For me a fake turnout is useless. I have seen them on museum layouts that just run trains in loops and it makes sense in that case. But on an operating layout, a fake turnout and a boxcar that never moves is a waste of good real estate in my opinion.
It looks like that location is maybe the stores siding for a pending engine house. a boxcar going in once in awhile is a neat idea and a little critter could switch one car in. It would have to pull one out first.