Always see ADM cars and even have an ADM hopper, from Weaver, I think. Saw ADM on one of the TLC or Discovery channels the other night. Was a pretty cool show about a guy named Whitacre who blew the whistle on a collusion scheme, but he himself was involved. I don’t want to go into all of the details but the really cool thing about the show was that they kept cutting from the interview to showing real ADM trains transporting produce to the various plants in the midwest.
Some of the scenes would be great to model.
Other big companies that might make nice modeling scenes include:
Cargill
Timken
Peabody
If you look around, you can find ADM covered grain hoppers available in HO from at least 3 different manufacturers (Accurail, Athearn, Atlas), with some in multiple number sets. I have 12 ADM hoppers in various colors and road numbers. Cargill covered hoppers have been done by Proto 2000, but in only two numbers.
I know of only one Peabody coal hopper ever being released, and that was several years ago, so it may no longer be available. Western coal mines that export their product to the east and midwest in long strings of coalporters would be the modern-day equivalent of a long string of Peabody hoppers.
I’m modeling a large rail to barge Purina flour mill on my layout. Since I’m modeling 1950, all the cars to the plant will be 40’ boxcars. But I do get to model a LARGE silo facility (lots of PVC pipe!)
Hey Dave, I have a few ADM cars, and they will definately be a part of my railroad. ADM has a mill here in the South Minneapolis which I plan to model. There is also a Purina elevator near there. Cargill is a Minnesota company, and will also have some representation on my layout.
