Small scale Chip Mill Concept

[jhock]

I thought I would run this concept past peole, a small scale chip mill based on the one in the you tube clip on this website http://lathropforestproducts.com/#/bio-m...4533147868.

I realize that an industry of this size is not going to have it's own spur, my layout is very small and is just a transfer yard, so I was thinking what if the logging company had moved it's chipmill operation into the transfer yard? They would have access to the rail connection and could make use of the truck scales at the transfer yard.

Not sure how plausible it is but I like it!

[Brakie]

That chip mill could be easy modeled..You would need 2 buildings,some log piles and a single track for loading the chips or unloading logs.

Sure,they could trans load from truck to rail or build a chip mill at the transfer yard.

[jhock]

That chip mill could be easy modeled..You would need 2 buildings,some log piles and a single track for loading the chips or unloading logs.

Sure,they could trans load from truck to rail or build a chip mill at the transfer yard.

Hi Larry,

I was thinking they could just build the Chip Mill at the transfer yard as you suggest, being in the UK I just wanted to see if any one thought it would be plausible.

Also you say quite easy to model, a shed for the chips, the Chipper and maybe a conveyor to load the the rail cars, the trucks could be loaded using the front end loader, nice big log pile and it would look quite good.

James

[MountainMan]

And if you wanted or needed an additional industrial to justify trainloads going out, you could build a plant next door that turns those wood chips into OSB.

[jhock]

OSB? Not sure what that is.

[shortliner]

Oriented strand board <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriented_strand_board">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriented_strand_board</a><!-- m --> aka chipboard

[jhock]

Oriented strand board <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriented_strand_board">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriented_strand_board</a><!-- m --> aka chipboard

Thanks for that, that must be what they call lost in translation!

[MountainMan]

Oriented strand board <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriented_strand_board">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriented_strand_board</a><!-- m --> aka chipboard

Thanks for that, that must be what they call lost in translation!

Sorry...it's a very common term around here, and I used to work with my brother-in-law on contracting jobs, so I started talking in acronyms, too. It's also know as "wafer board", depending on how it is made. Thing is, it would give you a logical and intimately related industry if you so desired, that would increase your rail traffic and switching opportunities considerably in exchange for very little modeling effort on your part. Or, you could just as easily make MDF - that's "medium density fiber board, which is a lie because the stuff weighs a ton - or even make wood pellets for pellet-burning stoves. Just my humble offerings...

[jhock]

Some good suggestions, thank you for that. My layout is very small only 5 and half feet, I can just about get in a very small chip mill, like the one in the video and couple of sidings for my transfer yard. I have done a little work today:


I need to be able to bring wood to the chip mill so I built this log truck.

[BR60103]

OSB is the consultant's $5 term for "sawdust held together with glue".
Don't put the OSB plant in the same yard as the chip makers -- they might start talking and eliminate the rail trip.

[ratled]

A small rail served chip mill would/should have a spur of it's own. Here is a good proto mill to give you some ideas

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://atsf.railfan.net/structures/woodchip.html">http://atsf.railfan.net/structures/woodchip.html</a><!-- m -->
ratled

[tomustang]

OSB is the consultant's $5 term for "sawdust held together with glue".
Don't put the OSB plant in the same yard as the chip makers -- they might start talking and eliminate the rail trip.

That would be MDF.


I worked in a MDF plant, they use to truck in the chip and rail out the boards, we had enough room for both but it was just easier for trucking in the chips