Prototype for a Modern Industrial Park

[algatex]

I remember seeing some photos a couple of years ago of a modern industrial park that I believe was located somewhere in the upper Mid-West. The park was located parallel to a highway and, of course, was served by a railroad. The park appeared to be very modern looking. The major tenant was some type of rail car facility, either a car servicing company or perhaps a car leasing company. Does this sound familiar to anyone? If so, I would appreicate a link to where this might be and any photos that might exist.

[mlehman]

You might try Google Earth, as that will give you a bird's eye view to browse likely locations -- pick your city and go. Let me see if I can come up with an example.

[Bayfield Transfer Railway]

Sounds like Progressive Rail in Lakeville, MN.

http://www.progressiverail.com/

[mlehman]

OK, here's one, not quite what you're looking for, but an example that shows the richness of this method. Instead of being a "clean" industrial park, this site at Ambridge, Wisconsin, just south of Superior and southeast of Duluth, MN, seems to have been a serial brownfield. Once things get "dirty" selling or leasing a site to another industry needing that sort of location is often easier than a cleanup (although that may still be involved.

Here's the coordinates: 46°38'44.95" N  92°03'36.10" W

Enter them in Google Earth, and take it to these coordinates. Down at the bottom left center you see a "1992" with a green logo to its left. Click on 1992 and it will show you the oldest image it has, plus multiple ones between then and now. This way you can see what changed. Not sure what was going on here over the years, maybe some sort of salvage operation?

 

 

[mlehman]

Next up, something like what you're looking for I hope. It's Truax, Wisconsin, which is on I-94 east of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. This sot of location is often found, distribution centers just across the state line from a large urban area in the next state -- easy to do with an interstate highway taking you right there -- often for various tax or other reasons. This one seems to involve Menards, which is HQed in the town Truax is a suburb to, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. An interstate, RR, and lots of big ol' warehouses.

This one has timeline imagery going back to 1998 so you can see the site grow. Here's the coordinates: 44°50'59.11" N  91°34'52.28" W

You can really see things grow in the timeline associated with this site, because Menards has grown substantially in the last two decades. They're even into model railroading with Lionel and HO scale being added recently, as related in the Sept 2016 issue of MR (also see http://mrr.trains.com/news-reviews/staff-reviews/2016/07/quick-look-menards-ho-scale-assembled-structures, so deserve a plug here (especially after that killer deal on LED tape lights I got from them this week ). Yep, those model trains probably came through this facility.

[mlehman]

Bayfield Transfer Railway

Sounds like Progressive Rail in Lakeville, MN.

http://www.progressiverail.com/

 

Looks like a prime candidate for the OP.

Coordinates: 44°38'03.97" N  93°13'56.41" W

[algatex]

Thanks everyone. The Lakeview location is what I was looking for. I don't know how I came across this location a couple of years ago, but I have often thought about the possibility of modeling it in some way. I appreciate all who responded and helped me located it. It really looks interesting to me.

[Omaha Road Man]

The Menards complex is a distribution center for their stores and a manufacturing complex for items they make and sell themselves, such as trusses, treated lumber, etc. The manufacturing subsidiary is Midwest Manufacturing. It was originally served by the CNW and is now served by the UP. I believe the facility receives 50+ rail cars a day.

[BRAKIE]

algatex

Thanks everyone. The Lakeview location is what I was looking for. I don't know how I came across this location a couple of years ago, but I have often thought about the possibility of modeling it in some way. I appreciate all who responded and helped me located it. It really looks interesting to me.

 

I will suggest checking the back issues of MR since they did a "A Railroad You Can Model" on the Progressive Rail Lakeview operation with track plan.

BTW..That's where I got the idea for my Slate Creek Rail and Summerset Ry.

[cx500]

If you want to get really ambitious, Calgary Alberta has a very extensive network of tracks in their Foothills Industrial area.  CN and CP share the trackage, sometimes even getting in each others way, although CN seems to get the bulk of the business.

Search on Google Earth for < 6400 40 Street Southeast, Calgary, AB > and that will take you to about the midpoint where there is even a wye  Then have fun tracing the tracks meandering all over.  Street view will even allow you to see the buildings. 

As a bonus, if you go further north to 50th Ave and go into street view you can see some CN yard power sitting idle.  To an old fart like me it seems strange to have a GP9-GP40 pair as a local switcher!  Used to be an single S-4 or SW9 could handle the job.

John

[tloc52]

Another place to look is the Rochelle, Il (Google earth at 41°55′24″N 89°03′56″W) business park at the intersections of I-39 and I-88. It does have a heavy rail industry presence as a commuter rail manufacture's assembly place is located there, Nippon Sharyo.

Also a few miles away is Global 3 one of UP's intermodal facalities outside (80miles) of Chicago. Lots of model railroading interests in Rochelle. One of the busiest diamonds in the USA is located there, the BNSF main crosses the UP main.

Lakeview was my response until you mentioned the heavy railroad industry, but Lakeview is a great choice.

Enjoy

Tom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[jk10]

I live about 5 miles from the Lakeville location, and have been looking at trying to design something similar with my own twist for an upcoming modular layout. I've taken a liking to Progressive Rail and the old Minneapolis, Northfield, & Southern. There's a lot of unused track in the Lakeville area that could be "used" for a new layout. 

 I grew up about 45 minutes from Eau Claire, WI, so that area is familiar, too. Thank you for all the links and maps. 

[Colorado Ray]

While far from Wisconsin, one of the more interesting modern industrial parks is the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center east of Sparks, NV. 39*33'39"N 119*31'24"W.

Located off Union Pacific's transcontinental mainline it has 10 degree horseshoe  curves and plus 2% grades.  BNSF has trackage rights so you can see both UP and BNSF third generation diesel power.  Minimum of two units to move a couple of cars at a time up the grades.  

There are wild horses grazing throughout the park.  The world famous Mustang Ranch brothel is located in the west end of the park.  Tesla's new battery plant is located in the eastern section, although it currently doesn't have rail service - not sure if it will in the future.

Would make an interesting N scale layout.

Ray

[jmbjmb]

Henderson KY looks pretty good:  https://www.google.com/maps/@37.812096,-87.6447381,15z

Or if you like a 4x8, there are a couple places just across the river around Mt Vernon IN:  https://www.google.com/maps/@37.929659,-87.8722694,15.23z

Can't figure out how to post these as pics.

 

jim