You might like this thread

https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/pelican-bay-railway-navigation-co-pnr-cascadian-2010-12186677  Pelican Bay Ry & Navigation Co. by Paul Scoles.  It's set in Northern California just south of the Oregon boarder. It's Sn3 and a about 15 years earlier than what you want but close enough to give you some ideas.  He also has a 3 part DVD series on scenery and Operations that feature his layout. 

Here is a little more on it if you want it http://www.theinsidegateway.com/PaulScolesPelicanBay1.htm

Steve

In The Wilds

Maybe a tannery.  Also, how about a Log Loader Manufacturer?

BRADLEY COMPANY AMERICAN LOG LOADER

http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/cwdp&CISOPTR=511&CISOBOX=1&REC=20

John

Merrill, WI

Thanks To You Both

Steve, thanks for the links. I've found another link, the website of Paul Scoles.

A Meat packing plant wouldt be interesting, maybe in Blackwater (inland).

The tannery then wouldt be nice in Cooston, where my River Blackwater moves to the ocean. Thanks for the tip, John. I've to make some investigations about tannery at the beginning of the 19th. Also a 'Thank you' for the idea with a Log Loader Manufacturer. It's really good!

So, let's look: I have a Meat Packing plant, a Tannery, a Sawmill, a Coal & Oil Dealer, a Fishing Cooperative and maybe a Log Loader Manufacturer.

I think enough switching for my 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 Porters.

Thanks!

Wish you a nice day,

Martin

Additional references

Martin,

During the 2010 PNR Cacadian convention, Jeff Shultz took some pictures of Paul Scoles layout. You might find some of them inspirational or useful. here is the post link for the MRH blog:

model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/3310

The beginning of the post has a small number of the pictures Jeff took and then Jeff posted many more of the pictures he took on the blog pages 2 and on the first week of January 2011.

There was a good size article written up in RMC, September 2006 issue, page 50:

The Northbound Local: Running late on the Pelican Bay Railway & Navigation Co.

some more stuff to check out

Hi Martin-

If you're interested in Paul Scoles' track plan, it was featured in the 2010 issue of Great Model Railroads.  For some cool reference pictures from that era, take a look at Oregon State University's Flickr page.  Tons of logging photos from the early 1900's.  Here's the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/osucommons/page101/

You may also want to get a copy of a book called " This was Logging".  It's a collection of old logging pics by Darius Kinsey.  For that matter, if you Google "Kinsey Logging photos" you'll get a ton of pictures as well.

Good luck!
Bill

Other industries

Martin,

Some other ideas would be niche type industries, like a non-railroad owned foundry.  There were also copper mines in Northern California, so a smelting operation is another heavy industry that could be modeled.

Co-ops for agriculture would be common. Many might sell coal for home use. An ice house may be needed for shipping produce, fresh fish/meat and home use. The co-op could combine the coal and ice business, as this was not uncommon.

Stogie

Thank you Guys!

@Bill: Thanks for the link to the Flickr page. You are right: Many very godd stuff in there! Thanks also for the Amazon-Link. I have birthday in 2 month... *looking over to my wife, sitting beside me*

@Stogie: I fancy your idea for an ice house. I've then a meat packing plant, a seafood Co-op, so it wouldt be common. Many different cars needed: reefers, tank cars, hoppers...

Hello Martin

I've always found the planning stage the most difficult but the most interesting. You have picked a great ERA to model and and a very fun area to model.

The others have given you some great advice on the area through Tom Sholes eyes so I though I'd add to it.

Meat packing plants require a cattle loading and unloading area close to the meat packing plant and a number of (cattle) stock cars. Then you need reefer cars to transport the slaughtered Beef,sheep,and pork to the markets out side your local area.

In the town where the meat packing plant is located and also other towns you will find a need for a town restaurant. The Meats need a way of getting to the restaurant and to a possible a town store. So a Meat wagon and a horse or a team of horses transporting the meats from the Slaughter house will be a little added interest and details. If you would rather use a 1910 truck or Van that will work too. As far as Fish and Sea food, Reefer cars with the name of the Processing plant and a Warehouse in the towns to receive the Sea Food products. A Sea food Market with a sign advertising "FRESH FISH" and another possible restaurant in town.

Don't forget a bakery as a possible industry with a dry warehouse to have wheat and flour stored in for the bakery and regular Box Cars have a purpose here.

Near the Fish and Meat packing plants and with a Railroad Spur along side your Ice Plant will fit right in, maybe with a Reefer car with the roof hatches open and have men loading Blocks of Ice.

By 1900 Refrigeration was in most meat, fish and poultry processing plants but Block Ice was a big business at that time for the Railroad and also for Home delivery. The Ice Plant will be a big business. Another reason for a truck or two is in the delivery of Block ice to stores, restaurants and private homes. This could also be delivered by horse drawn wagons up into the 1920's.

A reefer in each town unloading Milk Cans and trucks and wagons at the RR Station or Freight house picking the Milk up for delivery is another added detail.

In the ERA your modeling the RR transported almost everything you can think of. That gives you a lot of different products all being delivered or shipped from the town RR station or Freight Warehouse to chose from. Also during the early 1900s' Horse Drawn and electric Trollies were used in the towns for their rapid Transit(8MPH) system from one end of town to the other.

Gazebos in the center of towns and a small park was a standard in the 1916 -1930's.

Martin you have picked a great ERA to model with the beginning of the modern age and the end of primitive America you have lots of open ended choices for your Railroad.

Good Luck with your RR and when you get things rolling take lots of pictures as your building progresses.

Building an On30 layout and sharing with us your adventure and maybe even teaching us something about the larger than HO railroading side of our Hobby will be very interesting.

Rio Grande Dan

Dan