Build an 1880s oil refinery

An online extra from the August 2012 Model Railroader

Published: June 20, 2012

Refineries are a fascinating industry to model, and they can add considerable switching activity to a model railroad operating session. Kits for contemporary refineries are available, but they weren’t much help on my 1895-era railroad where the principal retail petroleum product is kerosene instead of gasoline.

Some time ago, I became aware of the remains of an 1880s refinery in Newhall, Calif. It was the first successful refinery in the state, and about half of the plant remains standing. A little research led me to an original description of the plant plus photos of a 1930 restoration made by the Standard Oil Co.

In the August 2012 issue of Model Railroader, Don Ball drafted plans for this 1880s oil refinery. Click on the link to download a PDF of drawings for this building.

Registered User Content

Registration is FREE and takes only a few minutes to complete. Registered members get access to these great online features: