Back to the Roundhouse
We return today to the Quincy & Torch Lake Roundhouse - at least what’s left of it. Since our last visit to the site over a year ago some more rehabilitation work has been undertaken on the structure. Along with a great deal of the other ruins at Quincy, the top of the roundhouse walls has been strengthened by a type of concrete cap. Also a good deal more brush has been whacked down around it so even more of it can be seen. Our last visit yielded our very first panoramic image (which you can view here). Today we return for a few more panoramics - this time along the outside of the building.
Roundhouse Front #1 A larger version of the photo seen above, this one looks up at the impressive structure from the south-west corner. The main door in the foreground was originally a repair bay I believe, with the three doors to the right being the locomotive berths. Later this first door was also used for a berth (as well as an outdoor shed that sat just to the left of the photo - atop the current roadway.)
Roundhouse Front #2 This panoramic looks at the front of the building from the perspective of an engine that might be entering one of the three main bays. Once a turntable was positioned just behind our position where we took the photo, but later was removed due to the high amount of maintenance it needed in the winter.
Roundhouse Side This shot looks along the length of the building, as seen from the perspective of the road next door. Originally the building was only as deep as the fifth window from the right, the last group of windows representing the addition put on the building later to make room for a fourth locomotive berth.
As all these photos show the building is in relatively good shape, and thanks to recent efforts to stabilize it should stick with us for some time to come. Or so we hope.
Its good to see that they are making an effort to save the buildings at the Quincy mine. At least it won’t end up like the C&H mill sight, a bunch of foundations and a couple of buildings. Even if the building’s walls are the only thing saved it will give people some idea of the size of the buildings and the extent the of the mine.
Dave Freeze | October 1, 2007
Dave..
It is a great thing what they are doing to all the ruins around Quincy. While others may think restoring those structures is the best solution historically, I actually think that leaving in ruin like they are now has more impact on future generations. There’s a mortality these ruins communicate that is more powerful and moving then a restored building could produce. This is man’s legacy on the planet, when we are gone it those things that we laid our hands upon that live on.
explorer | October 1, 2007
Mike,
You are very right that there’s a very deep sense of loss and ruin which these ruins communicate. It is very striking to stand near some of the old shafts around here — with nothing but a little poor rock and some barbed wire left around them — and realize that this was once the center of life, the reason that entire towns existed, that millions were made and lives lost. Now, it’s empty and (often) not even marked. The years bring tremendous changes.
dcclark | October 3, 2007
Does anyone know when the track of the Q & TL was converted to dual gauge? Was it prior to the “new” number 2 rockhouse being built?
Dave Freeze | April 5, 2008
Not all the track was dual gauge. It was way before the new #2 came about, 1886 was when the Mineral Range built into the Quincy mine site to haul coal. They would have installed the dual guage so Quincy could move the standard gauge cars around with there own engines between deliverys from the Mineral Range.
Gordy Schmitt | April 5, 2008
There was a short piece of dual gauge in a street where the Mineral Range came onto Quincys property, I have a photo somewhere, I am sure its still there. One of these roads that goes nowhere
Gordy Schmitt | April 5, 2008
As far as I know the Mineral Range only met up with the Q&TL up near the Franklin property and not down here at the roundhouse. (up by where the storage place and bus garage is now I think) But get me the photo Gordy and I’ll get it up here for people to check out! It must be from across the street…
explorer | April 7, 2008
I think the dual gauge probably came down to near the number 2 shaft, you have to remember, the Mineral Range was suppling the coal for the boiler houses, I don’t think they would go through the trouble to unload the coal from the standard gauge cars, then reload it in the narrow gauge cars for the short distances involved. Have to ook and see, thought I saw some photos or maps with the tracks showing somewhere.
Gordy Schmitt | April 8, 2008
I was looking through the HAER photos, since we were talking about how far dual gauge track went on Quincy property, heres a view looking north from Number 2 shaft.
PHOTO
Looks like it was quite a lot, notice the crossover right at the bottom of the photo the track between the two dual gauge tracks is narrow gauge only.
Gordy Schmitt | May 6, 2008
Gordy…
You know I was looking at that same photo just the other day and didn’t even notice those dual gauge tracks. I would think that all the tracks within Quincy property were dual except for the linkage from the Q&TL main line (which runs down to the mill) to the Mineral Range spur. That spur was the line to the upper right in the photo coming down from behind the stacks. There’s a wye in that area that joined up with the Q&TL.
BTW that wye still has a line of about seven rock cars on it. I believe these are the same cars you took photos of back in the day. There still there and in remarkable shape, even through they’ve been overgrown mercilessly by trees. I’m going to feature them on Friday I think - so stay tuned.
explorer | May 6, 2008