Towns and Nature

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Russell, KS: Grain Elevators, one with wood

West (Wood): (Satellite)

East: (Satellite)

Far East: (Satellite)

Really Far East: (Satellite)

West is on the right and East is on the left in this view.

Street View, Jun 2024

West (Wood) Grain Elevator

Unfortunately, the tree skunks the wood elevator.

Street View, Jun 2024

Fortunately, John McCall took a photo of this elevator.

John McCall posted
Unique looking set-up downtown Russell KS

East Grain Elevator

I called the one in the right foreground the East Grain Elevator. Then when I saw the other concrete silos and the bins in the left background, I added the locations of Far East and Really Far East.

Street View, Jun 2024

Far East Grain Elevator

This is an American Plains Co-Op elevator.

Street View, Jun 2024

When I tried to get a view that did not have the sun in the camera, I discovered that this elevator used to have a lot more silos.

Street View, Aug 2008

Really Far East Elevators (Two Feed Mills and a Biofuel Plant)

Marble Arch plant on the left, Land O Lakes Purina Feed in the middle and PureField Ingredients on the right.

Street View, Jun 2024

All three elevators are rail served by the...

Satellite

...Union Pacific

1967/68 Russell Quad @ 24,000

PureField Ingredients talks about their product being wheat protein. But I don't understand the difference between their product and flour. Their bags are labeled "wheat gluten." This plant makes half of the wheat protein that is made in the USA. The video talks about their waste being processed into ethanol fuel, alcohol and animal feed.

purefield

This is what their customers make with wheat protean.

Same Video

Pocomoke City, MD: Museum/Pennsy Depot

(Satellite)

Street View, Oct 2019

Chip Choquette, Oct 2024

A Lionel train set is history in its own right. Given the 3-rail track, I presume this is an O-scale layout.

Chip Choquette, Oct 2024

A swingbridge and Cassatt Tower is just a couple blocks northwest of the depot.

Bradford G. Phillips posted

Monday, June 15, 2026

Creston, WA: Wood Grain Elevator

(Satellite)

Street View, Sep 2025

The elevator is getting rail service. I wonder if the former Northern Pacific route is now owned by a shortline. Yep, a map labels the route as Washington Eastern Railroad.

Street View, Sep 2025

Robert Houtwed posted
High Line grain company in Creston, Washington 5/24/2026.

Shane Friederich: Nice to see the SOO hopper too.

Byron Kuehl: Shane Friederich, captive service...there's a few working in those scoot trains to Four Lakes WA.

[Four Lakes has loop tracks so it can load unit trains.]

1950/50 Wilbur Quad @ 62,500

And the town receives ag chemicals by the car load.

Street View, Sep 2025

Lost/Pennsy Hegewisch Depot

(Satellite, the houses east of Mackinaw Ave. were built later.)

Chris Goepel posted
Pennsylvania depot at Hegewisch, Illinois, circa 1910 (Chris Goepel collection).

Larry Candilas commented on Chris' post
Found a station on an 1892 map - could this have been it?

Chris Goepel: Larry Candilas I believe the location you have circled is correct.

Bob Lalich commented on Chris' post
Here is a Barriger photo of Hegewisch Junction taken when the interlocking tower was in service. The view is north - RR west. The Calumet River RR is seen in the distance diverging to the left. The track on the right is the Wolf Lake/Hammond Branch. The track in the left foreground was a depot house track. The depot would have been behind the photographer. I believe that the photo was taken when passenger trains were still running on the Wolf Lake/Hammond Branch.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/barrigerlibrary/15596871112/in/album-72157640554237773

1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Niota, IL: Lost/Santa Fe Depot

(Satellite, based on the aerial photo and topo map below.)

Patty Peterson posted
Niota Depot (1979 Sites and Structures of Hancock County)
Richard Fiedler shared

1964/65 Niota Quad @ 24,000

1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Bridge closures in 2026 are planned for Mar 4 - Jun 26 and Sep 21 - Nov 20. [FortMadison]

Satellite

Chase, IN: Damaged Grain Bins

(Satellite)

There were several tornadoes identified in Northeastern Indiana that happened Jun 11, 2026. Severe weather tends to happen in Summer, but that is when many bins are empty because room is being made for the next year's harvest.

I think this is the first time I've seen bins ripped completely ripped off their foundation. Normally, "just" one side is caved in.

Chad Evans Weather posted
Chase Elevator (between Boswell & Oxford) in Benton County from severe t'storms last night. Pic from Christine Byrne.

Jeff Hauert commented on Chad's post
Judyville, IN

Comments on Andy's post
[When I looked at a map of tornadoes that were identified from that storm, the highest I saw was EF3.]

This is one of those towns in the midwest that has a lot more grain bins than houses. The railroad is KB&S/NKP/LE&W. This is on the LE&W route that went from Sandusky to Peoria.

Satellite

KB&S is a shortline, but it appears that it does not serve these rather big grain elevators.

Street View, Aug 2024

I got multiple views trying to verify that the big bin that remained standing was a bolted-steel bin. This view confirms that. Looking at Chad's photo, the bin not only survived the wind, it survived a couple of bins collapsing on it with just a some damage to its roof.

Street View, Aug 2024

Hazel Green, WI: Old Gas Station and Grain Elevator

Gas: (Satellite)

Elevator: (Satellite)

In addition to the old pumps under the canapoy, they have an older pump on the left side next to the tires.

Street View, Aug 2025

It looks like the elevator sells a lot of seed.

Street View, Jun 2025

Vintage Gas Stations posted two photos with the comment: "This gas station is in Hazel Green Wisconsin stil sees lots of activity going on there when I drive by once or twice a week."

Ron Joseph: That’s Symons' Auto Center in Hazel Green.