Industry Update for Fort Lauderdale-Pompano

BrickAmerica and Allsteel/Gypsum were dead last week (7/4-7/8)... But it looks like Q453 is to the rescue with 6 coil cars for Allsteel/Gypsum, the only recipient of such in south Florida!
















Meanwhile Home Depot had a couple of 60 footers in sight.

The above industries I mentioned are all worked by O717 and it is critical to know of activity. I am really only including Allsteel out of the three but the other may see placement in an extended layout.

MSL Episode 1: CSX Atlas TRAINMAN GP39-2

Atlas Trinity Well Cars

I have to admit I am impressed with this new item Atlas MRR Co. is producing. Even though the announcement is a month old, it's news to me. The well cars add a variety to my prospective recreations of Q172, Q174, et al for the coming SFRM Deerfield Swap meet shows.

http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOFreightCars/ho53wellcar/20001266_BeautyShot.jpg

Layout Progress Finally Coming Soon

Now that the stage is set I can practically work on my layout now. Watch for some homasote based benchwork progress in the coming months.

New Plan

The plan, effective 12/2010. This is the final plan! I will stick with realism.
 

O717 is the main switcher down these parts. Since Tri-Rail is not the focus, I opted against connecting the mainline because of the flyover which is impossible to model. O718, a nocturnal switcher, works Transflo.

I have several industries in the running.

• Transflo is CSX's ethanol, cement, plastics, and bulk transfer.
• The Team Track handles scrap gons and other commodities as needed. 
• The stub track is a storage track next to the Fuel area. The Fuel area is where the FTL switcher is tied down, as well as gets fueled.

We skip over to Pompano Beach, FL. The Mac Lead and Amerigas cannot be rendered in such a space.

• Grace handles chemicals and the "occasional boxcar" like my friend and fellow HO modeler Mike M. says is set out at neighboring Keeman Brick.

• Home Depot handles boxcars and centerbeam flats of lumber. It is not determined if for the sake of realism, I'll model the new Boise Cascade instead (Centerbeams and boxcars)

Deerfield Beach is a switching mecca and an overall fun place to check up on operations.

• CP Parker is only half of itself in the rendering because there isn't enough resource to afford making a 2-crossover. Besides, I am only designing it as a run-around point.
• Publix does not get food from CSX, unfortunately. ;) But it gets plastics for the containers of their food products.
• Sun-Sentinel is an active recipient of newsprint in 50'-60' high-cube newsprint boxcars. The density is almost enough so that additional cars need to be stored on the storage track across Hillsboro Blvd. Unfortunately, the Tri-Rail Station will be neglected in the model rendition.
• Rankin is a single crossover as is the real thing this time. O717 and occasionally O720 runs around.

Staging may be leveled below Pompano if circumstances permit.