Looking for small steel mill ideas

Michigan & Ohio Valley LinesOGR Forum Member

I am looking for ideas for a small toy train steel mill. It will be Lionel Steel.

A search brought up this which I really like and may do something similar...

If I do one like above, I could have the taller building house my accessory transformer.

Mine will have to have a curved track going through the building.

My layout is getting a little expansion. I decided to get my Culvert Loader and Unloader off a main line...basically they will just be turned around to face a siding. This track section has been a dead end siding, but I will be connected that end to the main via an O-36 switch.

I want a track to pass through it. The structure will be about 1' x 1-1/2', but I could go a little bigger if necessary.

Do any of you have a similar sized facility?

This is a view of my track plan...

Below is the area I have. The culvert loaders are positioned as they currently sit on my layout. The red track pieces are the ones that will be added to reach the main line.

Here is a view of what I will have when the Culvert Loader/Unloader are turned around. I also added a building to represent the future structure....just as an idea of the footprint.

5/8/1212:29 PM

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Lee 145OGR Forum Member

You are not the only one working a Foundry idea.

Plenty of buildings run curved tracks inside or curve a wall to match.

You will want a furnace of some kind, a pit to pour out on (Mold floor), deliveries of Limestone, Scrap etc and coal/oil and Iron Ore. And some way to crane the stuff to and from the train car.

It could be inside, outside.. electric (Those are truly a behold...) blown air blast pot, ladle or even a hot metal car to serve as a supply.

Don't forget the occasional slag pot.

Good luck!

5/8/1212:35 PM

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Former Member

Keith,
Be careful with the curved track it takes a bigger opening than you think it will.
Not only the corners of the cars but as the engine cabs shift they stick out a good ways.

David

5/8/1212:36 PM

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Michigan & Ohio Valley LinesOGR Forum Member

Lee and David,

I'm sorry I didn't respond to your replies. Thank you both.

This is going to be a simplified facility. It will be adjacent to my Bethlehem Steel culvert loader and unloader. The loader/unloader will be re-lettered for Lionel Steel.

David,

Thanks for the info concerning the opening and size of equipment. Good points.

I did some testing on how big the opening needs to be and will apply it to the structure. The main power unit that will service this area will be the Lionel Steel diesel(PostWar style swither). I also want to run a GP9 or RS-11 through so I made sure there is room. Really anything bigger will hit my culvert loader, coming off that curve, anyway.

Here's the area and my "foundation" for the facility...