Cadet57 wrote:90's to today. So ACF centerflow hoppers, high cube paper box cars, 16k gallon Funnel flow tank cars, etc.
Most places that take covered hoppers have a pit. They can be a big pit that an entire car can sit on, or just a small pit that you can only unload one pocket at a time. The places that I spot covered hoppers at usually have the pit covered with a roof or in a building, but not all do. Some places with outdoor pits just use metal covers on their pits to keep rain/dirt out when not in use. Some places have the folding ladders/platforms to access the roof hatches, and I guess others do it the old fashioned way (climbing up the end ladder).
Some places have their tracks built on a small grade so they can "drop" cars off and onto the pit. Others use a big winch, steel cables and hooks to move the hoppers back and forth. That way they can get a different car to the pit if need be. Others use a trackmobile, small critter engine, front end loader, or any other type of machinery to shove cars around.
I've never served a brewery, but was in a beer warehouse or two. Real simple. There's a track (sometimes into a building) that goes alongside a loading dock. Come to think of it, the paper places are mostly the same way. Some have a little yard where the RR drops/picks up the cars and the paper company uses a trackmobile to spot cars in the actual building, while others have the RR do the actual spotting in the building.
Tank cars usually have the overhead/folding platforms to access the domes, the piping connections at the bottom, and some sort of collection plates/trays on the tracks to keep anything from hitting the actual earth.
And since you are modeling modern times, don't forget your derails and blue flags. And despite all the nifty "no hammering" stencils on covered hoppers, always have a couple sledge hammers sitting around the covered hoppers.
