I have an open siding on my layout that is approximately 3 feet long. Does anyone have any plans that could fill the space?
How deep is the area? What time frame are you modeling? Perhaps post a photo of what space you have available?
You could have a grain elevator or 2, as they dont take up alot of room. You could also shorten the siding to say 2ft for a passing siding and the remaining foot being a stub end for car storage?
And yes, I'm looking fr building plans and maybe a track plan. I have a four by eight with one side as an industrial side and the other side is more of a countryside with some mountains lining the backdrop.
Sounds to me like Montana. Perfect place for a bunch of grain elevators! You could also put on one end of the siding, some place for the famrers to get parts for their tractors, fuel, oil, and processed feed for cattle.
Back in the January model railroader, they did the quarry branch off of a siding. I was thinking something like that. I have a walthers sunrise feed mill. I'll get a picture of the space up tomorrow.
Grain elevators have worked for me, but the produce warehouse in the foreground allows for a different mix of cars.
If you do a moderate sized grain elevator, like Walther's Valley Grower's Association, you could also have a coal/fuel oil dealer, like Walther's Golden Flame Fuel Company, and/or possibly their State Line Farm Supply. Any mix of them would be cool and doable. Just remember that during the transition era grain was hauled in boxcars, not covered hoppers.
Personally, I would change the siding ot the other side of the main. You really have no room on that siding to do anything industry wise, unless you get really creative. If you flip it to the other side of the main, you have alot more options. By changing the siding, you could add a grain elevator to the backside and as Ken mentioned, maybe even a cattle pen. However, if you decide to keep it as is. I would add a switch to the end of the siding in the foreground of the picture and put an industry on the corner of the layout. A farm supply or a fuel and coal dealer, or a cattle pen would work nicely there.
Your siding is not useable for any business. There is no space available. You do not want to locate industry along the main track. I would suggest before proceeding any further, you relocate that siding across from the present position. It is a good length and once moved, it can accomodate a couple of good customers rather well.
Why not just leave what is there, and add another siding to the inside of the mainline. That would give a storage/runaround in the perfect location for servicing the industrial siding. Just my .02 worth...
I saw the picture of your space, and I can't see how you can get the trains to stay on the track with the layout turned sideways.
I remembered see something like that... http://illianaroad.com/engineering/levitating-magnetic-model-train/ :teeth:
