How do you manage the freight cargo on your layout? MRA Contributing Editor Martin Tärnrot loads and offloads cargo at destinations because he believes that adds an extra dimension of realism to the freight traffic.

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You have waybills that list what type of cargo and how much to offload at different destinations. Some cargo is easy to handle, such as palettes and lumber – just glue it all together and remove it from the car at the destination. For bulk cargo, it’s more difficult, but Martin has come up with his smart cargo system for loading and offloading bulk cargo, including ashes, coal, sawdust, and gravel. It also looks prototypic.