Recent threads on here got me interested in the idea of how many roundhouses (or fragments thereof) remain in Minnesota. This is what I found:

Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion, Rollag, MN

Minnesota Commercial Railroad, St. Paul, MN

CN/DM&IR, Proctor, MN

Canadian Pacific, South St. Paul, MN

Great Northern Railroad, Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN

Canadian Pacific, Shoreham, Minneapolis, MN

Harrison Street (Remnant), Minneapolis, MN

DM&IR, Two Harbors, MN


There may well be more than these in Minnesota, but these are the ones I was able to find. If anybody knows of others, I'd be interested in adding them to this post. I may do other states as well.

The "Other" Proctor Roundhouse DMIR


The Wabasha Roundhouse MILW



Currie End of the Line CNW

Shoreham was Soo Line, correct? What was South St. Paul?

Shorham (Minneapolis) is ex-SOO

South Saint Paul is not South Saint Paul, it is just Saint Paul CP (ex-SOO, ex-MILW).

Sorry about that. There's also another turntable without a roundhouse up at Northtown.

Makes ya wonder if one of those abandoned ones could be procured by a historical society and restored. But, as everything else now, costs a great deal of cash and expenditures to make right again. Well, one can dream I guess.

I believe there is a round house in use at Thief River Falls, MN. I belive it is fomer Soo line.

JD

Thief River Falls CP (ex-SOO) I don't know if it's still standing

HudsonL -

It seems like the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society would know if this remnant of the Thief River Falls roundhouse is still standing. Perhaps someone from SLHTS who posts here might be able to let us know.

BTW, Soo Line 2-8-2 #1024 (ex-Monon #504) is preserved here, near the Soo's old Thief River Falls station.

Les

Les,

Here is what my friend Jason Korth had to say when I asked just now if it was still standing:

"Insofar as I know Dennis and the convention was just last fall!

It didn't look like it had much longer to go though. By last fall it had
been completely emptied out and the pits filled in. Looked like it could be
ready for the wrecking ball any day so we were very fortunate to see it one
last time.

ILS, Independent Locomotive Service had occupied it until a few years ago
when they built a new shop a few miles north of TR Falls along the ex-GN.

Jason"

Maybe somebody can explain the sawtooth roof on the roundhouse in Proctor, MN.

I thought the whole point of a sawtooth roof is to aim the more vertical (window) side to the north, so that at all seasons and times of day, you are getting loads of indirect light, without the sun blasting directly in and cooking the occupants. This design was favored before artificial lighting was really practicable, and so having useful natural lighting was key to building design.)

This building is 180 degrees. Would not expect it to have the sawtooth feature. Even then, the orientation is near the worst case, with most windows pointing more south than north. It will certainly catch the morning sun more than the afternoon - but the east half of the building would surely be pretty miserable on a summer afternoon. That is where the few remaining windows are.

Hmm.

I donno... Summertime in Proctor is two afternoons in August when the Eskimos air their igloos out. Not sure excessive solar gain is that much of a problem, especially if the sawtooth sash were originally open-able.

Dennis -

Thanks for checking on this and finding the info.

I wonder if your friend Jason, has any photos of these roundhouse remnants? Would be nice to see them. Hopefully, some parts from the roundhouse might be available when it gets torn down. And I wonder if CP might consider donating the old turntable? Must be a museum somewhere that needs one.


Les

I'm sure the intent was the usual for that design, let in lots of light. As noted, hot summer days aren't as much of an issue there. Also, keep in mind that you're talking about a building with large vents above every track and really large doors that can easily be opened. I think that if they open a few of the big doors, maybe some of the back wall windows, if they open, and soon the air temp is the same as outside. In cooler weather, it could provide some passive solar heating. Hey! It's a historical "green" Eco friendly building! Surely that's grounds for getting funds to restore it? ;)

Wow, what does this look like from the ground? Imagine owning your own roundhouse...

Is this used by a tourist operation or something? Is it currently being used? Imagine seeing that while driving down the road when you weren't aware it was there, I'd probably drive right off the road while doing a double take!