Grain Elevators; single or multi-grain?

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Was wondering if it was, and still is, common for grain elevators to handle multiple types of grain. Was looking through BNSF’s grain market section and a majority of the elevators dealt with a handful of different grains ex. one elevator listed as handling corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, and oats.

2

Grain elevators have multiple bins, each bin may have different grain in it. Even the old wooden grain elevators have multiple bins inside.

3

Interesting issue…

Are there seperate bins in an individual “tower” or is each one a single tube that will hold just one grain? This also makes me wonder about different qualities of grain…

Thanks

[8D]

4

The concrete or steel tubes are one space.

The older style rectanguler prairie “skyscrapers” have several bins in them.

5

Here’s a short film by the National Film Board of Canada on grain elevators, showing the operation using different bins.

Wayne

6

I’m not sure about all of the concrete silos, Dave.

Fifteen years ago a local feed mill built a new mill including a silo and the report stated that there were eight separate interior sections to the silo.

It is more expensive to build, but it could be done.I guess it also depends on the diameter of the silo.

7

Yup, I live in a farm town, and they take corn, wheat, beans, soy beans, oats, sunflower seeds, and others. This is in Ontario. Don’t know about the States.

8

Also all the grain are mixed together, if it is something like sunflowers, or oats. But if it is something like corn, wheat or beans, they will have certain VARIATES, not grades, or qualities. There more info.