Industrial layouts.. thriving? or...

[latenttrainfan]

not?

as I drive around industrial areas in town, there are lots of abandoned, empty, half torn down old buildings.

that got me wondering. are all your industries on your layouts thriving and in good condition?

or do any of you add partly demolished buildings, empty parking lots, high security fencing with locks...

It would add a bit of reality to our set ups, don't you think?

I need to take pictures.

 

[NYW&B]

not?

as I drive around industrial areas in town, there are lots of abandoned, empty, half torn down old buildings.

that got me wondering. are all your industries on your layouts thriving and in good condition?

or do any of you add partly demolished buildings, empty parking lots, high security fencing with locks...

It would add a bit of reality to our set ups, don't you think?

I need to take pictures.

Not necessarily, as a lot depends on just what era you are modeling and whether you model realistically, or as caricature.

During the first half of the 20th century most commercial properties were rather well maintained and the sort of Depression Era almost total wreck, ruin and decay one sees depicted on several famous layouts is, in fact, largely mythical.

The 1960's and 70's saw considerable urban decay but as we moved through the 1980's this diminished to a great extent and except in certain Rust Belt areas, is not overly apparent today. However, you are correct that security measures would be much more obvious in 1980-2000 than in the previous 50 or 75 years.

My own layout is set in late 1941 with a major portion depicting a prospering Northeastern city of around 250,000. While some of the structures tend to show their supposed age, most are reasonably well maintained in appearance.

NYW&B

 

[blownoutcylinder]

My own layout features a couple of buildings that are sort of abandoned--except for a small operation stuck in one

Also have an abandoned spur leading to what remains of a town---

 

[vato loco]

I'm going to model a present era time frame. I plan on one spur with a vacant industry being torn down. and spot Gons. there for demo material removal! and posibly have a new spur being built! would be neat seen!

 

[RexHea]

Hi LT!
I agree that it depends on the era you are modeling, but even in the best-of-years industries closed their doors. Those that were in operations usually (and still do)maintained their properties very well: not only for company image, but for efficient operations and safety. This doesn't mean that they aren't dirty or have some need of repair to non-essential areas of the site.

It certainly would add a bit of realism to have a couple of rundown looking structures. (just remember that a closed industry doesn't have a need for a railroad and its cars.)

 

[latenttrainfan]

If I remember, I'll try to get some photos of local buildings here. There are a bunch of abandoned, empty, half demolished buildings, with tracks. some of the track is in use, some of it, not.

I thought it would make an interesting addition to a lay-out.

Its almost horse-show season, so I'm getting crazy busy. but I have to go grocery shopping. I could multi-task! They love it at the grocery store, liquor store, etc. when I dash in wearing my riding clothes. sigh. I TRY to shake and brush off most of the horse hair...

 

[stationmaster]

I have a couple of abandoned sights with abandoned spurs. It's all about the reality of business. Some thrive some go away......

I think that the abandoned sights are harder to model and 'scape than the thriving ones.

Bob

 

[PEIR]

I plan on modeling the 2000's and plan on have some empty industries and weed choked spurs and sidings. It would definitely ad to the realism of the era you are modeling.

 

[sparkyftw]

Because a lot of the buildings I have on hand are just really old structures, they don't fit my time frame. And they have been stored for probably 20 years, so they are run down.

So I will replace as I go. Will lead to some interesting pictures at least

 

[Rico]

I just finished ripping the diverging rails and frog from a #6 turnout, and re railed it with a piece of straight rail. It will be placed onto the main line where there is an abandoned siding that leads to an empty warehouse.

 

[IronBeltKen]

If I had the space, I'd gladly model some abandoned sidings. But I barely have enough real estate to support enough active sidings to make my op sessions interesting...