It depends on what part of the country you are modeling. I have been in two steel mills in Texas that didn't have walls for 12' up the side for ventilation. I have also seen shipping areas in CaliforniA that just had a roof
I took 2 of these Walthers Armstrong Motors Kits and made a food warehouse to be served by rail cars only. I have it as a backdrop on a track at the south end of my freight yard..
It can hold 4 box cars; 3 are ideal for this siding. Still need to add more items to the loading dock...
Neal
The Walthers "modern" warehouse has truck docks. Semi trailers are backed into the dock, with the doors open all the way, that padding you see around the door, snugs up to the back of the trailer, to help seal out the weather.
once backed in place, a dock leveler plate is placed that bridges the gap and any uneveness betwee the truck and the dock floor.
With the leveler in place, fork lifts can now go in and out of the trailer, for loading or unloading.
The Armstrong building is designed to be at trackside, with the loading dock the same hieght, or close to it, as the rail car floor.
Some type of dock plate would still be placed to bridge the loading dock and the rail car, so fork lifts, or hand carts could go in and out.
Two different scenarios, two different ways for a business to ship and receive goods.
Many industries have both, the truck docks, and the rail dock, which I beleive the Walthers modern warehouse has.
On the back side of the Walthers building, there are 2 doors for rail cars, with a covering that will project out from the building (somewhat similar to the truck dock) to help keep the weather of the loading and unloading operation.
In my working days, we built a huge warehouse for Birds Eye Foods. One side of the cold storage building had truck docks, the other side had a track side dock for refrigerator rail cars.
Mike.
My You Tube
Hi all, I have the Walthers Electric Motor background kit built, but notice there is a loading dock, instead of the weather shield found on kits such as the modern warehouse.
Is the loading dock common for a modern warehouse or industry? What about in cold weather? any prototype photos?