Eastern Railroad Discussion > Burns Harbor

The company I work for recently purchased the old Cargill grain elevator complex in Burns Harbor Indiana with plans to fix it up and restore it back to service by next year.

I wont be involved with any of this Im in a diffrent division but i was curious on the history of Burns Harbor and what all goes on there. Looks like NS serves it and there may be a small switching outfit too???

Any info or stories would be appreciated to read about,thank you.
JC

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Port is sizable and has been growing a lot in recent years and is involved in intermodal and steel shipping (among other things) by way of NS. Port opened in 1970, while the steel mill was opened in 1964 by Bethlehem Steel, now owned by Cliffs. It was the last new integrated (old school) steel mill built in the US and is a big producer at around 4 million tons per year. It was originally slated to be much larger with more blast furnaces and other plants but never grew beyond its present size. Read more about the port's history here:

https://www.portsofindiana.com/about_us/history/#1620260333192-778bcf50-0161

JG

The port itself is actually served by the Burns Harbor Railroad, which interchanges cars with the adjacent Norfolk Southern Yard. A portion of the port, the West Rail yard, appears to also be used for interchange between the BHR and NS. The major traffic from the facility is steel coils with covered hoppers and tank cars also being used by multiple customers and one warehouse listed as using boxcars. 

The power is 3 leased GP38-2's. 

Per the train log associated with Virtual Railfan's Chesterton/Porter Jct live cam, NS 8100, better known as the NKP heritage unit, was sent light engine from Elkhart IN on July 4th 2025 to pick up a high & wide payload from Burns Harbor to deliver to Lafayette IN. Here's a screen grab of NS train 055 heading east at Porter Jct at 2009 CDT July 4th evening. I'm guessing this payload arrived at Burns Harbor by ship?

BTW, 055 continued its journey departingeast from Elkhart at 0323 EDT Saturday 7/5/25 but I haven't seen it arrive at VR's Lafayette live cam as yet.

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JasonCNW Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The company I work for recently purchased the old
> Cargill grain elevator complex in Burns Harbor
> Indiana with plans to fix it up and restore it
> back to service by next year.

Would the intended market be for export grain? If so would small bulk carriers capable of passing through the St. Lawrence Seaway be used, or would the grain get moved by train to East Coast and Gulf ports?
 

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> JasonCNW Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The company I work for recently purchased the
> old
> > Cargill grain elevator complex in Burns Harbor
> > Indiana with plans to fix it up and restore it
> > back to service by next year.
>
> Would the intended market be for export grain? If
> so would small bulk carriers capable of passing
> through the St. Lawrence Seaway be used, or would
> the grain get moved by train to East Coast and
> Gulf ports?
>  Louis Dreyfus to Operate Burns Harbor Terminal https://illinoisagconnection.com/Portals/0/EasyDNNNews/108860/images/grain-stock-gettyimages-giovanni12325-370-200-p-L-97.jpgTuesday, June 24, 2025 [color=inherit][/color][color=inherit]Facebook[/color][color=inherit][/color][color=inherit]X[/color][color=inherit][/color][color=inherit]Email[/color][color=inherit][/color][color=inherit]Print[/color]   By Jamie MartinPorts of Indiana has selected Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), a major global player in agri-commodities, to operate the grain export terminal at Burns Harbor. This move is expected to restore one of the Midwest’s key agriculture shipping points by early 2026.The Burns Harbor terminal, which previously exported over 500 million bushels of corn and soybeans, was closed in 2023. Its reopening under LDC will reestablish vital connections between local farmers and global grain markets.“We’re very pleased to partner with LDC to revitalize one of the most important agricultural shipping facilities in the state,” said Jody Peacock, CEO of Ports of Indiana.Founded in 1851 and operating in the U.S. since 1909, LDC manages the country’s largest integrated soybean crushing and biodiesel plant in Claypool, Indiana. The company’s expansion into Burns Harbor will further support its role in grain handling and exports.Gordon Russell, LDC’s U.S. Head of Grains & Oilseeds, said, “Burns Harbor is well-positioned at the southern shore of Lake Michigan, with access to multiple regional grain markets.”The terminal features storage for 7.2 million bushels, 200 railcars, and 20 barges. It can load 1 million bushels of corn onto ocean vessels and unload an 85-car unit train and hundreds of trucks simultaneously.“LDC’s extended global network and business portfolio will support export growth and expand our reach across the agribusiness spectrum,” added Ryan McCoy, Port Director at Burns Harbor.With multimodal access to rail, lake, river, and road systems, this partnership will improve efficiency and competitiveness for farmers and grain handlers throughout the region. LDC’s investment is set to bolster Indiana’s position in global agriculture trade.Photo Credit: gettyimages-giovanni1232 All the articles and  news briefs ive read are somewhat vague on what they want to actually do.  LDC owns 2 bean crushing plants close by, one in Claypool Indiana and a new one in Sandusky Ohio.
JC

