Eastbound and down: The no. 279-5098 O gauge Schneider Trucking Terminal by Menards

The freight carrier's orange livery will make this structure stand out. There are plenty of O gauge compatible trucks available to fill those loading bays!

I thought the wave of buildings was over for the year when the Schneider Trucking building show up on my doorstep. This is a nifty surprise.

The building is another salute to a Wisconsin-based company, Schneider Transportation. Founded in 1935, the Green Bay-based firm was granted the first interstate transportation authority by the Interstate Commerce Commission. That has evolved into a company with global reach and expertise in all forms of surface transport from full trailer, less-than-carload, and intermodal movements.

The Menards structure represents a small terminal. It has an 11 1/2 by 14 inch footprint and is just under six inches tall. The building's bright orange color makes it highly visible. The Schneider sign, on the front, is easy to see from a distance.

There are three loading dock doors on each side. The warehouse itself is empty and ready for you to place the material of your choice. There are cargo, pallets, an employee and Jack, the Menards mascot, on the left side of the building. The loading dock is wide and the building has simulated brick construction. The eagle of the dock has yellow and black safety striping.

Everyone needs a freight terminal on their layout. This would look goo at a siding off the mainline, or in the middle of an industrial park (made up of Menards structures, of course).

I got quite a surprise when I plugged it in. I didn't catch that this was animated. Sure enough, the forklift started to move ford slowly, stop and then retreat into the building. You'll want to place this so that it is clearly visible by anyone visiting your railroad!

For power, you will need one of the 4.5 volt power supplies from Menards: Menards SKU 279-4061, 279-4062, or 279-4050. You may wish to consider the no. 279-4681 9-piece Plug & Play accessory kits to serve multiple structures and vehicles. All are available separately.

The Schneider Trucking Terminal costs $89.95. Order online at www.Menards.com/Trains and opt for free shipment to your local Menards store.

The terminal has six loading bays (three on each side). I dubbed this the street side and the reverse trackside. Why? The added detail of dog, worker, and cargo. But the big selling point is the forklift. When power is applied it moved out toward the dock, and back into the warehouse.

Jack the German shepherd is the on-site safety supervisor! The freight warehouse is ready to customize with your own boxes, bails, pipes, or whatever cargo you might want to ship!

This could become a major hub of activity for translating cargo from boxers to trucks. There is a decent supply of O-compatible cargo trucks in the market. I believe I got the blue and yellow cab truck from Menards a few years ago. Diecast Direct would be another good source of supply.

The forklift had about a two-inch run forward and then in reverse. It operates continually when the power is applied to the building.

Here is a closer view of the forklift and its cargo load.

The office has a wood staircase and two workers conversing about the the day's deliveries – or maybe how the Packers did that weekend. There is a simulated concrete walkway, shrubs, an electrical power box the wall, and the brilliantly illuminated Schneider sign.