Just some thoughts here. Why don't the railroads actively develop land tracts near branchlines to keep business healthy. All over the country branch lines die as a result of the lineside businesses dying out. Then you have the trackside cluttered with closed mills and warehouses. New plants are built away from the track so viable rail service is not an option. Railroads could work with states and redevelopment laws to buy up the junk structures and redevelop the land. Would benefit all parties.
The Strasburg Rail Road constructed a new loading/unloading facility at the north end of the parking lot. But heavy, long cars required replacement of the Strasburg's one and only bridge with a new concrete bridge. The farmer who uses the dirt road beneath requested that the bridge be made wider for his teams of horses and mules, and the Strasburg agreed. The south end of the run-around track at Leaman Place Junction was realigned to make a curve wider. Locomotives now run out of sight to couple on for the return to Strasburg.
Back in the 1960's part of the D&RG Antonito-Chama line was relocated to make room for a dam. The Colorado Rail Annual published photos of narrow-gauge Mikes heading trains over new concrete bridges. Really out of character for the line.
That could be a jumping-off point for modelers. Build a facility that requires long, heavy cars on a branch line or a short line. Add a modern bridge or a wide curve with evidence of considerable earth-moving.
The Reading & Northern (www.readingnorthern.com) builds new facilities and lays new sidings, usually on long-neglected locations along the anthracite roads.
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