Eckman (not so) roundhouse

[NW Mailing List]

Jim:  This is a generalized answer to your specific question.  Yes, old
roundhouses at division points that performed heavy repairs on steam did
have their roundhouses expanded; Columbus, Joyce Avenue, Portsmouth, Ohio ;
the existing Williamson roundhouse, built in 1927 was built ‘large’ from the
start for Y-3 class locomotives and so on.  Enlarging the older facilities
for the new, larger locomotives was a business necessity.

 

For instance, Clare yard always had a short two-stall roundhouse, but the
introduction of the 2-8-8-2 classes to the Peavine lead to the establishment
of a turning wye near Clare Yard in 1935.  The turntable was never longer
than 75 feet even though theClass Y’s and Class A would be worked on ‘nose
in’ in the small roundhouse.  The turning wye still exists today near Clear
Creek about ¾ mile eastbound from Clare Yard.  

 

Gary Rolih

Cincinnati.  

 

From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org
[mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Monday, July 05, 2010 7:08 PM
To: NW Mailing List
Subject: Re: Eckman (not so) roundhouse

 

Gordon,

Thanks a million for your response.  It makes perfect sense that the Mallets
would have necessitated major renovations to existing facilities that were
built for Gs, Ws and Ms.  Are there records of which other roundhouses were
enlarged due to the "biggie-sizing" of motive power other than Bluefield
that you mention?  Also, did they just knock down the outside wall and grow
the house radially, or were there other significant changes that needed to
be made?  It seems like the turntable itself might have needed to be
enlarged to accomodate the extra-long power.  If that were the case, did
they have to push the inside wall back as well?  Fascinating stuff!

Thanks again,

Jim

 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: NW Mailing List <mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>  

To: NW <mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>  Mailing List 

Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 9:37 PM

Subject: Re: Eckman (not so) roundhouse

 

Jim,

 

Looking back through my email I can't see where anyone addressed your
question about the roundhouse at Eckman.

 

The 1906 drawing that you cited shows a drop pit 62' 2" from the inner
circle of the roundhouse, indicating a stall length of, say, 80', too short
for the Mallet locos that the N&W began getting in 1910, particularly the
Z1's in 1912, which were 100' 5" over couplers.  But, that same drawing
shows that if the outer circle of the roundhouse were extended, as was done
at Bluefield and other points to accommodate the longer Mallets, the
roundhouse would overhang the creek.  So apparently the decision was made to
extend just the four stalls at each end of the roundhouse because the N&W
Annual Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1912, states, "A
roundhouse with eight stalls, a machine shop 60 feet by 240 feet, and an
office and storehouse 32 feet by 100 feet, were constructed at Eckman, W.
Va."

 

Gordon Hamilton

----- Original Message ----- 

From: NW Mailing List <mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>  

To: NW <mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>  Mailing List 

Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 6:59 PM

Subject: Eckman (not so) roundhouse

 

The few photos I've seen of the facilities at Eckman show a turntable with
two, four-stall portions of a roundhouse connected by a shop building.  I
just saw the thumbnail of drawing NW-A07863 from the archieves dated 1905
showing a "full" semicircular roundhouse that appears to come within about
twenty feet of the creek at its closest point.  Does anyone have any
information as to whether Eckman started out with a half a roundhouse, and
if so what caused the downsizing change?

Thanks,

Jim Cochran

dcochran116 at roadrunner.com

 

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