Concrete Monoliths

I pass these strange structures when travelling north on US I-57 on the way up to Chicago.

From the interstate it is even more difficult to see what they are, so one day I decided to drive up to them and take a closer look.

They straddle or used to straddle the railroad tracks, I think they must be some type of grain sorting structure.

At any rate it was a beautiful summer evening so I captured them with a stunning sunset as a backdrop.

posted Monday, September 5th, 2011 at 7:31 pm

6 comments on “Concrete Monoliths”

Matt M on September 10, 2011 at 7:38 pm said:

beautiful pic man
John on September 11, 2011 at 1:09 pm said:

Thanks Matt!
Annie on September 27, 2011 at 7:09 pm said:

This is super neat!
John on September 28, 2011 at 6:36 pm said:

Thank you Annie! Appreciate the comment.
Frank McCarron on April 11, 2012 at 6:40 am said:

The structure on the right is for filling the tender of a steam locomotive with coal. I “believe” the one on the left is for refilling the sand dome (diesel locomotives to this day continue to use sand in moments of low traction).
- John on April 11, 2012 at 8:06 pm said:
  
  Thanks for the explanation Frank! I had wondered what those were for many years!