L&N Industrial Rail Spur

[FCIN]

Seems like we've got some interesting discussion going on here regarding the use of a team track or transload facility on an ISL.

I considered having a team-track on my layout, but I realized that it ruined the appearance of an industrial spur (...)

After messing around some with the idea of having a team or transload track as a main industry on the layout, I'll probably go back to a plan that does not include one. Although most modeler's would vote yes for a team track because they tend to be a sink for various types of cars/commodities, it just seems out of place to me. And as Justin pointed out, it rather ruins the overall feel of an industrial spur.

Looking at several prototype modern day transload facilities; having just a single long track just doesn't look right to me and changing it to have a least two parallel tracks, seems to over power the layout. As I mentioned in a previous post, most modern day transload facilities would and could be a complete layout.

My goal is to have an industrial spur with industries on both sides of the switching lead and in that regard, I'll probably go back to a variation of one of my previous plans. I've found several really interesting, prototype industries that would work fine on the front edge of the layout and would only need have a very thin profile structure (or none at all) between the layout edge and the track.

Including a team-track is a great temptation, but I think that replacing it with another industry such as a lumber company would help the spur look more prototypical.

Although right now I may or may not include such a facility, a lumber yard or building products distributor is certainly a potential industry on an industrial spur. You'd only need model a concrete/asphalt pad around the track, surrounded by a fence, some stacks of lumber and perhaps an unloading dock with the actual structure off the bench work.

I kinda doubt if a lumber company or home supply company would be found in a industrial area

Actually, lumber dealers and/or building products distribution centers are pretty commonplace on industrial spurs. I've found many examples while exploring different areas with Google/Bing.

Here are just a few examples that some folks might find interesting for ideas to use on their own layouts:
Hialeah, FL (BlueLinx) http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=25....3&t=k&z=18 Note: Callum in his SSWUP ISL thread has modeled this very facility on his layout as a foreground facility and with excellent results: Look toward the bottom of this page: http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic...1&start=90

Denver, CO (BlueLinx) http://maps.google.com/?ll=39.771154,-10...3&t=k&z=18

Marietta, GA (Capitol Materials) http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=33....2&t=k&z=19

No less than three (3) in this large industrial area in Phoenix, AZ
(Capital Lumber) http://maps.google.com/?ll=33.448035,-11...3&t=k&z=18
(Lumbermans Inc) http://maps.google.com/?ll=33.446377,-11...2&t=k&z=19
(Home Depot Distribution Center) http://maps.google.com/?ll=33.444795,-11...3&t=k&z=18

Of course you can find many more examples if you look around, including many in more rural looking areas.

Hope this information is useful. As for me, it's back to the drawing board.