LV roundhouse

[adrianspeeder]

When i was in Easton Pa last week to see my grandfather, i went over to see the spot where the Lehigh Valley roundhouse was.
I am sad to report what is there now

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-7/765223/lvroundhouse2.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-7/765223/LVroundhouse1.jpg

Down the road however is the Easton Repair Facility for Norfolk Southern. I couldnt get close, but with the zoom through the truck window, i saw this sign.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-7/765223/nseastoncropped.JPG

One more thing that happened was when i was driving my grandfathers bronco. It is almost like mine, except for paint and his is an auto tranny. By the way, it is a 94 with 30000 miles (easy there grampap, dont go to far). Well, i guess i was driving it a little harder than he does and the radiator went pop.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-7/765223/broncoradiatorleak2.jpg

But have no fear, i did a little redneck roadside repair, and we got to a garage. For all you kids out there, if your radiator decides to take a dump, duct tape the input and output hoses for the 'ator together and use the heater core as an emergency cooler by opening your windows, and turn the heat on full.

I will post more pics as i photoshop them down.

Adrianspeeder

[Modelcar]

...Interesting report Adrian. On your emergency repairs to get to a point of help...Unscrew the pressure cap one notch too just in case it wants to build up some pressure and blow your first aid repair loose....But your fix sounds like good thinking.
Little town of Ligonier Pa....many years ago had the Ligonier Valley Railroad and it had a "round" house in town and 50 plus years hence, that highly modified building is now a Catholic School....Your pic. in your report reminded me of that situation.

[Kozzie]

Are there many roundhouses left in the States? e.g. preserved as part of a historical display?

Dave

[Modelcar]

Kozzie....I'm sure there are quite a few but generally they are a thing of the past. I'm sure some have been preserved. The one in Baltimore that suffered the roof collapse this past winter from snow load was part of the B&O museum and I believe it has been properly repaired by now. Round houses and the turntable that went with most of them are no doubt thinning out fast. Not really a part of modern railroading in my view any more.

[Randy Stahl]

Thanks fot the update on the old LV. I've had the good fortune to work in a few roundhouses and run a number of turntables. I'll miss them when thier all gone.
Randy

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

Kozzie....I'm sure there are quite a few but generally they are a thing of the past. I'm sure some have been preserved. The one in Baltimore that suffered the roof collapse this past winter from snow load was part of the B&O museum and I believe it has been properly repaired by now. Round houses and the turntable that went with most of them are no doubt thinning out fast. Not really a part of modern railroading in my view any more.

Thanks modelcar [;)] Hopefully, there is anough preservation going on so that enough is kept for the future for all to see and enjoy. [:)]

Dave

[Train Guy 3]

Well Southern may have gotton rid of their yard in Salisburry, NC. But the round house and turntable are still in place. If you ever get a chance to go there, you should. It's nice to see how they converted the old roundhouse into a museum. I beilive parts of the Spencer Shops are still there too. And last time I was there your could ride the turntable for 50 cent.

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train Guy 3

Well Southern may have gotton rid of their yard in Salisburry, NC. But the round house and turntable are still in place. If you ever get a chance to go there, you should. It's nice to see how they converted the old roundhouse into a museum. I beilive parts of the Spencer Shops are still there too. And last time I was there your could ride the turntable for 50 cent.

James, do they have any sleek, good looking E units in that great Southern colour scheme? [:p]

Dave

[Modelcar]

Must correct my comment of above in Adrian's first aid repair for cooling system....My comment of course would only apply if the radiator was still in the circuit.

[tree68]

NPS restored the roundhouse at Steamtown.

There is an old trolley/interurban roundhouse still standing in Watertown, NY. It's only a couple of stalls, and is merely near the CSX tracks, but the heritage is unmistakable.

I haven't been there in years, but the old O&W roundhouse used to still stand in Rome, NY, just SW of the Amtrak station. Tracks , of course, went in 1957-8, but it was being used as some sort of truck facility in the '70's.

[choochin3]

The B&O railroad museum in Baltimore will be reopening this November.They are finishing the cap of the roundhouse as I am writing this. Also heard that the B&O roundhouse in Martinsburg WV will see some well deserved restoration.There were 2 roundhouses at Martinsburg.But it burned a few years ago.

[adrianspeeder]

On ford trucks the radiator is surrounded by a plastic mount. On my bronco the plastic cracked and leaked, but i was able to save the radiator. It seems that this time however, that the mount snagged the aluminium radiator as the two expand at different rates and ripped the whole bottom apart. Because of that, I had to bypass the radiator altogether and rely on the heater core. Only had to stop and cool once. It was 400 bucks for the radiator, mount, hoses, coolent, and labor. Ouch. Even though it only has 30000, it IS ten years old.

