I am currently building models for a steel mill for my layout, this will be the majority of the layout , so size is not all a concern. I have bult a walthers blast furnace and scratchbuilding a bessemer plant from a MIke Rabbitt drawing based on the early 1940's era. I am looking for information on othe buildings, such as blower houses, electrical plants, steel processing buildings, and also material handling equipment. I want to include a dock and an ore carrier in this layout. any info would be appreacted, or direction to other sites would help. I have been to the USS Steel photo library, and gathered good photos from there. thanks jd
The NMRA has steel industry SIG. There is also two YAHOO groups dealing with rail related iron and steel operations. To whit, the "Rustfans" and "Steel" groups. The former treats more with the industrial rail operations, and the latter more with steel production and trunk line relationships. Both will have people capable of discussing the matters you raise. The Historic American Engineering Record that is part of the Historic American Building Survey, can be archived throug the National Archives in Maryland. There are state indices that you can buy, and are probably available in research libraries near where you live. These list what is included in survey, by state. The Hagley Museum in Wilmington, Delaware has enormous amount of graphic holdings from American iron and steel mills in the 19th and early 20th century. They also publish guide to this collection that you can buy. You also can visit their library , to examine what you will wish to purchase. I would buy guides prior to going to any of these places, as you will waste at least a day there if you do not know what you wish to see in advance. Good-Luck, PJB
Here's a good site for modeling steel mills. It's a local hobby shop and they have built a fairly large one. Plus they have steel mill cars. Click on Steel Mill Project: Peach Creek ...Eddie
