Roundhouses

[Anonymous]

What factor determines which end of a steam locomotive enters a round house first?

[Anonymous]

What factor determines which end of a steam locomotive enters a round house first?

[Anonymous]

Just a guess... it depends on what needs service / maintenance. The back end of the roundhouse has the greatest space to work in, so if they're getting into the smokebox, it's pilot-first, and if the coal screw needs work, then they back in.

I have a related question: would the tender ever be disconnected in order to get the engine in where it needs to be? I would assume that it would have to be shoved in then.

[Anonymous]

Just a guess... it depends on what needs service / maintenance. The back end of the roundhouse has the greatest space to work in, so if they're getting into the smokebox, it's pilot-first, and if the coal screw needs work, then they back in.

I have a related question: would the tender ever be disconnected in order to get the engine in where it needs to be? I would assume that it would have to be shoved in then.

[AltonFan]

I believe roundhouses were designed specifically to have the largest amount of space at the front of the locomotive, where most of the routine maintenance would be performed. The smokebox, cylinders, valve gear, and the most important parts of the engines "plumbing" are at the front of the engine.

And yet, one often sees photos of roundhouses with the locomotive fronts facing out the doors...

As far as removing the tender goes, tenders were always removed before heavy repairs were done on an engine.

[AltonFan]

I believe roundhouses were designed specifically to have the largest amount of space at the front of the locomotive, where most of the routine maintenance would be performed. The smokebox, cylinders, valve gear, and the most important parts of the engines "plumbing" are at the front of the engine.

And yet, one often sees photos of roundhouses with the locomotive fronts facing out the doors...

As far as removing the tender goes, tenders were always removed before heavy repairs were done on an engine.