[CBQ] Re: Disposition of branches north and south of Wheatland WY

["Richard Patterson" <rlpattersonj@netcommander.com>]

You are correct, the branches were built to serve sugar beet dumps in the
irrigated farmland around Wheatland about the time the factory was built
(1929).  At that time just about all beets were hauled in wagons so the
trips had to be short.  Since the farms were too far from the factory to
make the trip, the trains came to the farms.  A similar situation existed
around Torrington and the Nebraska panhandle factories, as well as those in
Colorado.  The sidings were removed sometime in the 80s, I believe, but I
don't know the exact date.  The Wheatland sugar factory had been closed for
years prior to that and the beets would have been probably taken to Great
Western factories in Colorado or the Holly Sugar factory in Torrington.  Now
they are all rehauled (from dump to factory) on trucks.  No more sidings
every few miles with beet pilers and lines of old broken down 2-bay
hoppers.sad.

 

Richard Patterson

Torrington, WY

 

 



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