Arrows on Canadian wood crib grain elevators

[Anonymous]

On the track side of the elevator is/was an arrow (white on dark buildings & black on white ones) usually located at or near the center of the wall, at a height just slightly higher than a boxcar. What was its function [?]

Did it:
a) indicate to the train crew on which end of the building to place the cars [?]

or

b) indicate the movement of the cars as they were winched along before and after loading [?]

[Anonymous]

Hi Manitoban, I spotted my share of grain cars on the Red Deer Sub in Alberta and I can tell you that the arrows indicated which way the gradient ran in relation to the individual elevator. The mty's were spotted past or, before the spout on the elevator, depending which way the arrow pointed. As the cars were loaded, the handbrakes were released (a little) and the car or cars would roll past, and the next one could be spotted for loading. When the newer grain elevators were built some years back they used the winches, acct the higher number of cars spotted and loaded at one time. Hope this helps.

Ross
Victoria B.C.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Ross. Your answer was spot on!