| The massive General Mills Superior Elevators S & X, Superior, WI, with a capacity of 12.7 million bushels, as seen from the Vista Star during Vista Fleet's Grand Sightseeing Tour of the Duluth & Superior Harbor at Duluth, MN on 25 Jun. '16. The original elevator at the site, Elevator A, was erected by the GN in 1886, Elevator X followed in ‘88. Both were made of wood with corrugated steel sheathing and had a capacity of 1,750,000 bushels (some references list X’s capacity as 1,500,000 bushels). Elevator S, the most prominent part of the facility, was designed by Max Toltz, a mechanical engineer with GN. It was constructed almost entirely of steel, a rarity in grain elevators, with a capacity of 3,100,000 bushels (billed as the largest in the world when completed). It is 364’-6” long, 124’-6” wide, stands 246’ high and cost $1,229,150. Construction commenced on 1 May ’99 and it received its first grain on 26 Feb. ’01. Elevator A was destroyed in a massive fire on 8 Nov. ’07. Annex No. 1, capacity 2,400,000 bushels, made of concrete, was completed on the east side (far side) of Elevator S in ’09. Annex No. 2, made of concrete, partially visible at far left, was built on the north side of Annex No. 1 sometime between ’09 and ’30. Annex No. 3, capacity 3,000,000 bushels, made of concrete, in the foreground, was completed on the north side of Elevator S in ’30. Elevator X was destroyed by fire on 10 Jan. ’42, a new, concrete Elevator X was erected in ’47 (out of frame to the right). The facility has been operated by General Mills for quite some time, but I haven’t been able to learn exactly how long. Some references state the facility is still owned by the railroad, now BNSF, and is leased to General Mills. Additional information about the harbor cruise can be found at http://www.vistafleet.com/. |