Hey all, Happy new year! I was hoping you could help me with Miller Seed's operations in Clinton. I am considering doing a small, single industry switching layout based on the company and am trying to hone in on the loads/car types that would come in to the industry. I am assuming it is mostly hoppers, but what is contained within the cars is beyond me. Additionally, the piggy back unloading has thrown me for a loop. Do any of you all have any insight as to what was spotted here? Any photos or thoughts are greatly appreciated. To throw a wrench in the question, and potentially broaden the scope of what could be switched (or narrow it, who knows...) I am modeling a modern-day short line that runs from Grandview to Clinton. Obviously this layout would be confined to the seed company property, but any freight coming directly from KC, or interchanging with the Missouri Northern Arkansas Railroad over by downtown would be plausible. Thank you! Chase McCutcheon
This looks like an interesting operation. I found a couple pictures to help with your research. First up, an overhead shot from 1958 Second, I found this picture. Another aerial shot, but from a different angle. This was taken in 1988 It looks to me like there's two separate facilities here. The smaller set of buildings on the north side (left side of the 2nd picture) looks like a setup to clean seed for the local farmers. I think the north wall of the building originally had a spur to receive box cars of supplies, or bagged seed. It looks like that spur is gone by this time. The bigger concrete building on the south side (right side) looks more like a typical grain elevator that local farmers deliver grain to. Bulk grain would be shipped out in covered hoppers from that dual track load out. I don't see anything resembling a piggyback ramp here. Hopefully, that'll get you going in the right direction.
Miller Seed - Clinton has a Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/p/Miller-Seed-100057565873510/ You might try leaving an inquiry about its historical operations. Perhaps there is someone still at Miller Seed that can assist. At present: Intro retail and wholesale of lawn grasses & fertilizer, pasture grasses, legumes and cover crops. Specialize in custom blends and wildlife food plots. We also custom clean fescue, lespedeza, small grains and black oil sunflowers for wildlife and bird food. I have some info with regard to Frisco TOFC operations that needs a write-up.
With regard to TOFC service in Clinton, one my find this thread helpful... http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/frisco-tofc-start-up.15062/
