.

What I'm looking for is maybe some kind of industrial complex that's not too tall. The main line out of town is immediately to the left. Time frame is the sixties, scale is HO, location is the (generic) Southwest. As you can see in the lower left, the track is buried in the street so I can't alter the approach track but could possible add a turnout within the complex.


Another alternative would be to put a smallish industry with industrial and/or commercial buildings around it.


Anybody got any bright ideas?


Tom

 

[eightyeightfan1]

Whats the industry in the front there?
Maybe you can make a "Main Plant" and that building could be a second or out building for the industry.

 

[FiatFan]

The building in front is the oil distributor.

Tom

 

[stripes]

With the oil distributor next door, An engine manufacturing plant would work! Oil and transportation a winning combination. LOL

 

[Russ Bellinis]

I think the space might be too small for engine manufacturing. I would enlarge the oil distributor, and put in a tank farm with a siding to receive bulk oil and fuel, a distribution system for loading tank trucks for delivery to local gas stations, trucking companies, etc. You also need a parking lot for employees and customers, and perhaps a nice building for a small front office. By the way, the tank farm does not have to be huge. It could be a couple of tanks at the inside edge of the layout suggesting that the bulk of the tanks were located in the operators pit. You could also put some tanks in the space where the spur comes off the main so that the train delivering tank cars backs through the tanks on the way to the unloading platform. Walthers offers an oil loading platform #933-3104 listed at $11.98. Unloading racks look just like loading racks. The oil and gas is just pumped out of the tank cars instead of in. If you get a Walthers 2008 ho catalog page 454 shows more than you would need to enlarge your oil company.

 

[FiatFan]

Thanks to everyone. There are some good ideas presented. You've provided me with a lot to think about.


Tom

 

[steamhead]

Hi Tom....Who makes that oil distributor..??
Looks pretty slick...(No pun intended....)

 

[CSXect]

I second the idea from Russ, a tank farm with train and truck loading/unloading facilities would be a good fit.:thumb:

 

[FiatFan]

Hi Tom....Who makes that oil distributor..??
Looks pretty slick...(No pun intended....)

Hi, Gus

The oil distributor is an old (from the '70s) AHM kit. I had to look to make sure (yeah, I've still got the instruction sheet) but it started out as a plastic factory. I'm using it as the bulk storage building. The modern brick build (a corner of which is visible in the photo) was built when the business outgrew the original building. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.:yep:

Tom

 

[rekline]

Here is a thought, Because of the distributor next door, and not sure of what region you are modelling, maybe a coal/oil fired power plant with a nice electrical transmission distribution yard and a big coal mound for fuel, gives a good reason to buy a bunch of coal hoppers.

 

[CNWman]

Maybe you could make a Gern Industries building, then anything could fit there. I think Gern is like the industry duct tape for model railroads here on the Gaugesign1

 

[FiatFan]

CNWman, that's a great idea. Unfortunately, Acme Corporation already has a lock on the "Purveyors of Everything Under the Sun" market.

Tom

 

[CNWman]

CNWman, that's a great idea. Unfortunately, Acme Corporation already has a lock on the "Purveyors of Everything Under the Sun" market.

Tom

Last I chacked, they didn't manufacture Flux. I should know, I use it to power my Flux Capacitor:mrgreen:sign1

 

[steamhead]

Hi...Thanks for the info... :thumb: I'm going to track one down...As for GERN, they are getting a lot of attention here. Their flux seems to be a cure-all. I think it's even being considered as a gasoline substitute because of it's lack of CO2 emissions....:mrgreen:

 

[MCL_RDG]

I'd be partial to a heat treating company.

It's one of the industries that have "heavy" traffic. Gons/flats with material coming in- boxes moving product out- older building utilized because it wouldn't matter as far as appearance.

I have to visit one of my vendors occasionally- neat stuff there. Big castings and machined parts coming off trucks and at one time- rail. I've seen gears (about 8' diameter, a foot or more thick) for windmills, and military tank turrets, castings and shafts for ships, etc. The building is 1900s- the interior is open flames when the small oven doors open- the look of Hades. Their biggest oven is 12' in the ground- burns $75,000 worth of energy every month. It's a gritty place- just right for that area you show there- on the way out of the city.

The beautiful thing is it's a hodge-podge of mill type buildings all connected through the years of additions- it looks a shambles and claustrophobic- perfect for switching.

Here's a pic- check out that 4'+ tall stainless steel rolled and welded machined tube. Nice flat car load. you can see the old rails that ran along the wall.

Mark

 

[MCL_RDG]

Here's a shot of a...

...stress relieve oven that's outside the building for the small stuff. You can see the standard gauge rails that lead in- there's a steel cart pushed in and out (forklift). On the cart (behind the closed swing gate) are a few large gears that have been stress relieved and ready for load out. You can also see the top edge of the 1-1/2" thick ring from the pic above.

The purchase order reads-

Stress relieve gear. Heat uniformly to 1100-1200 degrees. Hold for one hour- cool in still air.

Mark