A big "Thank you" to the GVT Batavia crew for opening up the roundhouse!
it was very interesting to tour a steam-era roundhouse still in use!
Background:
GVT moved into this roundhouse in 2008..before that they kept their Batavia locomotive
inside the warehouse of one of their customers.
the turntable bridge is gone, the pit filled in long ago..although parts of the outer ring as still visable.
(the pit itself is probably still there, just filled in with dirt)
GVT built a single track to the roundhouse, dug a new inspection pit under one of the stalls for loco
maintenance, and will use the roundhouse to store and maintain their one Batavia locomotive,
which is currently Delaware Lackawanna Alco S6 number 1044.
The Depew, Lancaster & Western line outside the roundhouse was once the New York Central 4-track mainline!
NYC moved their mainline to the south side of the city in the 1950's, to eliminate many grade crossings in the heart of Batavia..today the "bypass" route is still in use by CSX, and the DLWR runs the remaining lines in Batavia, which include parts of the old NYC mainline, the NYC "Peanut" line, and the former LV mainline.
Alco S6 1044 pokes her nose out of the roundhouse door:
(they left the loco inside the roundhouse, rather than bring it outside, so that the loco would cover the maintenance pit unerneath it...for safety.)
1044 was originally South Buffalo 44, built in 1957.
she was then Knox & Kane 44 for a time, and is now DL 1044.
I found out that GVT is planning to letter locomotives "Genesee Valley" down the longhood, and then have the specific railroad reporting marks on the cab..so 1044 is lettered DL 1044 on the cab, for Delaware-Lackawanna, even though she is currently working in Batavia, not Scranton.
being from Western NY, I really like seeing "Genesee Valley" on the side!
and its a beautiful paintscheme too..
When they built the new service pit, they put a GV diamond in the concrete..nice!
the roundhouse appears to be 6 stalls today..based on photos they had on display, it was once at least 8, perhaps more.
it was heavily modified at some time..all the original doors, with round arches, were bricked in. it is not known when, or by who..
Part of the edge of the turntable pit is still visable above ground:
Heading about a half-mile west, is the former DLWR Batavia loco, and a caboose on display.
DLWR 1801 is a MLW RS18, currently stored, not in use, and plans are to return her to Scranton eventually.
1801 was the GVT Batavia loco for many years, until being replaced by the 1044 in late 2007.
and thats it for the Batavia tour..
For more info on Batavia trackage, historic and current, I have a map here:
http://gold.mylargescale.com/Scottychao ... tavia.html
thanks again to GVT for hosting the open house..I really enjoyed it!
Scot