Industry Operations

[preceng]

Hey all. I am designing a new layout based entirely on industrial type operations. I am looking for a simple reference for what types of products are shipped by rail into and from each insustry. I wanted to maximize the types of industries and their interdependance. For example, so far I have a coal mine and a steel mill. Obviously the mill needs coal (Coke really, but no room) and the mine can use steel beams, roof bolts, etc. What reference materials can you recommend?

As always thanks for your time[:)]

[Anonymous]

I had this thread going about Industries quite some time ago. I had to dig to find it but luck would have it, here it is:

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=7610&REPLY_ID=46893#46893

What a difference a year can make.

[ndbprr]

Actually most integrated steel mills that require coke do receive coal and make the coke on site. Maybe 25% of coke produced is shipped by rail but the vast majority of steel mills would receive coal not coke.

[nslakediv]

for all my industries I just went online and did a search with either the key ingrediant or industry type. I also used a key word "how to make _____" the options are endless.

[ndbprr]

Actually the only cars that require paired industries are the open top ones so that the loaded cars don't leave that way. Who is to say that a box, tank or covered hopper is empty or full or didn't come in with one product and leave with another? For example a steel mill does receive many box cars with refractories and bagged products that are susceptible to moisture. Granted that much product leaves in dedicated steel hauling cars but it does leave in box c rs also. So that car that brought the bricks for the furnaces could be leaving with a coil or stack of steel sheet or plate in it. Not part of the question but a quick tip for realism. I fill all my enclosed cars with soupy plaster for weight. It forms to the car shape, costs pennies per car and wipes off the outside if any runs out. I do this with box cars, tanks and covered hoppers. They track much more realistically