Where Did The Roundhouses Go?

Thousands of locomotive roundhouses, built for steam locomotive maintenance, were once found across the American landscape. Now, only a few remain. In this #NCLearnAtHome video, we take a look at these structures, why there were so many, and why so few remain. Check out the story, coming to you from the largest remaining roundhouse in North America, the Bob Julian Roundhouse in Spencer, NC. #nctrans #nctransportationmuseum #spencershops #steam #locomotives #roundhouse

[@johncox2284]

I began my railroad career at the Interbay Roundhouse in Seattle. I worked there 5 years before I went into the operating department.

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

If you're ever in Evanston Wyoming. They are fixing up one as a museum a little at a time. Salt Lake City had one for Denver and Rio grande. Ogden Utah had one for U.P.R.R. and I've seen a KZbin video about one in Alaska that's out in the woods and the turn table is still around and can be rotated buy pushing it with one hand while walking. I've always enjoyed the look of them. The only other one Ive seen in person was in Austria and the building was in excellent condition but the railway was nolonger useing it.

[@kentondickerson]

There is still a roundhouse in Nashville, TN. (Radnor Yard). Still in use by CSX.

[@johnathanlewis2049]

In Newell Pennsylvania there’s an old Pittsburgh and Lake Erie roundhouse that’s now used by an adjacent industry for storage. There’s another old roundhouse about 100 miles north of there that’s now used by a local industry for storage.

[@Cmoore13]

In Greensboro where the Sourhern RR roundhouse was you can still sort of see where it is, you can see the old tracks sticking out of the concrete connecting to the NS rail yard.

[@chrisantczak1909]

The Ej&e kirk yard roundhouse is still up and in use today also, 1st half was built around 1912, and the 2nd half 1917 from what I've been told.

[@lineshaftrestorations7903]

Google Earth/Maps are good tools to see where roundhouses were. Usually what is left is the concrete floor. Additionally Sanborn fire insurance maps provide additional details where none is visible today.

[@mr.sir.]

Don't forget the last roundhouse in Montana, in Whitefish. I know a guy who worked there in the GN days as a Carman

[@steveharmon9000]

There's still an operational round house and turntable in St. Albans, Vermont as well as an operational turntable in Burlington, Vermont. Google earth shows the round house in White River Jct. Vermont also but the turntable has been removed and round house repurposed. I worked in the W.R.jct. roundhouse from 1976 until operational changes in 1982 when what was remaining of the minimal maintenance operation was moved to the passenger station in the old attached REA garage. I still have railroad blood and always will.

[@user-uf5id5un1i]

My grandfather, Harry Hill, worked at the roundhouse at 2nd Street and Erie Ave. in Philadelpha, PA. My grandmother said he drove the first steam engine over the Rocky Mountains. If this is true, I say one of the first. He knew Buffalo Bill Cody well and my aunt dated his nephew, Frank Cody. I love trains, it must be inherited. Can anyone tell me more?

[@danadrinks7464]

You forgot Juniata shop in Altoona P.A

[@garrinhatfield40]

Nice video! The next fire truck festival will ns 911 be there

[@SOU6900]

What voltage does the NCTM use, and is it single phase or 3 phase power? Also will there be videos about the old paint shop and car shop in the future?

[@NCTransportationMuseum]

It is 250 volt DC power. We have done a video on the car repair shed. I haven't yet done the paint shop, but would like to. Also, an overview of all the buildings and how they related to each other is in the works. Thanks!

[@chipholland9]

What's going on with the table in downtown Raleigh, between Capital Blvd and Peace Street? Did there use to be a roundhouse there?

[@kentondickerson]

Yes

[@comic4relief]

Cathedral-esque? 1:56

[@434srt90]

Sadly union pacific's Cheyenne roundhouse has been reduced to barely anything as compared to videos from the 40's - 50's

[@trainknut]

Thankfully the Evanston roundhouse is still fully intact and even still has her associated machine shop. Unfortunately its not nearly on the scale that Cheyenne was, what with the latter being a division point as well as a major overhaul facility, but it's still one of the houses used by the giant steam locomotives of the UP and one of the most intact roundhouse facilities in North America.

[@aerialcombat]

Why dont diesel engines need roundhouses?

[@MikeYoungWriter]

My question too - does the author not know?

[@aravindsureshthakidayil]

Because diesel-electric engines can easily run in reverse. The only problem while doing so is that the job is uncomfortably difficult for the locopilots.