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Interesting grain elevator and location plus observations on research Scenery and structures
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Regular poster 211 posts Arizona Gary Regular poster 211 posts
Arizona Gary

If you are looking for prototypes to model or emulate, Google maps satellite and street views come in handy. As many know, the street view is not necessarily going to give you the same thing as the "satellite" (often flyover) image. In many places, the satellite image is updated every several years. However, the street view may a) not exist at all, orb) be as many as 13 years out of date and very poor quality imagery. If you're following a rail line that parallels a road (highway) you may come upon industries that you're interested in. Switch to the satellite view and they're gone. Progress. I've seen slip form concrete grain elevators this way, let alone older elevators and other industries.

I've had a fascination with the grain elevator in Mankato, KS. It isn't your standard on track level elevator, but sits on a hillside next to the track, with the foundation on grade level. Up until a year or so ago, there was a steel elevator next to the concrete one. Probably a feed milling operation. But in my last search, it was gone.

You can see why this might be interesting to model. Much of it could be built straight from the boxes or kitbashed from Walthers kits. Also note there is an LP gas tank at the north end of the siding not seen in my cropped view.

The first photo shows today's overhead view. Other views will be shown in other posts to minimalize the length of this post.
Also note the location is 39.7957648,-98.2105196.

1%20view.png 
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Arizona Gary Regular poster 211 posts
Arizona Gary

The same elevator in 2015

Here is the elevator in 2015.

5%20view.png Note the steel elevator to the left.

Here is the street level view from the road north of the complex.

r%20view.png 
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Arizona Gary Regular poster 211 posts
Arizona Gary

What would it take?

The toughest part would be scratch building the elevator, but it is a very simple concrete grain elevator. As for the storage tanks, they are big grain bins and wet/dry bins, plus, on the older elevator, a surge bin. The older elevator itself could be easily done with the Walthers steel grain elevator.

Now until the other day, I had never noted that the siding was double ended. Don't ask how I missed it. Too many weeds? The cars on their sides drew my attention to it, to be honest.

Not all grain elevators are alike. And sometimes how they are set is the most interesting part.

Just some thoughts.
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David Husman dave1905 MRH Author 9,857 posts
David Husman dave1905

Oops

The part I like in the first picture is the two derailed covered hoppers laying on their sides.

Dave Husman

Visit my website :  https://wnbranch.com/

Blog index:  Dave Husman Blog Index
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Greg Amer gregamer Regular poster 496 posts
Greg Amer gregamer

I was thinking the same

I was thinking the same thing.

 
Greg Amer The Industrial Lead

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DaleMierzwik Frequent poster 923 posts
DaleMierzwik

Interesting the covered

Interesting the covered hoppers on their side. A grain elevator near me had 2 hoppers derailed on on their side also. It was several weeks, if not months before they were removed. Does anyone know how that may happen? Seeing the same kind of cars derailed in front of  2 different grain elevators has me curious

Dale
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RMeyer Regular poster 115 posts
RMeyer

Derailed covered hoppers

In Kansas I have seen empty covered hoppers sitting on a siding derailed by strong winds. That can defininitely happen in the wide open flat plans of the mid-west! If the left end of the siding in the first picture has the empties, that could be the explanation.
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RMeyer Regular poster 115 posts
RMeyer

Derailed covered hoppers

In Kansas I have seen empty covered hoppers sitting on a siding derailed by strong winds. That can defininitely happen in the wide open flat plans of the mid-west! If the left end of the siding in the first picture has the empties, that could be the explanation.
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RMeyer Regular poster 115 posts
RMeyer

Woops!

"Submit" was clicked twice. Is there a way to delete an extra posting?
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David Husman dave1905 MRH Author 9,857 posts
David Husman dave1905

Bad track

Most likely bad track or a derail left on.  The cars have been drug out of the way.  At least one isn't laying where it derailed.  Since the track is sheltered by the hillside, buildings and trees, probably not wind.

Dave Husman

Visit my website :  https://wnbranch.com/

Blog index:  Dave Husman Blog Index
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Pennsy_Nut Prolific poster 3,654 posts
Pennsy_Nut

Duplicates

RMeyer: I don't know, but: You can edit either one. So - edit the second message to something else to say. I've done that because like you, I had clicked the send twice.

Morgan Bilbo, DCS50, UR93, UT4D, SPROG IIv4, JMRI. PRR 1952.
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