Walthers prairie grain elevator

[sirenwerks]

I picked up one of the Walthers prairie grain elevators at the LHS to start on a proof of concept module for my eastern Oregon bridge route. This structure will be part of a slightly larger elevator complex situated around Merrill in southeastern Oregon, near the California border. My plan is to add a second bank of concrete silos to represent an expanded facility, and maybe a peaked roof corrugated storage structure as well. I like the overall deco lines of the structure, and wish they would have continued them to the headhouse, b[/size]ut I have two more serious complaints about the kit that I'd like some feedback on fixing. Here's the manufacturer photos for reference:
First, it's squat. I almost wonder if I should have bought the HO version to get an elevator of decent height, but then I imagine the diameter of the HO bins would be unrealistically large for construction of that era's poured concrete engineering. So I am pondering buying a second kit (Mr. Wallet screams) to increase its height.Second, is the loading drive through, it just doesn't quit fit with the flavor of the elevator. I am thinking about two options: building a new concrete bay like this:[size=78%]



[/size]...or reorienting the elevator to the tracks and opening it up so the trucks load between the silos like this:[size=78%]



[/size]... the problem with the latter is the squatness of the structure overall and it opens a hole into an interior-less abyss. Additionally, a hole big enough to pass a grain truck through will not only need to be filled somehow, but it may accentuate the shortness of the silos. That may be moot if I heighten the structure, but I could also embrace the squatness and lengthen the flat sides with styrene.Agriculturally informed pinions? Does anyone know where I can find photos of such a drive through so I know how to finish the interior if I choose the pass-through option? Also, if I choose that option, should the grain loading pipe be situated between the silos?[/font]

[nkalanaga]

The loading pipe would probably be between the silos.  Otherwise it would have to go THROUGH a silo, which would be full of grain, making the pipe hard to access if needed.  The elevator itself is between the silos, with chutes going to each silo, from a "directing valve" at the top (I have no idea what the industry calls it.)

As for the "hole", line the interior with styrene sheet, and put a grated opening in the floor.  A piece of HO roofwalk material works fine there.  A ladder leading up one wall would provide access to the elevator machinery on top.

If it's too short for your liking, could you stack another on top?  Concrete silos like that are usually poured with "slip forms", so a horizontal seam would be acceptable, as long as it wasn't too conspicuous.

[sirenwerks]

If it's too short for your liking, could you stack another on top?  Concrete silos like that are usually poured with "slip forms", so a horizontal seam would be acceptable, as long as it wasn't too conspicuous.

Given the design of the kit - with two separate flat walls and the 3D two silo portions two separate pieces for left and right side of the structure (that's one piece representing two silos, and two of these pieces), I am confident I could splice two together to make a taller structure, potentially without a seam at all with solid bracing and liberal application of putty and good sanding. Of course, that means another $40 for a second kit (ouch).


The model is only about 63' tall if I am getting my conversion correct (just under 4.75 in). A 120' tall structure doesn't sound unreasonable. Each silo's diameter is only about 1 1/8", so that's about 15' in N (wish I could find my scale rule); so I don't know how tall that structure could go.


One question about the bay interior: my presumption is each silo is a self-contained tube basically, so I would need to continue the 'backside' of the silo within the interior for it to look realistic. Is this a correct assumption? I've never been inside of a concrete elevator to know for sure. I'm wondering if the clearance would exist to do so and still have an adequately sized loading bay area.

[jpwisc]

I could see taking it higher to capture the look of a grain elevator, but if you are using it as an inland cement facility, shorter may be more common. For the places I'm familiar with, the cement facilities that run the height you are talking about would be the the ones that load or unload large boats.

For a grain elevator it does look short to me, but grain is a lot less dense and heavy that portland.

I totally agree with nkalanaga about the truck pass through. Line it with styrene and call it good. As far as details inside go, that depends on the facility. Are you brining portland in by rail or truck? If you are brining it in by rail, there won't be a grate in the floor for the semis, just a loading pipe hanging from the ceiling. The rail shed would have the grate.

[thomasjmdavis]

I do wish that Walthers would measure their own buildings when making new ones.  Their "Red Wing" flour mill building is 6" tall (not counting the chimney).  So the operation will look pretty silly if the grain elevator is visually smaller.  The "ADM" is better, but still tiny by comparison to the real thing- at least by midwestern standards. The new concrete one is almost a throwback to the Heljan grain elevator that I suspect we all have at least one of (I would measure that if I could remember which box it is in). In any case, if each silo is no bigger than a single modern grain hopper or a couple of old 36' boxcars, it isn't going to generate much traffic. 
Here is the sort of proportion we should see between a grain hopper and a "small" elevator.


For a big port elevator, we are probably better off skipping the kits altogether and going with 1' long sections of PVC drain pipe.

[wazzou]

Yeah but, I think this is typical of the elevator that Walthers was shooting for.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6d/7a/8c/6d7a8cf84a580055bbba7f5dbb51c154.jpg

[sirenwerks]

For a big port elevator, we are probably better off skipping the kits altogether and going with 1' long sections of PVC drain pipe.

I am almost to that point. Besides being short, the four silo design is weak too. The original elevator in your pic is six silos, and it has the deco headhouse. But I have already made the investment and I may consider adding a pair of silos like in the second pic I posted. But, again, this probably could have been handled easier and with less expense by scratching it. The one problem with that is a lack of available plans to base a project on. Anyone want to buy an open but complete prairie grain kit?

[Missaberoad]

Keep in mind that the Walther's elevator is not modern or a terminal elevator, its a pretty good representation of an early 20th century concrete country line elevator. They were common in the western states.  Edit: What @wazzou said! 

[wazzou]

Wow.  @Missaberoad that's the same photo I linked to.   

[Missaberoad]

Wow.  @Missaberoad that's the same photo I linked to.   

Doh!  didn't even open your link...

In my defense I pulled it from my post here 
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=40039.msg492337#msg492337

[arbomambo]

Yeah but, I think this is typical of the elevator that Walthers was shooting for.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6d/7a/8c/6d7a8cf84a580055bbba7f5dbb51c154.jpg

I believe you're correct....this was designed to be a small concrete elevator...still plenty in existence.
Bruce

[cfritschle]

I was thinking the Walters kit might work as a starting point for this elevator just north of Palouse, WA.

https://www.google.com/maps/@46.9119635,-117.0875318,3a,60y,293.27h,90.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQfTisDQxcpagPJJbnSmhYw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

[sirenwerks]

Yeah but, I think this is typical of the elevator that Walthers was shooting for.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6d/7a/8c/6d7a8cf84a580055bbba7f5dbb51c154.jpg

But the Walthers model is still about 20 feet and two silos short of the Caldwell elevator, which is a small elevator to begin with (in Idaho's smallest town). So the Walthers model is kind of a micro elevator.

[peteski]

But the Walthers model is still about 20 feet and two silos short of the Caldwell elevator, which is a small elevator to begin with (in Idaho's smallest town). So the Walthers model is kind of a micro elevator.

Typical selective compression of model RR structures?

[Santa Fe Guy]

I have only recently completed one of these Walthers kits for a friends layout.
It does look very small compared to all of the other elevators I have constructed from kits and scratch built however with a few more metal storage tanks and stuff around it it should look okay.
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Rod.