Southern Pacific Switching Layout

[FCIN]

Alright the layout is wired correctly!

After operating it for awhile I have decided to change the plan a bit ...

I don't know much about steel mill operations, but I am guessing it receives special steel mill cars, as well as Hoppers? And sends out Gondolas with steel, and maybe steel coil cars?

Very pleased to hear that you have the layout wired and can operate it some. Good way to find out what might need to be changed or as your case, deciding to change it a little for a slightly different theme. Going through the same thing myself.

No steel mill expert here by any means, but depending on what the mill is producing, they'd probably get coil cars, gons and flats and hoppers of coke. Any special steel mill cars would most likely be captive and never leave the plant.

A K Steel, Hamilton, OH, http://www.aksteel.com/production_facili...etown.aspx
[Map view http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qkh3qc7...ORM=LMLTCC]

I believe that the mill is served by both CSX and NS and AK Steel has its own fleet of SW1001's - 1500's, which you can see by looking around the area. NS runs a daily unit train of coil steel from that plant to Rockport, IN. Looking at the aerial view, you might see what sort of cars are on hand there.

Anyway, good going and have fun!