How about a chemical plant with a variety of wagons. 

Or China Clay?

Chemical plant sounds good.  I thought of china clay but I'm not ready to have a load of white wagons.   I'm looking for direction on the location of what type of buildings within a theme though.   For instance, taking the chemical plant idea, what would you put in the top left siding?  What then of the middle siding on the right, then the middle left etc etc etc. 

Hope that makes sense!

Something grotty and industrial is definitely the image I'm after, a dirty oily hole that looks like it's used as a dump!

I have saved your layout and will give it a thought.

Thanks Job, I appreciate that.

The illustrated stuff already in the plan is roughly my initial idea and some may stay or change.  I already modelled some concrete and gunk in areas as can be seen on the photograph, but other than that and the bridge it's still open for change.  I have made a major boob on the bridge though, see my previous entry. :S 

Hi,

I agree with Paul Price, china clay would work well with this plan as you could run a variety of small rakes of wagons. Good luck with the project, looks like whatever you decide it will be an interesting one.

Best regards,

Jeremy

A brewery?

Or re-orientate the water lengthways and make it a small quayside?

Best wishes

Eric

Its not often modelled as its not very popular, but a rendering plant is an option, you can have various covered wagons going inwards and then open wagons and other types leaving with bagged bone meal and fertiliser leaving from another siding?

You wont believe the size of the complex in my local town

Many thanks to you all for providing food for thought.  I appreciate your thoughts on this.

The china clay works has been suggested twice.  I'm ruling that one out though, not because of the theme as I do fancy one day, but because I don't wish to re-weather all my stock.  I'd rather make new wagons in white tinges.

A brewery I'm unsure of because I'm after something industrial and grubby, and I think a brewery would look a bit too clean.  Maybe not, but there is a fair amount of layouts with this theme and they look fairly clean so far.  I won't completely rule this out though, I'll look into this more.

The suggestions of a chemical plant or gas works with tar wagons appeals greatly.  This is more the 'look' and feel I'm after, something almost creepy with plenty of gunk.

I haven't room for a gasometer though so I'm unsure how that would work.  I'll have to look into these also.

A dock would be nice, and is again a theme I'd like to model one day, but with the base board already built for this layout I don't think I can fit in a good quay side.  The cut out is pretty much fixed.

A rendering plant?  Since reading your post I never even knew such a thing existed.

I do like the idea of the top left two sidings being partially covered with a building to simulate wagons actually going in to some facility then coming out again, whatever the theme.

I haven't thought of the period either.  Probably BR though.  On my proposed big plan for the future I'm thinking predominantly pre 1930's, but for this one a bit later, mainly because as I understand it the railways were in a bit of a state towards the end of steam, and that would fit the perceived atmosphere.

Many thanks for all your suggestions, Its given me much to think on, and please forgive my lack of decidedness.  You know it takes good planning to make something work, and so far I haven't planned as well as I should have, but never mind.

For the chemical plant I was thinking of a glue bone and gelatin factory: GELBONE LTD.

The front track and building a coal siding to the boilerhouse

The second track the entrance track for factory goods: bone, lime, chemicals

The third track: goods leaving the factory.  (warehouse with loading bay)

The building in the center: concrete office or a large water tower based building.

Some factory chimney in the corner.

Could give a lot of different wagons. 

The engine shed could be the factories shed with a fire-less steam-loco or a small industrial diesel loco.

There is a lot of information to find about this kind of factory.

Regards,

Job