Chinook, MT: Old Grain Elevator

(Satellite)

The day after I learned about Columbia Grain in Harlem, MT, because of an old wood grain elevator, I learned about these old wood elevators, at least one of which is also Columbia Grain. See the Harlem notes for more information about Columbia Grain and the narrow green stripe that these towns set in.

Street View

This westernmost wood elevator is obviously still in use. Google Maps labels it as Columbia Grain.

Street View

In addition to a couple of galvanized steel bins, it has a big wood annex. In the distance is a long building with multiple spouts going to its roof from a leg. We saw the same type of long-building design in Harlem.

Street View

In the middle of the elevator row is this wood elevator. It has just a couple of wood annexes.

Street View, Oct 2008
I noted the date because I could not find this elevator in a satellite view.

On the east side of town is this one with the biggest wood annex I have seen in modern times. Note the foundation on the left for a new galvanized steel bin.

Street View

The town's elevator row viewed in the other direction.

Street View

Andrew Tuttle posted
Chinook, Mt

The tire shop now stands where the middle wood elevator stood. But the main reason for saving this image is to note that the elevators are served by small cuts of freight cars. And only the two on the left look like covered hoppers.

Satellite

A street view confirms that these elevators use boxcars. Unlike Harlem, which was listed as a shuttle loader, this elevator is listed as Pulse Processing and Organic Elevators. [ColumbiaGrain-locations] Since the spacing of these towns along the Great Northern Railroad were based on what a horse & wagon could visit in a day, it makes sense that now different towns would specialize in different products since a truck can easily choose which town to go to.

Street View