Lots of modelers love the idea of a large steel making complex on their layouts, but most don't have the space for it to be done well. Thanks for sharing your ideas and thought process as it is always educational.
Dear Peter, as I do understand the considerations of your customers; for the first design, the fact you mentioned that too much of the existing layout had to be redone, for the second design, the decision of the customer, there was too ample space for the depiction of a steel mill, on the available space, and to the wishes of the client, I would like to add that both designs are on point (pardon the pun) where it concerns all the factors you mentioned in the video. In that regard it’s kind of a pity that these designs remained in the limbo of the model railroad dreamscape. Although I’m very much familiar with the saying ‘the client is always right,’ as a steady follower of your designs, I am once again very impressed with what you’ve laid out for these customers. Also taking into account the available space you had to work with!
Great video! I struggled with is on my new layout (no videos yet) because I wanted to do a version of the Budd plant in Nicetown Philadelphia. After doing an honest assessment of my space constraintsnIve settled for a car servicing facility that evokes the look of certain parts of the factory. I think it serves the layout well and adds to the overall vibe of the area that I've placed it in
Brilliant video as always Peter. I do understand the 1st client with the fact he didn't want to have to rip up everything he built already and having to do so can just make you feel like your not making any progress, not to mention the lost time. The 2nd guy on the other hand I was kinda surprised (like others here) to see that he felt like it wouldn't be able to fit well in the space. What you said though with him wanting more visual interest & not all the buildings parallel to the wall does make sense me too, but in reality, steel mills are rather boring visually except for a lot of the piping work. The other thing that surprises me is he didn't want a coking plant, but in fairness, he could have one that imported the coking coal from another outside location as there are some mills that do not have a coking plant on site. Overall to me both designs fit the space well and would have worked in another timeline.
The first design definitely would have been fun to build and operate. Sometimes it’s better to bite the bullet and start fresh even through it’s hard to look past the time and resources already invested….
Impressive and informative, Peter, as always. Both clients clearly want a full size steel mill in what they acknowledge is an unrealistic amount of space, yet I would have thought that your second design went a long way towards satisfying that desire by making full use of the very long yet narrow space available. It's unfortunate that you're not allowed to show us how it fits into the existing layout. Out of curiosity, and as a fun exercise, what sized space would allow you to design in HO scale what you would consider to be an acceptable representation of a 'full size' steel mill?
I disagree. The first client was surprised that I was able to represent a full steel-mill in his limited space. The only reason the plug was pulled mid-way was that he didn't feel up to the challenge of rebuilding the railroad to that extent.
I thought both of your designs were workable and can understand the first client. Its hard to know what your 2nd client was expecting. If it was my layout (yes I'm a dreamer!) I would consider the view to be the back of the complex, with its yards being out of sight. I would leave the furnace area as is, and add 'more lift up' building flats along the main wall. I would lose the yards and replace with buildings for small associated industries each with a track which could hold say 2 cars. This small network to be serviced by a small loco and would include 2 arrival / departure tracks each holding say 6 cars. A train arriving on your existing curve would drop off its last 6 cars for the local, then proceed on a hidden track inside the wall buildings to go to the imaginary main yard. Its loco would actually protrude at the far end so it could be uncoupled and then via the new track network, pick up any outward freight, and couple at the other end of the hidden train ready for its return trip. I have never seen a steel mill so cannot comment on that aspect but I do learn many things from your designs. Thank you for making them available to us.
Most prototype rail-served industries are huge. Most industries on model railroads look as though their daily output could probably fill a mini-van - far too small to justify rail service. I try to ensure that the industries I include look large enough to justify the railroad. Having said that, feel free to build your own railroad however you want. A lot of model railroaders like switching a bunch of small industries rather than a few large ones. Before dismissing large industries however, consider this . . . Often a single large industry will be operationally just as varied as a bunch of smaller ones because it will have multiple car-spots that receive different kinds of rail-cars, and often it's own small yard and switch engine for sorting those cars. Thus, one industry can be an entire railroad.
It's called "3rd-plan-it". There's a free demo version available for download if you want to experiment with it before committing to purchase a license.
