The foundations for two roundhouses are still very much in evidence. Any overhead photos, building elevation drawings, or maps out there? I'm guessing the NYCHS may have had something in the Headlight, but I haven't been looking into NYC enough to get a membership - yet. Even so, I wouldn't have immediate access to past issues (though I am slowly working through their site). Thanks, Mike
It's not a lot, but west along the main/yard from Amtrak Sta. and Natl NYCentral Museum is this: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Railroad+Museum,+Elkhart+In.&aq=&sll=41.668167,-86.039944&sspn=0.088352,0.154324&ie=UTF8&hq=Railroad+Museum,&hnear=Elkhart,+Indiana&ll=41.676931,-85.977191&spn=0.00138,0.002411&t=h&z=19 if it copies for you. Otherwise G-Maps (or others) for Elkhart Amtrak Sta. and search west on the south of the tracks...obviously the foundation of one roundhouse. With the brute-force re-purpose of property near this area, guess I should feel lucky to see even this sketchy hint of what was. Bob C
Mike, a post on "Trainorders" in '09 says BOTH roundhouses' foundations were visible in that location, on the south of the tracks, west of the NYC museum. Haven't found photos...maybe check with that museum ??? Bob C
I sure can't help you with Elkhart facilities, as I grew up along the Mohawk Division in New York state. Will see if I can contact someone who may be able to answer your questions. :tb-sad:
From a New York Central document about facilities, dated March 1943, I looked up Engine House Facilities, and it shows at Elkhart, two roundhouses, one of 16 stalls, the other of 34. There is no info about where they were located. :tb-sad:
That is somewhat useful. I wonder which one was older? Perhaps the one with fewer stalls? You can see the foundations in the satelite images on Google earth. They are located directly west of the current NYC Museum location, south of the freight leads heading into the yard. The lead to the NYC Museum is on what appears to be the old roundhouse lead. Looking at the track geometry and interlocking arrangement, engines coming into and out of Elkhart could get directly from the roundhouse area across the freight leads, coach track and straight out onto the mains in front of the depot. Makes for a quick trip for engine changes if needed. Interestingly, it seems that at least some engines ran through. There is a bulletin from the RFE posted at Elkhart that states that enginemen should make sure that grease guns should be removed from pins before starting trains at Elkhart. It had come to his attention that there had been engines starting while laborers still had grease guns (think big air powered Prime alemite guns) attached to the rods and had to be removed with the engine in motion, which created substantial risk for injury and damage. I confess to laughing out loud when I read that one, as I can see it happening in my head like a movie (when you've serviced real locomotives as many times as I have, it's just second nature).
Ken, I don't know. I guess all we can deduce (sp) from the document is that in 1943 those were the number of stalls. NewRiver, was Bob Spaugh able to help you on the locations? :tb-confused:
Actually, the locations I discovered by looking at Google Earth several weeks ago. I was looking for how they compared with other servicing facilities and what the track and lead arrangements were. As for Bob Spaugh, we have been in contact and we was extremely helpful answering questions not related to the roundhouses. We will be working on some things in the coming weeks that may lead to some progress in Elkhart. We'll see... Best, Mike