JasonCNW Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>   Louis Dreyfus to Operate Burns Harbor

Thanks. I take that as great news. Here is a better link to the story:

Louis Dreyfus to Reopen Grain Terminal at Burns Harbor
 

In addition to BHR and NS, Burns Harbor and the Port of Indiana are also served by the Indiana Harbor Belt, which reaches the area via trackage rights over the NS Chicago Line.  The Dreyfus plant will undoubtedly increase the grain loadings originating at the port for overseas shipment.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/25 19:36 by calumet.

Too bad that grain exports are about to be cut by tarif wars. We're about to lose a bunch of farms.

I'm sure it won't change your mind, but for some rational thought on wheat exports there's some good info in this thread--

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,6044276

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JasonCNW Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ts1457 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > JasonCNW Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > The company I work for recently purchased the
> > old
> > > Cargill grain elevator complex in Burns
> Harbor
> > > Indiana with plans to fix it up and restore
> it
> > > back to service by next year.
> >
> > Would the intended market be for export grain?
> If
> > so would small bulk carriers capable of passing
> > through the St. Lawrence Seaway be used, or
> would
> > the grain get moved by train to East Coast and
> > Gulf ports?
> >  Louis Dreyfus to Operate Burns Harbor
> Terminal https://illinoisagconnection.com/Portals
> /0/EasyDNNNews/108860/images/grain-stock-gettyimag
> es-giovanni12325-370-200-p-L-97.jpgTuesday, June
> 24, 2025 FacebookXEmailPrint   By Jamie
> MartinPorts of Indiana has selected Louis Dreyfus
> Company (LDC), a major global player in
> agri-commodities, to operate the grain export
> terminal at Burns Harbor. This move is expected to
> restore one of the Midwest’s key agriculture
> shipping points by early 2026.The Burns Harbor
> terminal, which previously exported over 500
> million bushels of corn and soybeans, was closed
> in 2023. Its reopening under LDC will reestablish
> vital connections between local farmers and global
> grain markets.“We’re very pleased to partner
> with LDC to revitalize one of the most important
> agricultural shipping facilities in the state,”
> said Jody Peacock, CEO of Ports of Indiana.Founded
> in 1851 and operating in the U.S. since 1909, LDC
> manages the country’s largest integrated soybean
> crushing and biodiesel plant in Claypool, Indiana.
> The company’s expansion into Burns Harbor will
> further support its role in grain handling and
> exports.Gordon Russell, LDC’s U.S. Head of
> Grains & Oilseeds, said, “Burns Harbor is
> well-positioned at the southern shore of Lake
> Michigan, with access to multiple regional grain
> markets.”The terminal features storage for 7.2
> million bushels, 200 railcars, and 20 barges. It
> can load 1 million bushels of corn onto ocean
> vessels and unload an 85-car unit train and
> hundreds of trucks simultaneously.“LDC’s
> extended global network and business portfolio
> will support export growth and expand our reach
> across the agribusiness spectrum,” added Ryan
> McCoy, Port Director at Burns Harbor.With
> multimodal access to rail, lake, river, and road
> systems, this partnership will improve efficiency
> and competitiveness for farmers and grain handlers
> throughout the region. LDC’s investment is set
> to bolster Indiana’s position in global
> agriculture trade.Photo Credit:
> gettyimages-giovanni1232 All the articles and 
> news briefs ive read are somewhat vague on what
> they want to actually do.  LDC owns 2 bean
> crushing plants close by, one in Claypool Indiana
> and a new one in Sandusky Ohio.
> JC


Upper Sandusky
Currently under construction.
It will have a huge appetite for soybeans.

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