Thursday, August 6, 2015

LEHIGH VALLEY RAILROAD ROUNDHOUSE, MANCHESTER, NY - PART 1

The Lehigh Valley Railroad - Manchester was an important division point and car classification yard for the Lehigh Valley Railroad and was, at one time, the largest such facility in the world.  As a division point, crews and locomotives were exchanged.  Freight cars were switched from track to track, organizing them for delivery to their destinations.  Support services included the 30-stall roundhouse, the coaling tower, facilities for ash removal, track maintenance, car repair, control tower, the yard office, an ice house and the bunkhouse - restaurant.

With the failure of the Pennsylvania Railroad (which had taken over operations of the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1962) in the mid-60's, the divisions yards services purpose was largely unneeded.  By the next decade, all that remained in use of the yard was the mainline traveling through town. Today only a few crumbling structures, some old track, and a couple of rusted boxcars remain,

I live the next town over and never knew about this.  I was on the computer looking up another boxcar (that will be on another post) when I came across this.  Called Village Hall over in Manchester who gave me directions there.  So I grabbed the camera and over I went.  This is the first building and the biggest.Tomorrow, I will have the second building and boxcars.

Top two pictures are postcards of what it looked like in it's day.  Walking through I would have liked to have seen that building in it's day.  There is talk of these buildings be torn down.  Don't know how true it is.  

Told Elmer about this.  Elmer wanted to know why I never told him about it.  I said because I didn't know.  So I will be taking Elmer, Bishop Eli, Porter and his wife there.


12 comments:

Angela Tucker said...

Good morning, Marilyn. The pictures are very interesting. I like the comparison pictures at the top. It doesn't look like the safest place to hang out, so please be careful. I'm glad you will be taking company the next time.

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Angela,
I probably should have taken someone with me the first time I went. Elmer, Bishop Eli, Porter and his wife went the second time. It is very interesting there.

Marilyn

Tom said...

Interesting find. Tom The Backroads Traveller

Vickie said...

Aww, it makes me sad to see the end of such things. What a ruin.

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Tom,
Was an interesting find !! You should go there sometime.

Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Vickie,

It makes me said to see such ends. Wish I could have seen it in it's day.

Marilyn

Dynna said...

What an interesting building and history. I'm always thinking I wish the abandoned building could tell us their story. Look forward to seeing more and reading more about it too. After 23 days, my girls and I are happy to be together again.

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi dynnamae n,
So happy you liked this. I wish the abandoned building could talk and tell it's story. There is more on tomorrow. So glad you are home again. Assume that that you electric is on.

Marilyn

Joel Richter said...

Great photos! One correction, the second photo isn't of Manchester. This is a link to an aerial photo - https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwikg7TCtsHbAhWPrVkKHT5aD1cQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmcnygenealogy.com%2Fbook%2Fstagecoach-4.htm&psig=AOvVaw3FNEGiTUSnbU46Vz9dZrST&ust=1528456034010619

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Joel,
I didn't know that. I got the post card off the computer and it was identified as the Manchester Rail Station. I took as what the it said it was. Sorry about the mistake.


Marilyn

Mark D. said...

Hi Marilyn,

I was googling "Lehigh Valley Railroad Manchester Yard" and this post appeared.
I thought I'd let you know that that 2nd B&W aerial photograph is actually of Manchester, NH. That's the Merimack River. The rail line is the Boston & Maine.

Regards,
Mark

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Mark,
Thank you for telling me. I will try and take it off.

Marilyn