I been observing a lot of construction going on at the Roanoke railcam area and assume it is part of the old rail station upgrade. In particular there is a large pit in the platform between the first two tracks as seen from the cam. I can see workers entering and leaving the pit via a set of stairs, which indicates the pit is at least 7 or 8 feet deep. Anyone have any idea what it is for?
I wish I could…I’ve been questioning similar thoughts of what is this construction all about now for a week plus.
- I didn’t really know, but have always thought since this has been in view from the hotel cam, the area did look like a former passenger extended platform…Maybe that area we see fenced nowi s a tunnel under one set of tracks, previously used by passengers…???
Every time I check the cam, things there have changed, but I seldom SEE the change occur!
I did notice that pit had been opened and it does seem to have a stairway to get down in it. I have seen workmen carry dimensional lumber (2x6’s or 2x8’s at least 6 to 8 ft long) and sheet wood (ply or OSB, ?; that were less than 4x8’s) down into the pit and other lumber back out of the pit and as many as 3 men in the pit at the same time… MUST be a large area down there to get that much wood and people in it!
I have seen an articulated end-loader come and drop off a big scoop and attach up a set of forks which were then used to move that large yellow box (which looks like an electric generator set to me). I thought the box was going to be lifed over the near-track to be placed in the concourse area, but all that happened was it was picked up, driven around for a minute or two and then put back where it was to begin with!
This morning I watched a workman park his car at the far end, get out and wander around the area beyond the intermodal container building for a while. Then he removed a large box from the car, which seemed to be heavy. He carried it all the way from his car to the intermodal container and put it in the container. Then he walked back to the car and left. I am sure, if it were ME, I would have parked by the container and carried the box 15 ft instead of the 250 he did! But I guess I am too lazy to be a workman.
I also noticed the door on the intermodal container building is left open all the time. Must not be anything of value stored in it.
It has been interesting watching the construction even if I haven’t the foggiest idea what it is they are doing. About the container however, I haven’t seen it left open after they are done for the day. Which is 5:30 or 6:00 some days. I would suspect that it contains supplies, tools and other small equipment.
Tom
The container is a tool shed. Various items kept in there and safely locked for the night. They have broken up and removed the layer of concrete from the “pit” to the east and have dressed the base in what appears preparation of repouring the platform. I am still curious about the “pit”. Perhaps someone will answer this posting with the answer. I have seen photos of the area back in the steam days when North Jefferson Street actually crossed the tracks at that point and joined South Jefferson.
Here’s an old photo of the station (behind the railcam. You can see that the old platform was originally covered.
From this description, seems like they’re building a rather large model railroad layout down there, perhaps ? [:-,]
That “large yellow box” is a diesel fuel tank used to fuel up the equipment.