Help choosing first industry...

Sumner Jan 20, 2020

  1. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    [​IMG]
    Above is the heart of my N scale railroading attempt in the early 70's. Also had and still have a handful of other cars with Kadee couplers and some cork, rail and turnouts that never turned into much. I scratch built the water tower with individual scale lumber. Must of found a photo somewhere but just looked for square water towers and didn't really find any that looked like that so not sure where I got the idea. Maybe plans in Model Railroader?

    I'm about done building the turnouts to start my new attempt at a layout. It is cold in the shop and train room unless I start a fire out there and it has been cloudy so the solar heating is coming up short. I thought maybe I'd try building a structure inside until I get some warmer days.

    I'm looking for an industry to build that would be pre-mid 70's, so something 40's to 60's to put on a siding. I'd like it to have a side loading dock for deliveries and a narrow dock along the track also. Just something basic that looks like it could of been used for a number of different businesses.

    Anyone have any suggestions for a first build that wouldn't be real expensive or intimidating?

    Thanks,

    Sumner
     
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  2. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    Sumner, not to be off-putting, but when I am in a situation like yours, I find it helpful to just sleep on it or think about it for a little while. I would think about what you like or admire and plan from there. Sometimes what seems complicated can be done in a more simple way. Good luck. :)
     
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  3. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Try a feed and farm supply. Loading dock rail side truck dock highway side. Check out Rix for some grain bins or metal buildings.
     
  4. Des Moines Rocket

    Des Moines Rocket TrainBoard Member

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    I agree with John Moore posting above. Another option would be a freight transfer warehouse. Growing up in Des Moines, there was a transfer company with rail service on one side and trucks on the other. On an interurban route no less! Try RS Laser Kits for some ideas.
     
  5. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks John, wasn't really aware of Rix's products. Went to their site and they are a little more modern than I want. The feed/farm supply sounds like a good idea later when I'm onto a different part of the layout. What I'm doing now would be more of what you would find on the edge of town or in an industrial area. Looking for a building that would of still been in use in the late 60's say but might of been built prior to the 40's.

    To this point I've spent more time on Engines, trackwork and such and need to start looking more at what is available in kits to build. Thought someone might have a favorite kit that would fit my needs and maybe post a link to it. I've seen some really nice buildings on your layout and others that have been posted here but not very familiar at this point with suppliers that I should look at,

    Sumner
     
  6. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, that sounds like what I'm looking for at the moment. Any links to suppliers that have kits like that?

    Sumner
     
  7. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    On THERR...

    The old Fertilizers & Herbicides plant on the right...moved across the tracks to the new yellow building on the left. The old manufacturing plant is now a Freight Transfer bussiness.

    [​IMG]

    I got the building in a batch of buildings a received from a friend here on TB. I dont know for sure who made it....sorry
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2020
  8. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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  9. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    Sumner, you might look into theDesign Preservation Models Grips Luggage. It has a loading dock and warehouse in a building that is about six by two and half inches in size. The link is located below in mtntrainman post.


    Joe
     
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  10. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks good idea and I've ordered from them before. So I like this one...

    [​IMG]
    http://fiferhobbysu770.corecommerce.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=17561

    ... but wonder if it is maybe more than I should do for a first build?

    Also like this or something along the same lines...

    [​IMG]
    http://fiferhobbysu770.corecommerce.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=18330

    I've built three of my homes and my store but this will be a first so looking for structures that you guys have enjoyed building that are along the lines of the ones above.

    Sumner
     
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  11. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    If you havent worked with laser cut wood kits...go S L O W. The smaller thin wood parts are super fragile. I speak from experience on this one...JS ;)
     
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  12. bill pearce

    bill pearce TrainBoard Member

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    This is why I went with a prototype layout, I let the railroad tell me what was needed.
     
  13. JMaurer1

    JMaurer1 TrainBoard Member

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    The easiest industry is a team track...just a siding to load and unload into a truck...sometime with a ramp. The best thing about a team track is they take just about any style of freight car. Second would be a depot and/or freight house...once again, for freight. Then just about any warehouse (love the Walthers Water Street Freight Terminal and the DPM Gripps Luggage factory. After that, a fuel dealer, a farm supply co, maybe a grain silo, etc. Look at what is available and build what you like.
     
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  14. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, that is/was the type of info I'm looking for, a specific structure one likes. That will be high on my list.

    I looked at the Luggage Factory but it doesn't seem to have a dock or loading doors on the track side but haven't been able to find pictures of that side of the building.

    Sumner
     
  15. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Have one of those too...:D

    [​IMG]
     
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  16. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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  17. nd-rails

    nd-rails TrainBoard Member

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    OP
    I'm perplexed by the lack of criteria except era.
    Surely, the premise of "modelling" requires a prototype- and that means land/ geography, location, industry traits, customers and/ or RR infrastructure.
    Each has a theme, and where these merge, you can model a town, plain or complex industry, or rails in the desert or mountains or forests. Without such planning, a haphazard appearance and form may develop. But then many thrive on chaos, good luck, dave
     
  18. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Not sure that is necessarily true or needed by everyone.

    In my case it is more or less what UP would of been running from the late 40's to early 70's. I lived and worked along their tracks in SE Wyoming for years during the 60's and 70's so their equipment of that time period is of interest to me.

    I now have lived in SE Utah's canyon country for close to 30 years and want to model that area, but other than UP's line down into the Colorado River canyon by Moab, Utah ....



    ..... there are no railroads here. So mine will have fictional towns in the era I'm interested in. It is loosely based on UP's present line from Helper, UT to Provo, UT except the towns and industries will be fictional and the geology will be more red rock canyons.

    I like the freedom it gives me and also like the challenge of modeling the terrain here. I love this layout ....



    ... and what he has done with the scenery. I can only hope to have something that represents what he has done to some degree. If anyone else has links to layouts that have canyon/red rock type scenery I'd sure like them.

    Sumner
     
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  19. nd-rails

    nd-rails TrainBoard Member

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    Ok, well none of that context was cited in the OP so thats why its a head scratcher.
    Yes stunning scenery but I only got as close as an early evening CZ bounding past Provo Utah in '02 on the way to Denver.
    Regards dave
     
  20. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    With a postwar focus, I'd recommend the good ol' quonset hut. They are used in nearly every conceivable business. There's still a bunch of these that exist today across the nation, and they seem to date to a postwar era.

    https://rixproducts.com/product/quonset-hut-n-scale/

    I have done a laser kit, but that was like 15 years ago, and I long forgot who made it. This one by AMB would be a good multi-purpose structure. Kit No. 604 Transfer Building http://www.laserkit.com/bldgn2.htm
     
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