Brooklyn Yard Roundhouse

A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing steam engines. A roundhouse is usually adjacent to a turntable.

The Brooklyn Yard Roundhouse was the second of two roundhouses built in the 20th century. Built in 1941, it was erected next to an older 12-stall brick and timber roundhouse structure. The older brick building (1912) was much larger than the roundhouse that remains today. While the present structure is smaller, it was built longer (110 feet) to accommodate larger steam locos (the older roundhouse had stalls 80 feet in length). There used to be many other buildings adjacent to the roundhouse. These included a large building that constructed locomotives, a machine shop, a water tower, a dozen misc. outbuildings and shacks plus the original roundhouse.
Built from wood and metal corrugated paneling, the roundhouse was built as an "extra" during WWII. There are many unique and old tools in use here. The caretakers are very nice and must really love working on these old iron horses. When I visited on April 18, 2011, they allowed me to walk around and take a tour of the facility. There were 4-5 workers there and some Union Pacific security was present. This looks like a fun place to "chew the fat" with co-workers.

Brooklyn Yard Turntable

This electric (overhead wires) turntable is 100-feet long and replaced an air powered, 80-foot turntable in the 1920's.

The Steam Locomotives Inside the Roundhouse

The Brooklyn Roundhouse is home to some of the oldest operating steam locomotives in the USA. These steam engines include the SP 4449 (orange), the 700 and the 197 (under repair).
These locomotives are the last of their kind and offer a unique view to the history of a railroad that once was. Several times a year, the caretakers here fire up these engines and take them out to stretch their legs.