Gridley, IL: Grain Elevator uses TP&W Rail Service

West: (Satellite)

East: (Satellite, note that there is also a fertilizer supply company.)

David Jordan posted two photos with the comment:

An old rail-served facility returns with a new owner...

After Brandt Consolidated purchased Myer Crop Center in 2009, the latter's TP&W-served elevator on the east side of Gridley, Illinois quit shipping by rail. Some 15 years later, Ruff Brothers Grain Co., which already owned elevators on the west side of town, began shipping from here by rail. This evening, April 30, 2025, I noticed seven cars spotted for loading (with eight more at the west side elevators). I don't know if these are the first, but they are probably some of the first to be loaded by Ruff Brothers at this facility. The last time I saw covered hoppers here was when TP&W was leasing its fleet from Northwestern Oklahoma Railroad (NOKL).

Kameron Smith: Those NOKL hoppers were standard fare for awhile in the RailAmerica era.

David Jordan: Kameron Smith And briefly after GWI's takeover. The CP cylindrical cars were purchased in 2014. A different look for sure.

Austin Sasse: They started loading cars there again just a few weeks ago. Neat to see that business return. It's crazy how many industries are on the entire Illinois Sub with switches off the main that go into these facilities yet they do not do any business by rail. The elevator in Piper City loaded a few cuts of TPW hoppers recently as well, which hadn't for many years.

David Jordan also posted

Will G Benson: Those Canadian hoppers have been bought by leasing companies since they were the cause of a derailment up in Canada.

David Jordan: Will G Benson These have TP&W markings.

Will G Benson: David Jordan ah. Nice. Hopefully other shortlines grab some as well.

Joel Spitzer: David Jordan I’ve seen those with OFOX reporting marks on the Iowa Interstate in Council Bluffs and at the UP served West Plains in Omaha. Not sure if the are the same cars that are interchanged or not.

David Jordan: Joel Spitzer IAIS runs those to a Chicago connection (CSX now, IIRC), which forwards them to Grand Rapids & Eastern. King Milling in Lowell, Michigan is final destination. RISX cars are used for bag dust shipments to WSP at Clymers, Indiana and outbound zinc oxide.

David Jordan: Joel Spitzer Yep. A condition of UP-C&NW merger gave IAIS neutral access to West Plains at Omaha. Otherwise, UP would be handling that wheat to Chicago.

Joel Spitzer: David Jordan thanks, I was wondering why it wouldn’t go via UP. I’ve never been aware of IAIS going over UP track there so guessing UP switches it themselves. That is a bright area for UP, a good bit of business in that part of Omaha going up towards the airport.

David Jordan: Joel Spitzer UP switches the cars and delivers to IAIS at Council Bluffs. UP's originating switching charges are absorbed into IAIS's through rate. West Plains LLC is owned by BioUrja Renewables. Unless the sale agreement with ADM prohibits rail-to-barge transfer at BioUrja's Peoria plant, I imagine interesting future possibilities that could involve IAIS.

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