Can anybody please help me out, I'm looking for information as to what types of industries the typical railroad served in Montana in the 1950s. I'm looking to model the CB&Q in N Scale on a 33x82 inch door so I'm mainly looking to model a small town.
Eastern Montana - Agriculture(Hops/Wheat) and Ranching predominate
Western Montana - Mining(Copper/Gold/Silver), Forest Products
The above are general in nature. There are always local situations, but this should give you a start.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Note: Scroll the linked GoogleBooks, They are previews not complete books. However the previews do have a lot of informantion.
Cattle & sheep
Farming https://books.google.com/books?id=u_kSIrzxxKQC&pg=PA243&lpg=PA243&dq=industries+montana+1950+farming&source=bl&ots=nTPJtDD-GG&sig=sNi_e0hzLJZIrp2YpUENFg7AcRY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEMQ6AEwBWoVChMI7PjC6q2KxgIVRAySCh2h0gAc#v=onepage&q=industries%20montana%201950%20farming&f=false
Copper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaconda_Copper#1950s
Aluminum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaconda_Copper#1950s
Oil https://books.google.com/books?id=p-P59FkOPg0C&pg=PA336&lpg=PA336&dq=industries+montana+1950+oil&source=bl&ots=sbHt-wfR3r&sig=J50_OkwWPL3N16VZjQfg1N-yBRA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAGoVChMI6ZCfkKyKxgIVEEGSCh3X0gAk#v=onepage&q=industries%20montana%201950%20oil&f=false
Coal https://books.google.com/books?id=tzdniDZFXY0C&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=industries+montana+1950+coal&source=bl&ots=cjrYXcV0yd&sig=mfLgSbKLHmQi3kRt_pyqZ3xD9xs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CFEQ6AEwCWoVChMIm_jy4quKxgIViFuSCh12BwBk#v=onepage&q=industries%20montana%201950%20coal&f=false
Timber http://www.mbmg.mtech.edu/sp28/mina-l.htm
Montana 100 Years in Pictures and Words https://books.google.com/books?id=u_kSIrzxxKQC&pg=PA243&lpg=PA243&dq=industries+montana+1950+farming&source=bl&ots=nTPJtDD-GG&sig=sNi_e0hzLJZIrp2YpUENFg7AcRY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEMQ6AEwBWoVChMI7PjC6q2KxgIVRAySCh2h0gAc#v=onepage&q=industries%20montana%201950%20farming&f=false
This site about mineral resources has some dates. http://www.mbmg.mtech.edu/sp28/mina-l.htm
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Operations Special Interest Group - Industry Database
"Currently there are about 40,000 industries in our directory (still being accumulated). Industries are predominantly actual companies located on prototype railroads, but we also include some industries on model railroads because some users enjoy including them in their routings. These are specifically identified, however, so those who prefer to exclude them can do so"
http://www.opsig.org/reso/inddb/
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.