Industry Idea (If you have the space)

[Len]

Going through some Sanbord Fire Insurance maps and came across this one, published in 1951, that includes the Pfizer Chemical plant.  I worked there 1970 - 1972, and those track curves are sharp, and listening to flange aqueal was pretty much an all day thing. 15" and 18" radius curves would be right for this one.

Expand the pic for details. The building labeled 'Machine Shop' was actually the maintenance shed for the Pfizers in house locos.  There were a pair of 44 Tonners, painted dark Navy blue, when I was there. A 70 Tonner was added after I left, and the paint was changed to "Safety Orange".

You could use the same general configuration for another industry on a large layout, or just use it as a standalong switching layout.  There was plenty of activity going on, and not just tank cars. There would be boxcars to pick up 100lb sacks of finished dry chemicals and deliver sacks of chemicals used in production. Covered hoppers for bulk pickup of dry powdery chemicals. Even flat cars bringing in pipe and valves for mixing tanks.

Link to page:

https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3784nm.g3784nm_g011521951/?sp=75&st=image

Len

[jward]

That one actually appears doable. I assume the New Haven is a branch line and not the main? Otherwise the plant shifter would have to come out onto the main for headroom.

[Len]

The New Haven owned the mainline and the spur at the time. The spur was known as the 'Groton Branch' The main industries served were Sunoco Ready Mix Cement, near where the spur left the main, Groton Airport, Esso Oil, Pfizer, and Electric Boat Company.  The track is still there, and can be followed on Google maps:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Groton,+CT/@41.3412721,-72.0417338,16.58z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e6093f23ffd9e5:0x44ff1732c5e11cc5!8m2!3d41.3481528!4d-72.078663!16zL20vMDNsaGoz?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

It splits off the main right at South Rd, runs west past Tilcon Connecticut (Was Sunoco), then turns sound towards Beer'd Brewing and down to the airport. The siding with the station and freight house there is long gone. It then heads west again, passing through a golf course and on to Pfizer, Something oil, and Electric boat.  Except for the branch tracks headed to Electric Boat, the old Pfizer tracks are gone. There is still a fair amount of track left at Electric Boat.

Len