Towns and Nature

Monday, March 30, 2026

Correl, MN: Deteriorating Wood Grain Elevator

(Satellite)

Chris Hennebry posted two photos with the comment: "Pics of the Correll MN grain elevator from last year, and nearly one year later."

Dennis DeBruler commented on Chris' post
It continues to amaze me how fast trees can grow in 16 years. An Oct 2028 view.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NUU4tzLddCUJcgfm8

I wonder who now operates this former Milwaukee route.

1958/59 Correll Quad @ 24,000

Lomax, IL: Iowa Junction: Sante Fe vs. TP&W vs. CB&Q

Junction: (Satellite)

TP&W = Toledo, Peoria & Western

tpwhistorical Flickr (source)

The railroad to the southeast that climbs the river's bluff was the TP&W. The railroad with the railyard was the Santa Fe. The railroad to the south of the Sante Fe that headed North was the CB&Q.

1964/65 Lomax Quad @ 24,000

The boundary between the green and brown fields was the CB&Q.

Satellite

The TP&W route is a branch from their mainline at La Harpe.

1958/68 Burlington Quad @ 250,000

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Opdyke, IL: Lost/L&N Depot

(Satellite, Jefferson Ave. was built after the depot was removed)

This L&N route is now owned by the Evansville & Western Railway

Angelica Perez posted
This photo was taken at the Opdyke Illinois station which is no longer standing. The gentleman in the foreground is my Great grandfather. Huge P Kelly 1883-1957... my grandmother and mother are next to the building on roller skates. My mother was born in 1930 and looks to be around 10 years old. Dating the photo around 1940. This line was from St Louis to Evansville Indiana and was operated by the Louisville and Nashville railroad. Engine number 256 is what I can make out on the light. Passenger service was common even on rural lines in the past.

1941 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Winnett, MT: Wood Grain Elevator

(Satellite)

Street View, Sep 2025

Sam Walter posted two photos with the comment: "Winnett, Montana. Along the abandoned Milwaukee Road northwest line."

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Janesville, MN: 2026 World's Largest Grain bin: 2.3m Bushels

(Satellite, will be east of the current bin.)

The previous record holder was 2.2m bushels in Mason City, IA in 2021.

J & D Construction Inc. posted

Janesville is the future site of the construction of what will be the world’s largest grain bin, with a capacity of 2.3 million bushels.

Projects like this aren’t just about size — they’re about performance. More capacity. Faster handling. Better efficiency. And infrastructure built to serve agriculture for decades to come.

We’re proud to be part of projects that help move the industry forward and support the producers and operations that depend on facilities like this every day.

This is what Building the Backbone of America looks like.

[Fortunately, some comments identify this Janesville as the one in MN.]

This looks like an ethanol plant. The 2021 record holder was also an ethanol plant. I presume that ethanol plants don't care how clean the corn is so they can store everything that comes to the plant in one bin.

Satellite

Street View, Jul 2025

Friday, March 27, 2026

Carrollton, IL: Lost/GM&O/Litchfield, Carrolton & Western Depot

Litchfield, Carrolton & Western: (Satellite)

Other GM&O Route: (Satellite)

Lawrence Thomas posted
Looking for photos of the stations on the former Litchfield, Carrollton & Western Ry - it eventually became part of the GM&O. Stations were Eldred, East Hardin, Carrollton, Carlinville and Greenfield, Illinois. Another depot was at Barnett. Carrollton depot view is below.
Richard Fiedler shared

Chicago & Alton ended up with two routes at this town. I found Eldred and Greenfield to determine that Lawrence is talking about the east/west route. The north/south route was owned by KCS in 2005, so it is probably CPKC today.

1926 Roodhouse, 1930 Pearl and 1932 Greenfield Quads @ 62,500

Possibility 1 at the top of these notes was probably Lawrence's photo because it is along the east/west route. I think whoever built the north/south route had their depot at Possibility 2.