Potato Cellar Built From Railroad Rail

Potato Cellar Built From Railroad Rail Alex Richards has a potato cellar unlike any other. Spanning about 16,000 sq. ft., it’s large, but what makes it truly distinctive is the support structure—the entire building is supported by railroad rail. “Some of the rails are 4 1/4 and some are 5 in.,” says Richards. “Everything—the uprights, roof beams and rafters—is all rail. All the joints are welded. The whole structure is welded together.” Richards believes the building was constructed in the 1940s or 1950s, when it was used to store potatoes. The rafters were originally covered with 1 by 6s and a sod roof. Richards’ father purchased the building in the late 1980s, and it has been used for storage rental ever since. With large wooden gates at each end, the 80 by 200-ft. roof, with its 30-ft. high center beam, was spacious. “My dad peeled off the sod and decking and replaced them with metal channels and a metal roof,” says Richards. “Unfortunately, it needs to be reroofed, and that’s very expensive for a building of that size. I don’t know that the income it generates can justify the cost of a new roof. I don’t like the idea of taking it down, but that may be the only thing that makes sense financially.” Richards asked Damon Carson with Repurposed Materials about the value of the steel. Damon shared Richard’s story in his newsletter, and it caught our attention. “I’m open to suggestions,” Richards told FARM SHOW. “If anyone is interested, tell them to contact me.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Alex Richards, Ashton, Idaho (alx670@gmail.com).

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