Roundhouses, Turntables & Shops

To the men who worked them, steam locomotives were living, breathing machines — each with its own personality, quirks, and demands. And like any living thing, they needed a home. In Roundhouses, Turntables, and Shops, you’ll get a guided tour through the labor-intensive world of the steam-era locomotive terminal: the roundhouse, the turntable, the coaling tower, the water station, and the shop. Beautiful period photographs and detailed text show how the myriad workers at these facilities came together to keep locomotives rolling, revealing a level of care and craft the railroad industry will never see again.