The American Train Depot & Roundhouse (used) 4

The American Train Depot & Roundhouse (used)

By the Civil War, in about the 1860s, the single-story building we know as a railroad depot had developed most of its unique characteristics. This profile remains so constant that we still easily recognize the railroad depot in the landscape, even when it has been moved away from the tracks and modified as a residence, restaurant, or museum.

Its unique characteristics define it as a rectangular building with the longer side parallel to the railroad tracks. It is usually a single-story building without stairs or raised entryways, so baggage and freight can be easily wheeled through the terminal to the trackside platform. The roof has a generous overhang to shelter passengers from the weather. A trackside bay window became a common feature in the 1870s, giving agents better visibility along the tracks.

There was only one additional feature, usually added to the larger urban terminals starting about 1880: a clock tower. The railroads introduced Standard Time in the United States, developing the four time zones in 1883. Railroad depots featured clocks partly to advertise railroad reliability, partly to remind Americans that commerce moved to the tick of railroad time.

Time has run out for many railroad depots and roundhouses, but their history, and photos of dozens of these buildings, is presented here. Their story is one of buildings, whether grand or simple, which helped facilitate a nation's mobility. From point to point, depot to depot, America spread and developed from via the rails.

This book covers the evolution of depots, examines their architectural style and how they were used, and suggests how they can be preserved and restored today. It also looks at roundhouses, the giant workshops where locomotives were serviced and repaired. Often out of view of the traveler, these shops were dark, dirty, and dangerous, but their crews were among the most spirited and loyal in railroading.

Wood or stone, grand or humble, railroad depots and roundhouses have served travelers well over the years. Their story is presented here along with 200 colorful illustrations that bring the past to life again.