Over the past few weeks, I’ve been going back and re-photographing the Downtown Spur layout. In the above image, the local is working the largest customer on the spur, Ferrous Process and Trading. The loads have been pulled and placed to the right, and the empties are now being shoved in.
Scrap metal is brought in by individuals, demolition companies, etc., ground (a VERY loud process!) into baseball-sized chunks, and then shipped to South Carolina. From personal observation, they seem to work with cuts of five cars at a time.
In my just-released book, I talk about planning your details. The easiest path to realism is to just study a photograph and copy what’s in it. Details here include: fiber optic cable markers, trash, signs, and the crane parts placed on the roof of the structure. In the book, I also emphasize the importance of watching your parts thickness and being aware of visual landmines such as inappropriately modeled chain link fencing.
Here’s a view of the prototype facing westward. The airport is just to the left and behind the metro overpass. Last year, all of the track next to the plant was upgraded, and the ratty/no longer used siding was restored and put back into service.