Spurs / customers on a switching layout?

**Beachbum** · 10-26-2012, 09:04 AM

Lately, I've been pondering the number and size of industries / customers on medium-sized switching layouts.

There are proto examples for both, but what do you think "works" better - several small industries so you can switch a variety of cars or fewer (maybe just one) large industry or customer? I don't think there's a right or wrong answer, just curious what other people think.

(Transloads / teamtracks don't count.

)

**Selector** · 10-26-2012, 10:31 AM

For the first time, now my third build, I intend to have one spur serve two industries, one fairly large (small coal works) and the other a sawmill or something. The spur ends at a switchback turnout. The tail of the switchback will double as a secondary spur to the coal mine, and the other leg past the turnout, going in the general direction the main spur comes, will be the sawmill. Space will be tight, so I will have to be creative.

**bcp** · 10-26-2012, 10:58 AM

Other options:

A large industry that ships and receives many kinds of cars on several spurs and sidings .

A small port.

Bruce

**TheGloriousTachikoma** · 10-26-2012, 11:14 AM

I think a good mix between large and small customers is best. If all you want to do, or have time for, is an extra out to a couple small customers, you can do that. Or if you have the time and desire for a longer session then you can just pile customers on the switch list.

**Shortliner2001** · 10-27-2012, 01:26 AM

May be worth taking a look at this post - it is simply one industry, with multiple buildings and several spur tracks, but look at the range of cars needed to switch it!
http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewt...grandad#p87390

There will be a lot of shuttling about of cars needed too, especially if offspots need re-positioning for the plant per the Managers instructions

**Iron Horseman** · 10-28-2012, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by Beachbum

Lately, I've been pondering the number and size of industries / customers on medium-sized switching layouts.

There are proto examples for both, but what do you think "works" better - several small industries so you can switch a variety of cars or fewer (maybe just one) large industry or customer? I don't think there's a right or wrong answer, just curious what other people think.

There is that word again, "better". Works better for what, visual effect, efficiency, operational interest, mix of car type, or?

Car type depends on the industry not just the size. An oil company is going to be limited to tank & box, while a fuel company would had hoppers to the mix.

A packing plant only has basically reefers and box, but there is a lot of work to do with those few cars. Spotting the in coming cattle, moving the cars to clean out, putting the reefers to sanitize, running them to ice, etc.

A large customer like a steel plant will really provide a big mix of car type and specialty cars in addition to a large amount of internal switching work. It would be easy to have a whole layout of just a steel mill.

Many small customers provides some switching puzzles for operation. Say a car gets spotted and the customer begins unloading. Suddenly that car can't be moved until they are done. Other cars "behind" it on the spur must be taken out the other side or through an escape track.

And what about that small customer that gets cars that can only be unloaded through one door. They only have a 1 sided dock so the car has to be turned so the correct door is facing the doc.

**Rico** · 10-28-2012, 07:58 AM

I just got a sexy little 45 tonner yesterday that needs to be run, so I'm thinking of a small switching layout to hold me over untill the basement is done.
I'm leaning towards a cement distributor mostly because it would take in short cars and can be a compact industry. There is one close by that has a good variety of silos and features begging to be modelled.

**RBMNfan** · 10-28-2012, 11:32 AM

Don't forget a team track or transloading contractor.

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**RBMNfan** · 10-28-2012, 11:42 AM

I missed the comment in the opening post. Where is your layout? A city layout would probably have a number of medium size business's. I haven't quite figured out the industries in my switching district on my layout. I do have an interchange with a class 1 as the major traffic generator.
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