Layout at a Glance
The east side of the city will be the least prototypical. The Highland mainline must be curved the opposite direction to come around to the helix. In addition, the Berlin branch must cross under the mainline to the small yard representing the industries and the Whiting Street Yard on that line.
The sidings north of the mainline are all connected to a long passing siding that parallels the two mainline tracks. As such, work to these industries does not interfere with mainline traffic. The industries on the south side are serviced by several trailing point sidings directly off of the mainline. Unfortunately, space limitations will not permit this configuration. Instead, I've selected several of the industries to model off of the same long siding. The track configuration will make it an interesting area to switch because there are quite a few industries in a small space. I will also probably transplant additional features from other parts of town that were not modeled. Particularly the large gas tanks of the New Britain Gas Light Company that were actually on the Berlin branch.
I believe the end result will still provide the right sense of a busy section of heavily industrialized New Britain. This is also the section of town for which I have found very few photographs to work from and I suspect it's a part of town that is not well remembered. For example, I think people would remember the gas tanks, but most probably won't remember exactly where they were.
Carlson & Torrell Builders & Contractors
50 Dwight Street
Modeled Capacity: 1 car
Inbound: Lumber, plywood, fibreboard, cinder blocks, asphalt shingles, cement, etc.
Outbound: None
Carlson & Torrell is a contracting company that shares a siding with the Household Fuel and Stanley & Svea companies They receive shipments of building materials in box cars, gondolas, and flat cars.
City Building Supply
This aerial view from 1955 shows City Building Supply, Sachem Oil, and the New Britain Lumber Company.
141 Elm Street
Modeled Capacity: 3 cars
Inbound: Cinder blocks, cement, stone, gravel, sand, hardware, etc.
Outbound: None
City Coal and Supply receives lumber, cement, coal and other building supplies in box cars, gondolas and flat cars.
Cohen William Inc. Grocers
4 Woodland Court
Modeled Capacity: 1 car
Inbound: Produce, meat, frozen foods, packaged foods
Outbound: None
This is a warehouse for the Cohen William Inc. grocery stores. They share a siding with the R. M. Hall company. They receive produce and meats in reefers, as well as dry goods in box cars.
Household Fuel Co.
24 Dwight Court
Modeled Capacity: 1 car
Inbound: Coal
Outbound: None
Household Fuel is a coal dealer that shares a siding with the Carlson & Torell and Stanley & Svea companies. They receive shipments of coal hoppers.
New Britain Lumber Company
Modeled Capacity: 4 cars
Inbound: Lumber, plywood, fibreboard, plasterboard, asphalt shingles, etc.
Outbound: None
R.M. Hall Company Warehouse
1 Woodland Court
Modeled Capacity: 1 car
Inbound: General merchandise
Outbound: None
This is a warehouse for the R.M. Hall Company General Stores. They share a siding with the Cohen William Co. and receive all sorts of goods, typically in box cars.
Sachem Oil Company
149 Elm Street
The Sachem Oil Company is a fuel wholesaler sandwiched betweenthe City Building Supply and New Britain Lumber companies on Elm Street. They don't have a siding of their own, but I believe they are serviced via the City Coal siding and receive tank cars. It's possible that they did not receive shipment via rail.
This lot is vacant in 1951. In 1952 it is replaced by E.H. Bishop gasoline, and Wagner's Service Station in 1953. I suspect E.H. Bishop was a filling station like Wagner's.
I plan to model the all of these industries so I can swap them out for different operating sessions.
Shurberg & Sons, Inc, Scrap Iron and Coal
Modeled Capacity: 5 cars
Inbound: Coal, coke, gravel, sand, scrap iron, steel, etc.
Outbound: ?
Stanley-Svea Grain & Coal Co.
769 Stanley Street
Modeled Capacity: 2 cars
Inbound: Grain (bagged), coal
Outbound: None
Stanley-Svea is a grain and coal company that shares a siding with the Household Fuel and Carlson & Torell companies. They receive hoppers of coal and grain, and box cars of grain.
In later years they are an oil and supply company, and are still around today, although in a different location. Additional research is needed.
