Working rail roads and their tracks.

[MossRoad]

I believe I seen some Columbia rails when I was cutting up old rails at my work.

They haven't been at that location long enough to have old rails, I'd guess. My wife went to college in Ft. Wayne in the early 80's. I'd visit her quite often, as it's only 90 miles away (about an hour for a doofus on a motorcycle (me)), and it wasn't there in the 80's, 90's. I doubt it's 20 years old yet.

 

[MossRoad]

Wonder how long it’ll be before they can’t meet stricter emissions standards and have to close

Good question. I dunno the answer. It's not an old mill. I'd guess less than 20 years.

 

[MossRoad]

You do know what the initial primary motivator for SDI to locate in Indiana was?

Free corn?

 

[MossRoad]

Or maybe right to work?

 

[MossRoad]

We buy a lot of steel from them, I've toured their mill a couple of times. Pretty cool place. 2 electric melt furnaces. The scale of the facility is hard to comprehend.

Did you happen to find out how long it's been there? Wasn't there when the wife was in school in the early 80s.

 

[5030]

Or maybe right to work?

BINGO

 

[5030]

I will say the cafeteria in the 'Human Building' at SDI, Butler has good food. I've eaten there many times. I know a lot of the employees as well. Place is so clean inside ( production areas) you can eat off the floor. SDI prides itself on safety and productivity. That is Bussey's credo.

The also own Omni Source.

 

[jjeff]

You do know what the initial primary motivator for SDI to locate in Indiana was?

Didn't "Right to work" pass less than 10 yrs ago in Indiana? Long after steel Mills made Indiana as there production hub. Imo it is pretty centrally located around manufacturing hubs that use the steel, iron ore from the northern great lakes , and the coal mines in Appalachia, for blast furnaces and coke.

 

[Aquamoose]

Amazing! I wonder if we could even build something like that anymore with the entire generations of welders, steel erectors, and train/track building companies mostly now done by foreign countries?
Almost worth a trip across the country to enjoy that!
The video alone was beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Must have made an amazing train ride….

I’ve actually thought about that while riding the trail. I’m a history nut and often imagine what it’s like to be the surveyors who plotted the route for the crew to build & tunnel through, especially with limited technology and access to resources. If you like the outdoors, the area is rich with sights and things you could do with thousands miles of trails, various bodies of water, including one the Navy uses to test submarine prototypes (chosen because it’s deep & quiet) multiple hydroelectric dams, and many quaint towns you can explore.

 

[MossRoad]

BINGO