I have seen it all now. Corman has finished the engine house for the Chinese decapod in Lexington so that it looks like the head building at Churchill Downs (the Kentucky Derby race track in Louisville).

The big complaint? Residents are angry that the building follows the style of the Louisville horse track, instead of the Lexington track, Keeneland!

http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/04/2586681/corman-adds-spires-to-give-churchill.html

I cannot think of a single defining characteristic of Keenland other than wonderful landscaping. Both are interesting tracks, both are different due to location.

The anti-spire comments highlight the Louisville-Rest of Kentucky divide that is pervasive in the Commonwealth. Louisville and its surrounding communities are in many ways more midwestern, like a Cincinnati or St. Louis, with a touch of the "south" whereas Lexington is very southern in character. The divide is very historic, going back to at least the mid-19th century when Louisville was viewed by many in the rest of the state of wielding too much political and economic influence over the state, the L&N railroad included.

To make this preservation related, Churchill Downs sits in the shadow of the site of the L&N's South Louisville Shops, now long gone. The University of Louisville built its football stadium on the site. Churchill Downs was also served by the 4th Avenue Streetcar line of the Louisville Railway Company. I believe one branch of this line even had a loop in front of where the old main gate was.

Churchill Downs used to be really neat. The grandstand was ancient, and gave an air of being back in the 1940s. Now, all but the center section is gone, replaced by a more modern structure. A little nicer, yes, but the character is gone.

David Wilkins
Secratariat, MO

1. Import large steam locomotive.
2. NEVER use it.
3. ???????
4. Profit.

Wow, what a hideously ugly building..very strange looking for an enginehouse.

and the name "Old Smokey" for a large Chinese 2-10-2 made in 1986?
also very odd..

guess they do things differently in Kentucky! ;)

Scot

The prototype for TYCO's new HO scale engine house. So many beautiful buildings in Kentucky and then there's this. I seem to recall another railroad tycoon in Ohio building a very nice facility...

Sorry but that is pretty fuguly!

In an abbreviation:

OMG!

Funny how the story says it 'houses' the locomotive, yet I can see no tracks at either end...

At first I had the same question about the tracks, but they are visible in the pavement. We should lighten up. If I understand the building it has glass walls on two sides that let the public get a good view of the locomotive while protecting it from the elements, both natural and man made. A beautiful brick enginehouse would have provided the protection, but not the public visual access.

Ah, I see it now, they were partially hidden by the handrails on the upper wall in the main photo.

Hi Guys,

Question - As I recall, Corman purchased 2 Chinese 2-10-2s. Has this situation changed? If not, is the new engine house large enough to house both of them?

Thanks in advance,
Glenn

You are thinking of Henry Posner.

Henry Posner of Rail Development Corp purchased 2 Chinese QJ's with options for more. Those two are on the Iowa Interstate. Corman purchased only one, a third QJ, the one in Lexington.

David

But still a very ugly building.

That clears up my confusion ... Thanks David!

Sincerely,
Glenn

No Scot, they do things VERY differently at Corman where success and tackiness are well documented. He just happens to be in Kentucky.

-JH