There is an interesting article in the latest MRR about the Hershey Chocolate Works complex, which is still served by commercial rail and also operates a tourist train.

:o hock: hock: :? 8-) :x :oops: :cry: :?:

Modeling a candy manufacturer such as Hersey would call for tanks and and covered hoppers.I would model such a larger complex along the backdrop with several spots.

kamerad47 Wrote:I'm pretty sure none of that's there anymore Hershey sold to a big corporation , they broke the union & it's all made in mexico now!! I was watching a TV show not to long ago about it! I think the tourist line is still there !

Hersey's is very much alive and well and the plant at Hersey, PA, is in full operation. They have not sold out to another company but changed their name from Hersey Foods Corp. to The Hersey Company sometime around 2005. They have plants in several locations around the country, including Stuarts Draft, Va; Lancaster, PA; Hazleton, PA; Memphis, TN; and Robinson, IL. They only have one plant located in Guadalajara, Mexico. The plant in Memphis, TN, really has an unusual track arrangement and worth taking a look at on Google aerial and street views https://maps.google.com/?ll=35.120569,-9...4&t=k&z=19

The tourist line is not a part of the Hersey operation, but is operated by the nearby Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad.

Having a chocolates or confections plant is one industry that I'm incorporating on my own switching layout, because of the variety of equipment and commodities it can receive. Sugar in covered hoppers, cocoa beans in covered hoppers and box cars, tank cars of corn syrup and now the larger tank cars of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil which has replaced the use of cocoa butter as an emulsifier in producing chocolate. Even a small chocolate or confections plant can receive a good variety of equipment and inbound shipments, and there are many prototypes around the country, both active and closed, upon which to base such an industry.

:ugeek: :geek: :mrgreen: :| :arrow: :?:

Kamerad, dan rather was not the most ethical news man. That is why he isn't with CBS anymore. Here is a recent Forbes article from 2012.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/calebmelby/2012/09/25/hershey-invests-300-million-in-future-of-american-manufacturing-and-consumption/">http://www.forbes.com/sites/calebmelby/ ... nsumption/</a><!-- m -->
Charlie

Nice

Too funny, since the photo layout is right there in the latest MRR magazine as a going concern.

Not sure how a thread about a very interesting industry turned into a left-leaning political rant, but hope it's not because of my posting. If so, I apologize. I was just trying to clarify some information and add a little to the topic. Big Blue is the last place I expect this sort of thing and a place I come to escape from it.

Can we get back to model railroading and the subject at hand?

Nothing to apologize for Ed. I'll leave it to members to do their own research about Hershey's if they wish.

We recognize that members may have a wide range of opinions regarding social/political issues. Hashing them out here has never been the intent of this forum. We tend not to favor threads with strong political contention. I hope members will be mindful of that, respectful of each other, and try to keep the focus of posting on the hobby we share.

Thanks.
Ralph

FCIN Wrote:Not sure how a thread about a very interesting industry turned into a left-leaning political rant, but hope it's not because of my posting. If so, I apologize. I was just trying to clarify some information and add a little to the topic. Big Blue is the last place I expect this sort of thing and a place I come to escape from it.

Can we get back to model railroading and the subject at hand?

I think we should.

Here's my take on boxcars..Even though I like boxcars I think I would not use them so I can have more unloading areas along the backdrop for covered hoppers and tank cars.

IMHO about 36" along the backdrop should suffice for a major industry with several spots.

Brakie Wrote:I think we should.

Couldn't agree more - MM's thread got derailed - Sorry MM. Let's re-rail it.

Brakie Wrote:Here's my take on boxcars..Even though I like boxcars I think I would not use them so I can have more unloading areas along the backdrop for covered hoppers and tank cars.

IMHO about 36" along the backdrop should suffice for a major industry with several spots.

Box cars could add yet another car type to spot, but these days, most of the cocoa beans would be shipped in covered hoppers. I know I posted a thread about it some time back, but the Blommer Chocolates plant in Union City, CA would make for a nice one to model and one that I've considered as the basis for my a chocolates plant on my layout: https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=...4&t=k&z=19 In the Google (and also Bing) aerial views you can see the covered hoppers of cocoa beans and tank cars spotted on the siding and the structure would fit nicely as a backdrop or low relief structure. Lots of interesting detail on and near the structure too and it doesn't take a lot of space. It's just one of several prototypes upon which a person could base such an industry.

It's interesting to note that just to the west of the Blommer facility, is the American Licorice Company plant that also receives tank cars and covered hoppers: http://maps.google.com/?ll=37.604041,-12...3&t=k&z=18 Nothing like having that industry on your layout that no one else is modeling (so far)

Nothing like having that industry on your layout that no one else is modeling (so far).
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True enough..When I pick industries for my ISLs I tend to look outside of the normal industry box..

Modeling a candy factory one should have lots of dropped trailers waiting for the spotter to deliver them to their assigned docks.

For the main plant I would use 4 of Walther "Bud's trucking" kits and use the wall sections without the dock doors-unless one chooses to used boxcars then I would add one wall section with two docks for the shipping area..


One could even make a candy company a one industry ISL..

I would probably use a GE 44,45 or 70 tonner or a EMD SW1 for the plant switcher.

MountainMan Wrote:There is an interesting article in the latest MRR about the Hershey Chocolate Works complex, which is still served by commercial rail and also operates a tourist train.

What's MRR?

lajry Wrote:What's MRR?

Model Railroader magazine <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://mrr.trains.com/magazine/current-issue">http://mrr.trains.com/magazine/current-issue</a><!-- m -->
Charlie