elevator. If one wished, the interchange/staging track could
be converted into an ethanol plant so that the loaded hopper
cars then have two destinations to be spotted. Cassettes could
be constructed off of the end of the mainline track to provide
staging opportunities for additional trains.
This track arrangement lends itself well to other time periods
and operating potential. This same concept with hauling grain
could also be set in the 1950s-60s' by switching to a GP7/9 and
using box cars. The destination could be changed to a flour mill
or bakery instead of the barge facility to fit the 1950s better.
A mining operation could be modeled by making the elevator
a mine load-out facility which is then taking the coal to either
a barge or to maybe a power plant. Also, one could model a
rail marine float operation. The barge load-out spur could be
where barges bring in railcars which are then spotted at the
company freight house located where the elevator is. The
interchange track would then be used as either a team track or
a place to hold empty cars. There are many possibilities for this
track arrangement.
Using the materials listed in the chart above, construct the
table as illustrated. A plywood cutting diagram is illustrated.
Western Expansion Central -
2b
2b. Smaller view of track plan.
MRH-Mar 2013
