Portage Valley View
We began our exploration on the west terminus - at the mine itself. Just past the majesty of the still-standing #2 shaft-house, we turn onto Kowsit Lats road. A funny name that most locals refer to by a different, but similar sounding phrase. Right near the turn there is a turn off on the right side. We parked the car here, noticing a break in the trees behind us. Walking back to check it out we found ourselves coming out on top of a poor rock pile, hidden from view of the road due to the simple fact that it sits directly up against the hill face
The Roundhouse
It was clear what we would find down “Roundhouse Road”. Every railroad will have one, used for the shelter, maintenance, and repair of locomotives. Essentially garages, these buildings got their name from their usual semi-circle – or round - footprint. Roundhouses would circle a central turntable, used to turn and direct locomotives to their respective berth in the building. What we found on “Roundhouse Road” however, wasn’t exactly what we expected.
Inside the Roundhouse
Take a comprehensive look inside the old Quincy and Torch Lake Railroad Roundhouse with this 360 view from the inside.
The Water Tank
It sat hidden in the trees along a small ridgeline that ran along the side of the line. It stood two stories, covered in a weathered gray wood that succeeded in camouflaging it against casual observers. On its midline a metal collar plate apparently once supported a round pipe. To one side a long metal exhaust pipe pointed to the sky. This only could be one thing – a water tank.
Derailed and Derelict
Sitting just off the track in the woods were the remains of what appeared to be a train wreck. That view from a hundred years ago must have been better then we had thought. As we hopped down a short wall and into the woods we could see two rail cars. The first was basically a steel box with a notch on the far side. It appeared to be upside down, lying on its top. A tender perhaps?
