I posted some questions about apple processing and transportation in the HO forum, but as it could apply to any scale I thought I would mention it here also. Please take a look HERE. Thanks
it may have been my late night idiocy too Alan Been out in the 100 degree sun all day followed by a 7 hour party. Dont think theres too much wrong with YOU... LMAO.
There was a Mott's apple sauce processing facility in upstate New York 50+ years ago. As I remember, the apples were delivered in ~3 foot cubed wooden crates. The crates were constructed of open 1x4 slats on the bottom and sides. The slats were attached to a 4x4 square frame bottom and four 4x4 uprights at the corners. The bottom frame formed a pallet resting on 2 (or 3?) 2x4s for forklift access. The loaded crates were delivered by flatbed trucks and farmer's wagons or trailers from the surrounding orchards. The cases of apple sauce jars were shipped by rail to major metropolitan areas and by truck to local towns. The plant consisted of many ramshackled heavily weathered raw wood (grayish/brown stained) structures with no apparent order to their placement. The various buildings seemed to built randomly as needed and where needed with no plan. There was a central building, taller than the rest, with a rusty metal roof that housed the washing, pressing, cooking, and packing equipment. There was a galvanized pipe extending 20-30 feet above the roof that vented steam and/or smoke. This pipe appeared to be about 12" in diameter and was supported by two or three tiers of rusty guy wires spaced about 90 degrees apart. Also, I remember it as not being very straight at that. The main idea to keep in mind as you design this facilty is that it is part of a seasonal industry with minimal investment (except for the orchards). The buildings were used only during harvest time from September through November. The rest of the year they were unmanned and left to the ravishes of weather in upstate New York, including heavy snows, freezing temperatures, hot sun, and violent summer storms. Whatever you design, I am sure that no one would criticize you as every apple facility that I remember in the northeast US was as different as the people who owned and ran them. Also, you may have very similar structures around the UK and on the Continent that you could refer to and not be far wrong. Good Luck, Hank
Alan, here's a photo of a Model of an Apple Processing Plant in Pensylvania. As you have already mentioned, finding photos of apple processing plants is not easy.
Here are a few sites of a little potential value: Wenatchee Valley apple info Yakima Valley apple info Tree Top apple juice Tree Top company history The first one even has a little RR info. Boxcab E50
Thanks Hank and Ken, lots of good info there! I will peruse the sites tomorrow, it is bed time now May also do a little browsing for this type of industry here in the UK and Europe, would most likely use similar systems. Never considered the seasonal aspect, so I guess my layout should be always in the apple harvest season
Alan, look for links in Australia too....Tasmania is known as "The apple isle", amongst other things.
Yup, everyone in Tasmania grows apples, has 2 heads, and is married to their cousin...a bit like Montana, cept they have sheep, not apples. (apologies to any Montana members of TB!!)
