Grain, the old-fashioned way By Brian Schmidt | August 19, 2021 | Last updated on August 7, 2025 Email Newsletter Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. Sign-up for email today! Get Updates Grain, the old-fashioned way Through the end of the 1800s, a lot of grain was shipped in 100-pound sacks. Here, workers load grain sacks into wood boxcars in Minneapolis around 1900. Minneapolis Public Library collection