Grain Elevator Service

[George Lortz]

I have recently been searching Flickr for railroad-related images.  I have found many images of grain elevators throughout Indiana and would like to know if the Monon had tracks into any of these:

Mitchell, Francesville, Romney, Roachdale, Bainbridge, Cherry Grove, Salem, Greencastle.

George L.

[Steve Dolzall]

Cherry Grove, Montgomery County Farm Bureau

Francesville, 1. Cooperative Elevator, 2. Gutwein Milling Co.,3. Pulaski County Farm Bureau

Romney, Romney Grain Co.

Bainbridge, Bainbridge Grain & Feed

Greencastle, Putnam County Farm Bureau  Tracks actually on NYC

Roachdale, Roachdale Elevator Co.

Salem, Washington-Scott County Farm Bureau

Mitchell, Nothing listed

[Robert Wheeler]

I agree no Mitchell grain elevator from tour guidebook data.

BTW there were at one time or another elevators at most towns in northern Indiana. For instance even Range Line on the C&WV which I believe is still in use as a residence.

[George Lortz]

Steve and Bob,

Thanks for your input.  I need to find the company names associated with these grain elevator images.

George L.

[Mark Johnson]

There is (and has been for a long time) a grain elevator at Mitchell just north of the B&O crossing. Evidence on Google indicates that if it ever had rail service, it was served from the B&O side - there are traces of tracks just outside the wye track in the NE quadrant of the junction, that appear to have once led to the elevator.

I cannot, for the life of me, recall what the name of the company was during the latter Monon years. More recently it has been known as Mitchell Feed & Grain and Hancock Feed and Grain (for a time, it was owned by former Mitchell mayor Jerry Hancock, who also operated a construction company and a trucking company). Google Maps shows it today as 'Lawrence County Farm Supply' - that's news to me, but then I've only been back to Mitchell once in the past 3 years or so.

Mark J
Mitchell HS Class of 1974 (graduated with Jerry Hancock's daughter)
Columbia, MO

[Ken Weller]

See attached - is this the grain elevator?  I think this is from one of the Society's CDs.

[George Lortz]

Ken,

This is the Mitchell grain elevator image I found on Flickr.  There clearly are tracks leading into it, but I'm not sure whose they are.  This looks like a more recent image of the grain elevator than the one you posted.  No date was posted with this image.

George L.

[Justin Asbery]

The aerial photo Mark posted has the present day track arrangement.

[Ron Marquardt]

Here's an undated aerial view that shows the B&O track to the elevator.  Ths must date from the 50's or 60's?  Anyone know when they removed the freight house?  / Ron

[Steve Dolzall]

I can remember the old wooden B&O depot at Mitchell so I would have to think this photos dates from the 1940's or 1930's.

[Ron Marquardt]

Thanks Steve, I don't know where the picture came from and I was just making a WAG.  I didn't even check out the B&O depot.  / Ron

PS, here's a picture I have of a B&O wooden depot at Mitchell, but I don't know if it's the same wooden depot as in the aerial picture?  I don't have a date for this one either.  Sorry.  I love the interlocking they used back then.  Any educated guesses?  What about that headlight?

[Robert Wheeler]

To give some "date limits" on the crossing signal equipment here is information gleamed from employee time tables. The dates are when the timetable became effective and the changes were made sometime between those dates.

Signals at railroad crossings were not always shown in the very early ETTs.

The early crossing was, I presume, with no signals as it was one of the first crossings on the the NA&S.

 I did not note changes for any early signals  or the start of using the gate as shown in Ron's picture. (below)
 
The gate lasted thru CI&L ETT #28 (06/29/13) and was replaced by a Tilting(?) Target by ETT #29 (11/12/13).

The target was still in effect wlith CLI&L ETT #78 (09/28/46) and the interlocking was in effect by CI&L ETT # 79 (03/02/47)

This should help in determining the timeline of the picture and changes in signal equipment.

[Tim T Swan]

Here's a photo I took in 1970 of the B&O's cantilevered interlocking signal at Mitchell.  The same signal is visible in that (older) aerial photo, just above the wood B&O depot.  So that would date the aerial sometime after 3/2/47.

[Tom Pinnick]

Here are two portions of Sandborn maps that were posted some years ago on this forum (well before we changed). Maybe they will help with questions concerning the feed mill area. The track came off the B&O.

[Tom Pinnick]

I didn't see any mention of an elevator at Orleans. I stopped by this afternoon and took a photo. Notice the rail sticking out of the pavement. I remember the rail into the facility. I don't know when the turnout was removed, but I think it was prior to the rail being pulled.