Nora Springs, IA: Lost/(Rock Island & Milwaukee Depots and Two Wood Grain Elevators

RI Depot: (Satellite)

Milwaukee Depot: (Satellite)

Wood Grain Elevators: (Satellite)

Eastern Grain Elevator: (Satellite) This was along the Milwaukee tracks.

Western Grain Elevator: (Satellite) This was along the Rock Island tracks.

Dan Sabin posted
Nora Springs, Iowa Rock Island Depot  Dan Sabin collection

Dan Sabin: I am trying to figure out why the Milwaukee had a depot at the end of main street, east of the Shell Rock River and still used a joint agency in the Rock Island depot west of the river. It may be that the Milwaukee had an Agent downtown, but used the joint Jct. location for train orders, mail and express transfer, etc. Any thoughts on this?

Chris Goepel: Dan Sabin I’m on the road at the moment and don’t have the right resources handy to check dates and other details, but maybe the MILW depot at the end of Main Street was the original for that road at Nora Springs. I believe the MILW line through the area was constructed before the BCR&N line, so it seems the joint use depot at the crossing wouldn’t have been constructed until later. Maybe the old depot was used as an office by the MILW agent after that, as you proposed, and also as a freight house.

Harold J. Krewer commented on Dan's post
Things look a little too blue here...fortunately, the (Photo) Shop has a detachment assigned to B&B:

This view includes both wood grain elevators.

Street View, Jul 2025, looking West from Hawkeye Ave.

This is the eastern grain elevator.

Street View, Jul 2025, looking East from Hawkeye Ave.

Another view of the eastern elevator. Is somebody in town getting rail service or is the siding just being used for car storage?

Street View, Jul 2021

And another view of the wood elevators.

Street View, Jul 2021

The western grain elevator is the biggest.

Street View, Jun 2025, looking East from Zinnia Ave.

The really big bin is loaded by its own conveyor. And there are more cars on the siding.

Satellite

This map marks the locations of both depots.

1959/66 Nora Springs Quad @ 24,000

May 4, 1957 @ 17,000; AR1VPE000010023