Gothenburg, NE: Several old grain elevators

(Satellite, the town started north of the tracks and at the beginning of the alphabet in terms of the streets)

This town was on the Lincoln Highway.

Beatrice Area Railroad Enthusiasts posted
Gothenburg, NE 1910

I include Lake Hellen to help orient then and now maps because the roads have changed a lot. Note that the Lincoln Highway has yet to be built.

1902 Gothenburg Quad @ 125,000

Elevator row has been replaced by a big elevator. Note that this one is served by a Class I railroad, UP because it has a fall protector (skinny blue truss) and its own locomotive.

Street View, Apr 2012

It can handle unit trains because it has multiple sidings and its own locomotive. It looks like they are cleaning up a spill.

Satellite

And this siding also serves a fertilizer distributor with liquid and dry fertilizer.

Satellite

And that industrial spur continues north into a big feed mill. I wonder what they receive by rail. The grain bins along the north seem to be part of NSG Logistics.

Satellite

Or maybe they ship dried alfalfa.

feed-products
Alfalfa Dehydrator in Gothenburg

In addition to a truck scale in the fertilizer distributor, there is a scale and some bins on the east side.

Satellite

The towns along the original overland railroad were a lot closer than every 15 miles. Is that because they established work camps along the way?

Road Map