Towns and Nature

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Montpelier, ID: UP Office/Depot, Railyard & Roundhouse and Lincoln (US-30) Highway

Roundhouse: (Satellite)

UP still uses this depot. I'm surprised their microwave tower is still standing. Fiber optic cables made them obsolete in most places.

Street View, Aug 2025

RRadventures posted two photos with the comment: "Union Pacific Railroad— in Montpelier, ID."

Note the remnants of a roundhouse foundation in the lower-left corner.

Satellite

Most of the tracks in the railyard still exist. But they are very full. Are they being used for storage?

1967/68 Montpelier Quad @ 24,000

Big Boy 2024

Jonathan Fischer, Aug 2024

Monday, October 5, 2026

Lincoln Park, NJ: njtransit/Lackawanna Depot

(Satellite)

Street View, Oct 2013

Street View, Sep 2021

Patrick O'Connor posted six photos with the comment:

Lackawanna Lincoln Park depot. Built in 1904. Was called Beavertown

— in Lincoln Park, NJ.

This map accurately marks the location of the depot.

1955/64 Pompton Plains Quad @ 24,000

Linden, TN: Esso Gas Station

(Satellite)

Street View, Mar 2025

It is a gas pump museum, three different models.

Street View, Apr 2026

Jeff Wilson posted two photos with the comment: "Linden, Tennessee."

Steve Valliant: 'Esso' stood for S O which stood for Standard Oil. The FTC mandated the breakup of Standard Oil and later barred the ESSO trade name from being used.

David Webster commented on Jeff's post
Was just there for their WWII weekend. U highly recommend it.

R Daniel Proctor commented on Jeff's post
[The station is on the left side.]

The restoration had to begin with removing the "modernization."

Street View, Jan 2016

Street View, Apr 2018

Rupert, ID: Moved/UP Depot, Eastern Idaho Railroad (EIRR) and Wood Grain Elevator

Original: (Satellite, based on the topo map below.)

Current: (Satellite)

Wood Seed Elevator: (Satellite, it probably got torn down in 2024.)

The depot is in the background along with a caboose.

Street View, Sep 2022

RRAdventures posted, cropped
Union Pacific Railroad Rupet, ID Depot.— at Minidoka County Historical Society Museum.

Fortunately, this map labels the station's original location.

1964/84 Rupert Quad @ 24,000

The UP route is now owned by Eastern Idaho (EIRR).

rail.guide

Jonathan Fischer, Apr 2019

watco
EIRR began operations in 1993, and the primary products that it hauls is grain and potatoes.

watco

Digitally zoomed

While checking out the EIRR railyard, I spotted a wood grain elevator.

South side:

Street View, Oct 2024

North side:

Street View, Apr 2024

Here is the building that has been torn down in the above view.

Street View, Sep 2022

The above view explains these grain bin foundations. And the wood elevator is gone.

Satellite

It looks like the grain up here is edible beans instead of row crops. This facility is Kelly Bean. See Bridger, MT, for more information about Kelly Bean.

Street View, Aug 2024

Street View, Apr 2024

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Valdez, AK: Abandoned Barley Grain Elevator, Cruise Ship, Oil Docks and Museum

Elevator: (Satellite, 3x3 bins is unusual.)

Cruise Ships: (Satellite)

Oil Docks: (see below)

Museum: (Satellite)

I didn't know grain crops could be grown this far north.

Robert Houtwed posted two photos with the comment:

These 112 foot [24m] tall grain silos that held 522,000 bushels are located on the outskirts of Valdez, Alaska on ammunition island. They were built in the late 70’s during an oil boom to export barley but are no longer in use. They are currently owned by the city of Valdez as part of their port ground.

While looking for the elevator, I discovered that cruise ships can dock at this town.

Street View, Aug 2026

Julio Petrovitch, Sep 2023

And I'm reminded that Valdez is the southern terminus of the 800 mile (1,287km) pipeline to Prudhoe Bay. I presume this is where the tankers are loaded. It looks like they have a couple of loading docks.