Ok heres the other pics,
Seems that the beater trucks are parked outside the gate today. Its hard to believe that the same engine in the white international is in my truck.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-7/765223/nstrucks.jpg

Fallen flag sighting

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-7/765223/sotherngon.jpg

Adrianspeeder

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kozzie

Are there many roundhouses left in the States? e.g. preserved as part of a historical display?

Dave

Kozzie:

Thjere are still a good number of roundhouses still around in various states of repair.
The last roundhouse built in the US by Nickel Plate at Belvue, OH I believe is a museum. National Transprtation Museum at St. Louis just installed a second turntable (our company was somewhat involved)...The Santa Fe shops & turntable at Albuquerque were just sold to preservationist developers an the SP shop complex at Sacramento, CA was sold within the past few days. The Durango & Siverton operation at Durango, CO is still a working steam shop.There are roundhouses all over the place not being used for their original purpose. The concrete ones are almost impossible to demolish. Examples:

ATSF Las Vegas, NM...A Feed Storage Whse
UP Hugo, CO ...empty/ falling down...was fertilizer bins & lumber yard
CB&Q Bridgeport, NE ....Grain Elevator
CRIP Roswell, CO....Trolley Car Barn
KCS Joplin, MO...Empty KCS Shop
Kentucky Central/ C&O Covington, KY.... A Paper Bag Plant

Colorado Railroad Museum used a CB&Q turntable from St. Francis, KS and built a new roundhouse around it two years ago. Other forum members could add volumes to the list.

[Train Guy 3]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kozzie

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train Guy 3

Well Southern may have gotton rid of their yard in Salisburry, NC. But the round house and turntable are still in place. If you ever get a chance to go there, you should. It's nice to see how they converted the old roundhouse into a museum. I beilive parts of the Spencer Shops are still there too. And last time I was there your could ride the turntable for 50 cent.

James, do they have any sleek, good looking E units in that great Southern colour scheme? [:p]

Dave

[:)] Your in luck. Just so happens they do an E unit. Its nice and sleek and in the Southern Cresent sceme. And i do believe it is a loco that is in use for mesuem rides.

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train Guy 3

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kozzie

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train Guy 3

Well Southern may have gotton rid of their yard in Salisburry, NC. But the round house and turntable are still in place. If you ever get a chance to go there, you should. It's nice to see how they converted the old roundhouse into a museum. I beilive parts of the Spencer Shops are still there too. And last time I was there your could ride the turntable for 50 cent.

James, do they have any sleek, good looking E units in that great Southern colour scheme? [:p]

Dave

[:)] Your in luck. Just so happens they do an E unit. Its nice and sleek and in the Southern Cresent sceme. And i do believe it is a loco that is in use for mesuem rides.

James, thanks for the tip! [:)] ichecked out the web site - very good. I'd recommend that site to anyone [:D] Well put together - easy to use etc...

Cheers [;)]

Dave

[Train Guy 3]

No problem Kozzie. Any time. NC Transportation Museum link

http://www.ci.salisbury.nc.us/nctrans/index.htm

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kozzie

Are there many roundhouses left in the States? e.g. preserved as part of a historical display?

Dave

Kozzie:

Thjere are still a good number of roundhouses still around in various states of repair.
The last roundhouse built in the US by Nickel Plate at Belvue, OH I believe is a museum. National Transprtation Museum at St. Louis just installed a second turntable (our company was somewhat involved)...The Santa Fe shops & turntable at Albuquerque were just sold to preservationist developers an the SP shop complex at Sacramento, CA was sold within the past few days. The Durango & Siverton operation at Durango, CO is still a working steam shop.There are roundhouses all over the place not being used for their original purpose. The concrete ones are almost impossible to demolish. Examples:

ATSF Las Vegas, NM...A Feed Storage Whse
UP Hugo, CO ...empty/ falling down...was fertilizer bins & lumber yard
CB&Q Bridgeport, NE ....Grain Elevator
CRIP Roswell, CO....Trolley Car Barn
KCS Joplin, MO...Empty KCS Shop
Kentucky Central/ C&O Covington, KY.... A Paper Bag Plant

Colorado Railroad Museum used a CB&Q turntable from St. Francis, KS and built a new roundhouse around it two years ago. Other forum members could add volumes to the list.

Thanks mudchicken - the roundhouse at Durango would be especially interesting being an operational one! [:)]

Dave

[davews]

I came thru Goodland, KS a couple of weeks ago and checked out the footprint of the old RI roundhouse: u can still see footings for a dozen or so stalls, adjacent shops, etc. Turntable is still there.
Where I live, ATSF demolished ours about 15 yrs or so ago.