Taylorville, IL: ADM grain elevator

(Satellite)

Alan Jones posted
NS 9800 working the Taylorville ADM. Long morning of stacking the yard to capacity.
[With four locomotives, I wonder if this train services multiple elevators along the former Wabash route. On the other hand, maybe that yard can hold a complete unit train. CSX refused to serve the smaller elevators along its L&N route in Illinois. But the shortline that now runs that route is more than willing to do several smaller cuts of cars for the existing elevators. BNSF helped build elevators in Ransom and Toluca to handle unit trains of grain along the former Santa Fe route. CN does seem willing to service smaller existing elevators along its former IC route.]

Satellite

This elevator has about every storage technology except wood. The long line of skinny silos is probably the old technology. Then they added the line of fatter silos. Then a steel bin and three long buildings. The ground storage in the lower-left corner was probably added since the corn boom years started in 2014. The yard has four tracks.

Jim Yasinski posted

C&IM SW1200 No. 21 being used to switch the ADM elevator north of Taylorville, Illinois. Mid 1980's. Engine was shut down at time of photo. Photo taken along E. Esther Street.

I remember the Allis Chalmers/ Fiat Allis plant would use a C&IM switcher when their Plymouth switcher was broken down.

Also remember when in grade school the tracks were still there between CIMIC and Auburn.

Ryan Crawford: I think I know what’s going on here, CIPS power plant in coffeen leased a CIM switcher for a short while and I think this unit is headed to coffeen via NW and nkp trackage.
Bill Crisp: This is the most likely explanation. Looks like it’s set up for a southbound pickup.
I don’t believe the grain elevator was allowed to switch cars out on the N&W tracks.
Kristopher Isaac Barrington shared