It ain't pretty, folks.

According to the neighbors, a section of the roof of the B&O Museum's Roundhouse collapsed between midnight and 12:30 on the morning of Monday, Feb. 17th, as a near-record snowfall continued to fall. An additional section collapsed ca. 5:30 am. The high portion over the turntable is still intact.

The section that fell was the part covering fully half--180 degrees--of the "stalls" or storage tracks facing to the southwest. The first photo shows the view from Pratt Street. The middle photo is a somewhat desperate attempt to shoot through the iron screen grill over the fogged-up window facing Pratt Street. To the left is Clinchfield 1; to the right the wooden B&O Royal Blue coach. The third photo is from the fence in their western backyard on the old track pointed to the former shopping center further west on Pratt Street.

The preliminary eyeball is that the collapse is concentrated on the vintage steamers starting with the Andrew Jackson and working around clockwise to the main access track. Right off the bat I can say that the most fragile jewels in the roundhouse--the Royal Blue coach, the Ma & Pa baggage-mail car, and the 1830s Nova Scotia directors car--SEEM to have escaped serious collapse damage; ditto Jersey Central 1000. However, I cannot confirm that the wooden B&O caboose or the older B&O wooden coach (the William Mason companion) have escaped damage. If they were underneath, you can fear the worst.

It appears from what locos I could see--the Camel and another (I think) Memnon)--that the damage is somewhat serious cosmetic damage at worst.

It also appears that the collapse shook loose some of the snow buildup on the remaining roof sections of the roundhouse. However, I certainly wouldn't walk in the shop building, which still has a considerable buildup of snow at last report.

If the link doesn't work right, try:
http://www.velarium.com/amitchell/

I saw Courtney Wilson on the scene; several of the B&O Museum staff own SUVs, but for now even the main drag of Pratt Street, a major city thoroughfare, is barely a pedestrian walkway. The entire region is under a state of emergency, with precipitation STILL falling at 24+ inches; and even National Guard Humvees are getting stuck. There are far more pressing local emergencies than this at the moment; however, I am going to ask that we band together, take vacation time, and help the Museum out as best we can. I will post any details of fundraising or volunteer help as I get them.


Photos of the B&O Collapse

lner4472@bcpl.net

Let's try the photo again....


Photos of the B&O Collapse

lner4472@bcpl.net

Sandy,

Thank you for sharing the pictures online. What a terrible sight. I appreciate your account of what artifacts were under the collapse.

It's such a great collection that you couldn't drop a needle from the roof and not hit something irreplacable.

The local news sites seem to be predicting a greater collapse later. Is that typical media disaster hype or are the folks on scene expecting that?

Rob Davis

trains@robertjohndavis.com

> The local news sites seem to be predicting a
> greater collapse later. Is that typical
> media disaster hype or are the folks on
> scene expecting that?

As I noted, some of the snow appears to have slid off already; however, if part of it has fallen, the structural integrity of the rest of the roof is in jeopardy. I certainly can't rule out further damage--and there's a LOT of that going on in the area.


lner4472@bcpl.net

Observing the pictures from afar in Portland, Oregon, I am concerned that structural engineer look at the situation and the original building drawings immediately. Having visited the museum numerous times, I am quite familiar with this hybrid brick, steel, and wood structure.

My concern is not only for the remaining hemisphere of the lower roof, but for clerestory/copula that remains above. The clerestory posts will likely be able to support the gravitational loads of the considerable weight of the upper roof and glazing, yet eccentric wind loading may comprise the structure's ability to resist these lateral forces. With only half (or no) circular roof to resist these forces, I fear that twisting of the center cylinder of posts suurounding the turntable may occur.

Put basically, it appears that there is a considerabale amount mass up high on a relatively spindly frame. If this lofted mass wre to gain any rotational momentum, the result could be catastrophic.

My hope is that the frame's cross bracing can resist the lateral loadings without the assistance of the roof membrane. In any case, my intent with this correpondence is not to sound alarm bells that such a scenario as described above is imminent, but rather to suggest that structural stabilization be the first priority after life safety. Best of luck to those dealing with this situation in Baltimore.

Should anyone dealing with situation need a professional reference to competent structural engineer in the area with the resources to deal with this situation I will be available at (503) 973-5151 until 5:30 p.m. PST (8:30 p.m. EST.)

http://www.orhf.org
gkamp@mwaarchitects.com

TV helicopters finally got airborne and gave us an aerial view.

*Nova Scotia car and stagecoach replica cars are safe, Tom Thumb presumed safe.

Collapse begins to side of coaches and goes around clockwise to CNJ 592. PM 11 is on the turntable lead.

B&O wooden caboose has an obvious hole in top of cupola, but appears intact structurally.

Regrettably, the vintage wooden B&O coach(es) and vintage boxcar inside have *apparently* been reduced to kindling. The coach has apparently been bent ito two from the weight atop it.

