I'm curious about something. What was the reference to the Randolph St. engine house in the NYC ETT? What did that refer to, what was the Randolph St. engine house and where was it located?
Tadman wrote:....I would guess then that Big Four trains had their power serviced at Burnside with the rest of IC power...
Also, I don't believe IC serviced their passenger power at Burnside. I believe Burnside was used for heavy repair. I think passenger power -- possibly including MC and Big Four locomotives -- were serviced at the IC's 27th Street roundhouse. From looking at various sources, the 27th Street roundhouse was opened in the early 1900s and serviced IC passenger and yard power (and prior to electrification, probably suburban power as well). I believe 27th Street continued in use for as long as Central Station was open. On an IC list, a former IC locomotive fireman from the 1960s said, "Once we tied up at Central Station we cut the power away and ran the power out to the roundhouse at 27th Street."
Here is a link to a photo of the roundhouse in the diesel era, taken March 27, 1967.
Link
On the IC list it also mentioned that the IC passenger trains were turned at a balloon track located north of the Burnside complex. Didn't say where they were serviced.