Stables of the Iron Horse: A Definitive History of the American Roundhouse

Description: Stables of the Iron Horse: A Definitive History of the American Roundhouse The locomotive roundhouse was by far the most distinctive structure of any railroad yard, and in many cases, the most distinctive structure in the entire town. About 3,000 of them once dotted the landscape, but less than 200 remain. This limited edition, hardcover book, written for die-hard fans of the American roundhouse, attempts to preserve some of that history. Profusely illustrated with over 200 photographs and diagrams. Hardcover, first edition printing of 250 copies, 248 pages. From the introduction: The shops in which locomotives and cars were given their periodic maintenance and overhauling were among the most important spots on the railroad. If the locomotives were not properly maintained and serviced, the resulting downtime would cost the railroad hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. There are records of railroads falling to bankruptcy because the revenue-earning equipment spent too much time sidelined in repair bays. Much revenue was also lost when locomotives weren’t operating at peak efficiency, and therefore couldn’t pull more freight, climb certain track grades, and burned through coal and water faster than normal. Despite their importance, fewer than 5 percent of the roundhouses that once dotted the landscape have survived to the present. Although some were converted to servicing diesel engines in the 1950s, the roundhouse and turntable were so specialized for steam locomotive repair and maintenance that the vast majority were torn down, especially those located at busy terminals where space was at a premium. For example, Chicago was once home to dozens of roundhouses, but since real estate is so valuable in the city and its suburbs, only a few remain to this day. About a dozen states and Washington D.C. have none remaining at all. Even more alarming is the fact that every year an average of two roundhouses are lost to fire, vandalism, or neglect.

Price: 52.95 USD

Location: Schenectady, New York

End Time: 2025-01-16T02:16:27.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6.13 USD