There was no obvious damage to the steamers in question, but I was unable to get a decent view of most of them.

Please consider this news unofficial pending confirmation.

LNER4472@bcpl.net

Thank you for your coverage and reports of the mornings event. Here in the West Coast our best hopes for minimal damage and recovery are present.

Very sorry to hear about possible damage to the 1870 Wason coach. It and its mate are among the more important examples of their era in the US.

Lets hope the rest of the roofs hold, and the tower can be stayed. Let us know what we can do as well. Happy to volunteer here.

Jim

> TV helicopters finally got airborne and gave
> us an aerial view.

> *Nova Scotia car and stagecoach replica cars
> are safe, Tom Thumb presumed safe.

> Collapse begins to side of coaches and goes
> around clockwise to CNJ 592. PM 11 is on the
> turntable lead.

> B&O wooden caboose has an obvious hole
> in top of cupola, but appears intact
> structurally.

> Regrettably, the vintage wooden B&O
> coach(es) and vintage boxcar inside have
> *apparently* been reduced to kindling. The
> coach has apparently been bent ito two from
> the weight atop it.

> There was no obvious damage to the steamers
> in question, but I was unable to get a
> decent view of most of them.

> Please consider this news unofficial pending
> confirmation.


woodburner@earthlink.net

There is a site with stills from a chopper aerial report. The hole in the caboose is readily evident, as is a lot of other damage.

These are not pretty pictures and they sadden me greatly.

Rob


Aerial pics

trains@robertjohndavis.com

I can't tell you how sad this disaster makes me, as I spent six years living in the nearby DC area and made many visits to the B&O Museum. The aerial photos make the devistation quite visible. I honestly can't even recognize some of the items under the rubble of the roof. Can someone post a list of the items that were damaged starting with the visible B&O caboose and going counterclockwise for us? This, with the photos, will help us understand what we are looking at. The hearts of all at the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis go out to the B&O Team.

rdgoldfede@aol.com

Can someone post a list
> of the items that were damaged starting with
> the visible B&O caboose and going
> counterclockwise for us? This, with the
> photos, will help us understand what we are
> looking at.

Look at "Interior Report" elsewhere here.

lner4472@bcpl.net

I just saw the interior photos. The damage to the collection is a terrible thing, but some important peices may come through somehow.

The tender of 1863 ten wheeler No. 117 shows substantial roofing upon it and the engine, and the cab, stack and other parts will have significant damage. I suspect the same will apply to mogul No. 600 and possibly the 1888 consolidation No. 545. I cannot see the Memnon in any of the photos.

Overall, the greatest portential for damage to the engines are light cast iron compontas such as bell stands and such. Wooden cabs, the majority may date from the 1890s or before, are also an area of potential loss to a significant part of the artifact. The bell stands, for example, are unique to the B&O, the majority cast in the 1870s-80s. Sheet iron parts, like headlights and some stacks, will have siginificant potential for damage. While many of the engines have replica smokestacks from 1926-27, several have what appear to be extremely rare originals - the diamond stack of the Hayes ten wheeler No. 217, for example, or the cap stack of No. 545.

The boilers, domes and ornamental dome casings, frames, wheels and cylinders may survive in better condition, if only due to mass. However the great amount of weight suddenly brought to bear onto the sprung chassis will have a potential for cracked frames and misalignment. Photos of what appears to be No. 545 shows it to be in sound condition despite obvious debris.

From what I understand, the Mason locomotive No. 25 is in the car shop and the replica Lafayette off site.

In addition to rolling stock and number of wooden locomotives are grouped around the peresphere of the structure. They were built for the B&O exhibit of 1893 and represent historic models of early engines no longer in existance. Rot, water damege and deffered priorities may take a toll here.

Probobly the most important small artifact on display (at least last year) is a model of a eight wheel passenger car constructed in the early 1830s by Richard Imlay of Philadelphia as a sample for prospective clients. Several cars of this type were actually built and saw service, and the car is a unique and highly important example of its kind. I beleive it to be closer to the main entrance and away from snow damage, but -

It must be moved as fast as possible to a secure and humidity sensitive environment. The glues in its construction, the original paint, and many other details make this a highly fragile and irreplaceable artifact.

Finally, I'm deeply saddened by damage to the Central Of New Jersey Wason coaches, and especially that both were in the roundhouse this morning. These 1870 cars are probobly the most nationally significant examples of the standard American passenger car - neither narrow gauge nor odd in any way - entirely typical, original and representative of a virtually extinct type. Perhaps reconstruction of the Museum may finally allow for comprehensive research of these cars.

The Museum now has the opportunity for exploration of federal, state and other grant or relief opportunities, which may allow for needed reconstruction of the physical plant, its irreplacable collection, and serve to focus its mission and opportunities. Lets hope to see a new B&O Museum and a successful restoration.

Jim Wilke

> Can someone post a list

> Look at "Interior Report"
> elsewhere here.


woodburner@earthlink.net