Auto Plant

A construction company that I worked for did some work at the GM plant in Fort Wayne IN.  60' and 86' Boxcars were shoved into the building with one continuous dock inside.  I can't say how it was for other parts of the plant since we were escorted on and off the site.

junk in the picture

That's not junk, it is strategically located construction supplies and stowed items that will be placed under the layout, you are just farther along than many folks because you don't have the layout over top of it yet.

On a serious note, the cars may be pushed into the plant and the door placement of the cars may be due to the load restraint and rack systems inside the cars rather than unloading facilities per se. The shippers from the GM plants that supply the assembly plant may package things in a certain way that differs from the systems in use by Ford and Chrysler. 

With Chrysler being much smaller than the other two manufacturers they likely needed to choose one of the two methods already in use. One other link that could tie them together is the fact that Lee Iacocca left Ford and went to Chrysler and brought many other people with him.

Hope this helps with your issue

Rob

Indoor docks

I have been in both component plants, and assembly plants.  Both had internal tracks that ran the length of the building, thus the "dock" could be anywhere the boxcar doors were spotted.  However, given the shipping distance etc for parts, rail could have been abandoned in favor of truck docks.  I would say there is likely a prototype for which ever you choose to use.  You could could also you Google Map with satellite and street views to check out various plants.  Wikipedia likely lists every current assembly plant and parts plants.

Auto plant docks

I worked at the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) plant in Fremont, CA for ten years, beginning in 1996. At the time, the plant was still receiving front and rear bumper fascias for the Geo/Chevy Prizm from Mexico in 86' auto parts boxes, with eight doors. The parts and racks were light but bulky. The boxcars went straight in to the building, perpendicular to the outside wall. The siding was removed in 2000 with production of the parts brought in-house.

Older employees who had been at the plant when it was GM Fremont, said most of the sidings were set up that way, with docks set up to receive two to three cars with access to both sides.

WP Mike