Industries on the APRR

Every model railroad needs some industries. If they didn’t have any, where would all the freight cars go? Running freight trains with no place to go is like having ice cream without a freezer, if that makes any sense?

I have quite a collection of freight cars that I bought over the years. The thought of what to do with them once I had the layout built never quite entered my mind. I took a look at everything I owned, types of cars and the purpose they serve. That being said, here are the industries on the APRR and who they serve!

Tropicana Juice Facility
This is one of the largest industries on the layout. The building is scratch built using sections from one company (no longer in existence). It has 6 tracks for freight cars; 2 of which go into the facility. One track can serve as offload from the outside. In addition, there is one track for the Tropicana engine. The facility receives cars from the main plant in Bradenton, FL and sends them to this plant for processing and further distribution. Maximum car capacity is 20 cars. This is a dedicated train, meaning no stops to pick up freight along the way.

American Power & Light (wholly owned subsidiary of the R.M.O. Electric Company)
A small 2 track plant which receives coal and processes into electric. Main customers are Tropicana and Cargill. They do supply power to Rock Ridge Yard as well.

Cargill Foods
This is another one of the largest industries on the layout. It was made with 3 Walthers kits; two of which are the grain towers and the other with the Red Wing Mill backdrop kit. 2 tracks handle covered hoppers with 6 cars maximum each track. In addition, there is a building opposite the towers that handle the loading and unloading of corn syrup for the facility. It is a Pikestuff building which has 2 tracks going in and 2 alongside. There’s an actual prototype of this building, which I found online. A total of 20-24 17,600 gallon trinity tank cars can be on the property at any given time. There are some larger cars that are sent there, and then the road crew from Rock Ridge Yard shuttles them back and forth. 

Ideal Auto Parts & Electrical Supply
This is a small supplier of auto parts. One track with a four car capacity. Switching handled out of Rock Ridge. This building has a familiar logo. Some of you may recognize it. Can you guess?

Marcal Paper
A flat building along a secondary track of the railroad. Ships and receives paper and paper goods. 2-3 box cars maximum allowed. Switching handled from Rock Ridge. I built this flat as I saw the real building off the interstate near Garfield, NJ. Besides, they always have good toilet paper!

Freihoefers Bakeries
This is a building I wasn’t planning on having, but I’m one that like to have things on my layout that others in my family can relate to. Some of the family spent time in the Adirondacks when they were younger, and the cookie of choice was Freihoefers. Since I needed a building to support Cargill and another industry, why not make a flat and add it to the layout? This handles 2-3 covered hoppers and other times some box cars. You know what they ship out? Cookies, cakes and bread! Yummy stuff!

Mikes Lumber & Hardware
Mike is my contractor who has pretty much rebuilt the house to its present state. While he’s not into trains, he is into collecting Caterpillar models and I will add them to the area once I finish some other ballasting and roadwork in the area. Centerbeam cars and thrall all door box cars are the loads going in and out. Serviced by Rock Ridge. 

C&P Restaurant Supply
This is a unique building on the layout. It’s close to 4 feet long, and has 2 tracks going into the building. One track is for refrigerated goods, the other for non-persihables. Each track can hold 4-5 cars inside and 3-4 outside. The building color is very unique. I painted it the colors very close to the DHL building colors in NYC. I like the colors. The building itself is kitbashed from 4 City Classics Warehouses. Took a good month to assemble. The owners are still playing around with the signage. They hope to have it up by the end of the year. Need to know what C&P stands for? Well, let me tell you this. Neal hates diners, so I felt it apropos to name it after a time when you eat something and then don’t feel well after eating it. 

Shapeless steel Works
This is a fun industry to switch. Has a 3 track building where coil cars and gondolas go in, drop off loads, and then ship out finished products. Six to twelve assorted cars are on the property at any given session. A leased switcher is on location and makes the moves to and from Rock Ridge.

Three Amigos Warehouse and Storage
Here’s another large industry on the layout, this one is a flat structure. The industry is located on a peninsula of the layout, along with another industry adjacent to it. There are 2 tracks for this building. It can handle 5 box cars on each track. There’s a set of MP15 switchers that serve this building.

Tank Car facility (Yet to be named)
A 2 track facility that will eventually have 2 tanks for loading and unloading various oils and chemicals, plus some tank car unloading racks for trucks. 5-6 cars per track depending on the size of the tank car. Serviced alongside Three Amigos Whse. 

Millers Auto Rack Terminal
A different kind of industry on the layout. More like a yard terminal, if that is the correct terminology. A dedicated train of auto racks are sent to this location, which serves a car dealership right outside of the terminal. Three long tracks, each able to handle 6 of those 89’ auto rack cars we all know and admire. Eventually there will be a couple of car unloading ramps to finish the area. A dedicated engine is on the property to assist in the moves.

Reynolds Intermodal Yard
The last of the servicing facilities on the APRR, based on the other side of the peninsula. A dedicated train serves the yard. 4 tracks each can handle up to 5 of the 56’ well cars or a combination of 48’ well cars with an additional 53’ or 56’ car. The set of switches on the peninsula do the switching when the train has arrived. 

Phipps Cement & Asphalt
A future industry on the APRR. Single track located on the south side of Rock Ridge Yard. Capable of holding 4 covered hopper cars. 

That’s all of the industries and facilities on the APRR, for now. There is one more being considered, and that depends on how the negotiations go with management as space would have to be acquired. Eminent domain may rule (and maybe a lot of cash between parties?). We shall see. 

More to follow!