Kentland, IN:, Sheldon, IL: and Goodland, IN: Grain Elevators

Kentland: (Satellite)

Sheldon: (Satellite)

Goodland: (Satellite)

Sheldon, IL, still has a wood elevator. That elevator goes on the field-trip list.

Kentland, IN

I found this elevator interesting because it is a big elevator that does not to use rail service even though they are right next to a friendly shortline railroad, the TP&W. Was that because there are various ethanol and corn product plants within trucking distance? The satellite image shows that they have a ground pile, but it was empty when the satellite went over.

Kentland Elevator

Another reason for saving these photos is that I wanted to study how someone else photographed a large elevator. I ended up deleting over half the photos because they were redundant.

Brett Elis posted some photos with the comment: "Kentland Grain,  Kentland Indiana.  Had an old wooden elevator in town originally.  Built the quonsets outside of town at current location.  Eventually closed and tore down elevator in town. They are strictly truck from this location.  They have also purchased the elevator in Sheldon Illinois that is rail served."

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Brett missed the old Farmall tractor that is on display out in front.

Street View

Sheldon, IL

This one is also next to a friendly shortline railroad, the KB&S. And it still has its original wood elevator.

Satellite

And it has two industrial locomotives to help load the hoppers.

Street View

Both Kentland Grain Elevators (Kentland and Seldon)

My theory that the prices at the rail served elevator would be a little higher is wrong. I guess the other has more capacity so it balances out. Or they ship the Kentland grain to local plants and the Sheldon grain goes to rail served markets. It is interesting that they quote prices for each elevator. Are they sometimes different?

Kentland Elevator

When I got caught on IN-55 just south of US-24 by a TP&W eastbound train that stopped for about a half-hour, an 18-wheeler grain truck was soon also caught. Cars and pickups backed up and turned around. But the 18-wheeler was trapped for the duration. The driver told me that he was headed to Kentland Grain for one more load for the day before the elevator closed at 5pm. We had to wait long enough that I don't think he made it.

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You know you are in the country when the traffic jam includes a self-propelled chopper.

Since I had plenty of time to kill while waiting for the train, I walked over and got a shot of the rear as well.

Goodland, IN

Looking at my photos, I noticed that there was a closer grain elevator, Co-Alliance, if he turned East instead of West on US-24. Looking at a satellite image, they had two big, round ground piles that were full.

It is hard to compare prices because they quote different delivery times.

co-alliance