Any one have information about the roundhouse area at Bluefield, West Virginia? When was it built? How many stalls did it have? When was it torn down? I have seen the concrete coaling tower that is still present. Any information about the previous coaling tower? When was it built? What kind of construction materials were used? What capacity? Any photos of either of these structures? I have gotten some information from the Norfolk and Western Historical Society.
According to Norflolk & Western Railway: Pocahontas Coal Carrier by Richard E. Prince (1980):
“Bluefield Roundhouse was first constructed as a 16-stall brick structure in 1888, complete with a 60-ft. turntable. With expansion of the coal fields, this roundhouse was increased to a full circle of 41 stalls by 1893. New 65-ft. turntable was installed in 1906. In 1910 entire roundhouse was rebuilt with length of stalls extended 30 feet outward and 85-ft. turntable installed to handle the earlier Mallet locomotives. In 1918 that turntable was replaced by one 115 ft. long. Finally, in 1930 eight stalls were further extended 30 feet in order to handle the longest N&W Ry locomotives. The steam locomotive erecting shop was also a part of the Bluefield roundhouse complex and in 1932 the truck and wheel work of the electric freight locomotives was moved to Bluefield from the main electric repair shop at Bluefield Junction.”
That book has overview photos of both the roundhouse and of the Bluefield shops taken in 1944.
Bill
Thank you. This information will help me in my quest to model “the Pocky” (all be it in a much condensed version). I am embracing the Howard Zane philosiphy of modeling. Use some prototype to answer most questions (Allen McClellan) but build things I like. Appreciate your time. Happy model railroading.
The special collections section of library at Virginia Tech has a vast collection of N&W photos that should be of assistance to you:
http://spec.lib.vt.edu/testdata/nw/nw.html
Bill