NVSRR research is turing up surprising results. Or more correctly, no results. Ok I am doing current era. But I should find history though. All that is lacking. Philly and NYC I can find both history and current. I have not even found many track plans and layouts for ports. only a small handfull. almost all from MR. even more of a surprise after many searches. And nothing modern.
Shane,
I'm not sure exactly what you are asking... track plans, links to ports, links to port history. So I'll just throw out some thoughts and questions.
First thing that comes to mind: what do you define as modern? that will probably be the biggest influence on your plan and facilities for freight handling. When I started my layout, it was "modern". Now, it's 25+ years ago. I'm wondering what track plans did you find in MR, and what did you like/ not like about them? I'm under the impression there has been a lot available (in print) regarding RRs and ports. I'm surprised you felt otherwise, but maybe they just didn't fit into your concept.
What location is your harbor to be in? Atlantic, Pacific, Great Lakes, Gulf??? I assume this would make a difference in "plausible" imports and exports. What types of freight are you interested in?
I'm a big fan of ports, but sadly, the stuff that appeals to me is actually more from the "pre-container" age.
You might just want to start by researching various ports' websites. example: Port of Olympia on Puget Sound; link: Layout1 (portolympia.com) Port of Tacoma was in Trains magazine not too long ago.
Another: Port of Richmond, California was a subject for 4 modern layout plans, not too long ago in the MR special publication "Model Railroad Planning".
Also, I really like the book by Bernie Kempenski (model railroad books, pub.) "Waterfront Terminals and Operations"
Hope this helps.
BigDaddyEd the first link worked, the second did not and the 3rd was a film about oysters
See if this link takes you to ALL the albums (there's a LOT of photos here) then scroll to one of the albums that may interest you. There are quite a few with military bases, mines, steel mills and ports.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ssave/albums/with/72157696725351725
This is the Santa fe on B&O barge photo I refered to:
Baltimore by Edmund, on Flickr
Hope that works, Ed
Ed the first link worked, the second did not and the 3rd was a film about oysters
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I love looking at the old pics. to bad all those links gave me 404. I didnt come accross those in the search. thanks to the gogle. I am working in modern era
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
NVSRRThe search goes on.
New York City piers. Lots of neat details and good aerial photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ssave/albums/72157689846832316
N.Y. Naval Ship Yard:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ssave/albums/72157698879396425
Port of Baltimore (check out that Santa Fe 2-10-4 on the B&O Barge!)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ssave/albums/72157696725351725/with/49764553923/
Regards, Ed
I suggest you try to track down the book R,ailroading Along the Waterfront. It was published years ago by Wm K Walthers. It is out of stock now but can be found at good swap meets and I suspect online. It was a hardcover book that cost $49.99 when new. It is full of prototype and modeling ideas and photos.
Dave Nelson
Hey it worked this time
Attempt number i cannt remember anymore. does it 403 me again
In the research mode for layout planning. whether that is an addition or a complete rebuild of the existing, a harbor will be added. Lots of research is turing up surprising results. Or more correctly, no results. Ok I am doing current era. But I should find history though. All that is lacking. Philly and NYC I can find both history and current. I have not even found many track plans and layouts for ports. only a small handfull. almost all from MR. even more of a surprise after many searches. And nothing modern. I havent gotten down along the gulf and misssissippi yet. satalite has been my biggest help. find it there, look up clues and find bits of history by accident. Of course modeling current era, satelite is very usefull. Especially for seeing current layout. Surprised at the lack of sanborn, hexamer, and other insurance maps. plus the army corp port maps from the 30's and 40's are almost none existent. Been a difficult search . lucky I like the hunt and amatuer industrial archeologist.
What I have learned of modern ports is interesting in its own right and useful to others.
The obvious intermodal port. no surprise.
I will call the next one quarry materials. because unit trains of stone head to the old port areas. either to a huge ready mix/highways materials complex. makes sense, dusty noisey. good place to put it. a did see some area owned by companies like Lafarge. Those have a ship to shore docking ability and large silos.
Bulk liquid materials is another. oil mostly.
minor grains facility. in philly they are a domed structure not silo
large bulk materials transfer. boxcar/lumbercar and such. builidngs ressemble the old municiple pier buildings
bulk steel slab-ressembles intermodal dock. mostly a modified intermodal crane. Slightly higher capacity though
Some port hsve slmost nothing left. others have at least the old docks and reminantes in place to see what was.
That what I found so far. as I said , i still have to satelite curse the gulf coast and mississippi. they have port roads down there too. With how both interacted, to see so little so far is a surprise. even naval bases make a good switching layout. Looks like a few books might be needed. The search goes on.
Shane