Tyler, TX: St. Louis Southwestern Roundhouse and Back Shops

Francis Otterbein posted
Tyler Texas - The St. Louis Southwestern Railroad shops, roundhouse and turntable, 1941. (Photo Coutesy Smith County Historical Society)
Bob Kline A friend collected satellite views of old shops - what is left of them. He got up to 700. A steam engine typically needed major boiler work every 400 hours. Almost from day one a diesel could run 8,500 hours - a full year - without much other than oil changes. Economically, the steam engine couldn't survive. But as an amateur, who wouldn't rather have a steam engine? Anyway, at one point there was no need for so many shops.