Google Earth

I think at one time almost every town in America with an industry track had at least one fuel distributor. The town I model was a small town and had 8 different ones with no 2 with the same setup.  I would recommend using google earth in the area you are interested in and I bet there is at least one of these setups nearby. I also do not think there really is a wrong way to set the buildings even though many had standard plans they all seemed to have unique features. 

Variation is the Norm

I've seen many of these small facilities over the years, and some are still in operation (especially in small towns).  I don't think I've ever seen two of the facilities that look the same or are arranged the same way.

Generally you have the storage tanks for gasoline and whatever other petroleum products the dealer might sell.  They can be in any arrangement depending on the size and shape of the plot.  There's a small pump house to move the product around.  There is a tank truck loading rack or dock (can be elaborate, but usually is pretty basic . . . kind of home-made looking).  There will be an office and a warehouse for storing barrels and cases (sometimes all in one building).  The facilities I've seen don't have an elaborate "rack" for unloading tank cars.  Just connect a hose, and drain the car (a pump gets the product to the appropriate tank).

Most facilities that I've seen only handle one or two cars at a time, though in a larger town or city, I suppose there could be more traffic.

Take a Saturday and drive though the small towns in your area.  Explore in the older areas of town, especially where the tracks are (or were).  You might be surprised what you find.

There is a small bulk

There is a small bulk petroleum dealer on South Broadway St in Salem, IL. 

This is the google earth image.  I think that at one time it was served by the Missouri and Illinois.  If you go to google earth and zoom out you'll see tracks to the north are now the CSX, used to be the B&O.  The tracks to the east are the Union Pacific, used to be C&EI.  The Missouri and Illinois is long gone.

I need to go down there and take some photos.  The facility is still in use by the Knapp Oil Company.

Jeff White

Alma, IL

Here some ideas from pix I

Here some ideas from pix I stole off the internet for bulk oil/gas/chemical facilities.

Enjoy,

Barry       

Tony Thompson Blog

Tony Thompson has written extensively on this subject in his blog, including posting a detailed clinic he has presented several times at NMRA conventions. Clicking on this search query for his blog will bring up a page of numerous past blog posts and the clinic.

San Jose Plan View

Clicking on this Google Maps earth view link will bring up an overhead view of two co-located, rail-served, small dealers in fuel oil and petroleum products that currently operate in San Jose, CA. You can zoom in. There are 3 different small buildings, dozens of tanks of different sizes for different products, a small yard with turnaround space for trucks. and a short, layout-sized rail spur that points directly at one of the 3 buildings; better hope a car isn't pushed through the wheel stops some day.

Oil Dealer

Thanks to one and all for the feed back. It helps and will give me some insite to the design.

Richard

More pics

I shared photos of a prototype in Lamar, CO here  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/fuel-dealer-photos-12193855 .  It's a small facility that reminded me of a Walthers kit.

Not to Hijack the Thread- Two Adjacent San Jose Industries

Re: Chris's San Jose Plan View.

I used to pass by the the Bay Area Diablo Petroleum facility when riding The Capital Corridor trains in or out of San Jose. Just east on Stockton Street (the other side of the Hedding St. overpass) is Central Concrete Supply, another small facility that could easily be rail served. These two industries, along with the overpass, would make a great compact scene on a layout and could be served by a single siding.

Lou in Utah.

...

If you want a lot of variety in a small space, check out Lusk Wyoming where Diamond Ave meets State Route 18/20.  There are no less than 8 different clumpings of tanks.  Lusk only has a population of about 1600 people.

Very flexible kit

Here is the back side of my fuel depot. I put the tall tanks across the tracks from the main area. I also used a couple tall tanks at another industry. It is a very flexible kit. This was built 25 years ago 

I went down trackside

I went down trackside to give you a different perspective. I'm on private property so I have to be careful. The engine is coming past the tall storage tanks as it is headed to another industry on that spur.

He stopped to ask what I was doing here. I said I needed some research pictures for a modeler on MRH. He snap one and get out of here.

So I shot one quick one and headed up the bank to the fuel depot. I grabbed a quick shot from this end before hopping the car to get out of there.

Hope my tour was helpful to you. Keep in mind, this was built before all the good stuff like static grass made the scene. But I enjoyed doing the tour myself.

I found another piping

I found another piping diagram in my files for bulk plants.

Barry