Locally we have (had) a city power plant that was originally built to use natural gas. It had a single track rail spur running alongside it.
What types of products would have been delivered to a gas fuel power plant?
I can guess maybe turbine blades and oversize spare parts perhaps. Anything else?
Lube oil, for one.
When periodic maintenance is done, supplies or equipment may be brought in, which today would likely be by truck. Heavy or bulky components, or replaced switchgear, might still be rail.
The turbines themselves were likely brought it by rail when it was new and from time to time they get replaced. Perhaps also large transformers and other large parts of the surrounding power grid. Perhaps even building materials for the plant itself.
Some plants that now use natural gas were originally constructed to use manufactured gas (burning coal to make coke creates a gas that can be captured and it was used for lighting and I believe home use). Manufactured gas plants were VERY heavy users of rail service and some had their own locomotives.
The natural gas power plant across the street from the Rochelle Railroad Park has the remnants of a spur leading to it, but that is because at one time it was coal powered and was converted. The siding is severed but you can still see the rails, on the side of the buiding that still has the old stack.
The nuclear plant in Byron IL has a siding leading to it that is lightly used, basically when old turbines wear out and new ones are brought in. But it is important enough for it to be kept in place even though decades might go by with no usage whatever. It is quite an event when it does see a train. The siding might be a few miles long.
Dave Nelson
I recall reading a story about the PRR "Madison Hill" the 5.89% grade. There is (was?) a power plant along the Ohio River at the bottom of the grade and this plant chipped in toward the maintenance of the track just so they could insure rail siding availability.
I understand it was last used by the plant to haul a transformer in or out of there back in '92. The line has not been used at all in recent years.
Regards, Ed
The coal generating plant in Rochelle was on the south side of town. The one in town has extremely large diesel engines to run the generaters The rail tracks at the Bryon plant are used during refueling the reacters. Interesting trains to watch.