North of North Yard - Cargill

The Cargill Grain Elevator marks the north end of North Yard in Denver. This massive structure dominates the landscape around it as can be seen in this Google Earth view.

Elevator from Google Earth.

Officially called the Commerce City Elevator #2, this facility is a signature element of the yard area, so I wanted to model it as close to full size as I could. The track plan for the area is shown below.

Cargill Area Track Plan.

I did have to flip the elevator around to fit the area, and because I did not want the elevator to block access to the tracks. So, for perspective, let's look at Google Earth from the other side of the elevator.

Commerce City Elevator #2 looking West.

I did also use the SPINS map (Southern Pacific Industry Numbering System map) of the area to work out the track layout for Cargill. My version is pretty close schematically to the real configuration.

SPINS map for the Area.

The resulting model will be almost 48" long, so it should dominate the scene. Furthermore, there are a couple of industries nearby. The Blue Building is a MOW facility, there is a precast concrete facility, and a lumber yard. Also in this region is the DRGW piggyback ramp, but I am going to combine that with the BN facility behind North Yard.

The area is also intersected by the Pecos Street and I-76 overpasses, and finally bridges over Federal Boulevard. In addition, this part of the line sees the multiple tracks near North Yard collapse into a single mainline track to cross Federal Boulevard. These tracks are often used as holding tracks for trains arriving or departing North Yard, and are signaled with overhead signals, one of the few places I am aware of in the area where you can find signal bridges. So, they too will find a home in this stretch of the layout.

Signal Bridge as the Main Approaches Federal Boulevard. I-76 is in the foreground.

So, that places Cargill on the layout. Now, the line heads into the suburbs of Denver with C&S Junction coming up.

Cameron Turner