What types of traffic (supplies) runs through a cannery? So far I've got: tin cans, bottles, crates, paper, salt, pickling lime, starch, citric acid. I want to design a Del Monte plant in the 1950's and I'm trying to figure out what types of freight cars go into a cannery and where they are placed. Anyone know about this? Thanks
Some canneries made their own cans, so besides outgoing box cars of canned good, you can have box cars full of tin plate for the cans. WP used 40' Pullman Standard box cars (those really cool silver with the orange feather jobs) and then in the mid 50s got their first "grocery cars", 50' insulated plug door cars. I imagine most other railroads were on the same page.
There are some great canneries in Santa Cruz and Moneterey Counties.CA. There is also an Heinz cannery down in King City right off the 101. These canneries especially in Salinas CA are accessible by rail. I wish I could offer more info, many years ago I was an Weights and Measures technician and went into the packing houses. Good luck in your research.
Only problem is I want to model Del Monte and I think they were primarily fruits and veggies. There's a Del Monte facility in the central valley (near Fresno, I believe) but I haven't been up there in a couple of years. Fish canneries are/were an important part of California's output but I think they were located in the coastal regions. With that said, my layout is suppose to capture the "flavor" of SP railroading in California so I could include fish as well! Something to think about!
I am sure some of the freakier California palates would welcome nouveau pesce like braised mahi mahi with pinapple-avocado stuffing, topped with French truffles and wrapped in asparagus threads and coated with blackened tofu. I only say this because I have heard the abominations that have been created there in the world of pizza.
Just SF Boudin Sourdough bread from Fishermans wharf. Lets get on with trains and packing plants in CA.
A bit after the fact since this thread is about 2 years old, but the Hunts cannery in Hayward CA would also fill a gon every week of so with damaged/defect cans and/or bottles (not mixed of course.) And depending on what you're canning, how about tank cars of corn syrup? :tb-wink:
