Who currently owns it? What condition is it in? Active rail access? Would this become a rail museum or used for another purpose?

Currently Norfolk & Southern own the property but they have moved their office to another location. They have agreed to donate the property but it has not happened yet since there is a bunch of red tape they have to go through. The Roundhouse itself is deteriorating. Part of the roof have fallen in but all the brick walls are still standing. It still has the turntable but it is not operational at the moment. The whole area is overrun with weeds and small trees. Acquiring the property is not a concern. The concern is some in our community do not have a vision for it and are pushing to have it torn down. However, a great part of the community would like to see it saved. A grant has been applied for to do an Engineering Feasibility study on the site and another grant will be applied for to do a environmental study, core drilling, etc.

It does have active rail access since the yard is still in operation. However, the track going to the roundhouse have been removed over the years. They do plan to have a museum but have it serve as other community functions.

FR -

On my way down to Kentucky a while back, I stopped in to look over the roundhouse. It is as you described. At that time, the idea was to convert it into an office building. Can't see much potential in doing that. But it might have some potential to be saved as a roundhouse museum. It is my understanding that the turntable was purchased by a private individual with the idea that it be moved IF the roundhouse was eventually torn down. But that individual stated that the table would stay in place if the building was preserved. Although there are no tracks in the building, at least a few could be put back in, including at least one out to the turntable. Although there were no tracks to the table itself, and thus no access to the roundhouse that way, there was at that time, a track out to the concrete coal dock from a rear door of the building. I would think that any preservation effort of the roundhouse itself, should include this coal tower. The Nickel Plate Road herald is still quite visible in the concrete. Perhaps a NS donation would include this coal dock and at least the track (or right-of-way) out to it.

It would be difficult to bring the roundhouse back, but it COULD be done. And it might prove an attraction to bring visitors in to Frankfort. The road from Interstate 65 was being improved when I was there and it might be only about a 10 minutes drive off of I-65. I think that what you should do is show the good people of Frankfort that potential.

Good luck in your efforts.

Les

I found it on Google Earth. Access isn't too bad, and its quite a large building on land which can be split from the remainder of the active yard. I imagine that the NS will be donating the roundhouse and property to a non profit organization and not the City of Frankfort? At least I hope so. You don't want to have any government involvement aside from some assistance with grants and/or loans. Having govt. as a landlord is a recipe for disaster.

If it were me, I would gather up a few people and perform a little "vigilante stabilization" of the roundhouse by temporarily fixing those holes in the roof.

I still don't understand what the City's role in all of this is since the intent is to have NS donate the structure to a non profit group.

If it were me, I would gather up a few people and perform a little "vigilante stabilization" of the roundhouse by temporarily fixing those holes in the roof.

I still don't understand what the City's role in all of this is since the intent is to have NS donate the structure to a non profit group.

I was half joking in my earlier remark, but apparently that was lost to everyone.

Its great that your group now has the lease on the roundhouse. But I still have no idea why the City of Frankfort has to have a role at all in this project. It is still possible in this country for a group of people to do things without government ownership or involvement, although those days ARE rapidly coming to an end.

Your non profit group will raise the bulk of its money from private individuals and secondly from private foundations. If this project is not a priority of the City then its time to forget them and focus on private funding sources. Involve the City for stuff that is within their ability to provide such as improving access to the property (paving the road) or putting up signs to the roundhouse.