Tank Production: (Satellite, the site has been repurposed)
Depot: (Satellite?)
Freight House: (Satellite?)
Tower: (Satellite?)
"During World War II, the government expressed an interest in acquiring steel for the U.S. Navy from The Birdsboro Steel Foundry and Machine Company. In response to winning this contract, this large steel mill was constructed in 1944, consisting of nine massive bays reaching up to 1,480 feet long and 50 feet high. Soon, the role of the plant shifted to manufacturing tanks for the Army, and the name of the plant was known as Armorcast. Sherman and Patton model tanks were the main product of the plant from World War II through the Korean War. In 1975, Armorcast failed to win a government contract to continue production, and the plant was closed in 1988 after a lengthy strike." [opacity] (Today, tanks are made in just Lima, OH.)
The most recent Global Earth image that had the tank manufacturing buildings.
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| Birdsboro of Yesterday posted Another great aerial photo of Birdsboro! Maybe taken by Manfred von Richthofen?? Love seeing the… 1. Steel RR Bridge 2. Brickyard (Reading Roasters is today) 3. The crazy old intersection where Turkey Hill is today 4. Furnace 3 5. all the trains 6. the tennis courts (Sunoco Station) 7. The American House Hotel [The canal is the current location of PA-724. The factory in the upper-right corner is the Brooke Furnace #3.]James Torgeson posted Birdsboro Foundry. John Simpkins: At one time they had a huge melt and casting capacity with all the different EAF and Induction furnaces they were running. |
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| 3D Satellite |
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| Gregory D. Pawelski commented on Birdsboro of Yesterday's post From the other direction on February 7, 1931. (Dallin Aerial Survey Company) |
Reading Railroad had tracks along the north side of the Schuylkill River and heading south of town. Pennsy ran along the south side of the river. This also shows the route of the abandoned Schuylkill Canal to the west of town.
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| 1947 Birdsboro Quad @ 24,000 |
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| Street View |
The most recent Global Earth image that had the tank manufacturing buildings.
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| Global Earth, Oct 2011 |
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| opacity-press, 1 of 3 historic photos "This 8,000-ton hydraulic press, largest of its kind in the world, was designed and built by Birdsboro to enable a leading aircraft company to speed output of larger, individual parts. (via" |
The four large smokestacks of Armorcast that you see in some photos were on the southwest side of the building.
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| Google Earth, Oct 2008 |
The oldest foundary in the USA reopened in Jul 1991. "The foundry, which can produce 5,000 tons of steel a month, will cast ingots in its initial phase. But with the capability of manufacturing steel castings as heavy as 180,000 pounds, the largest in the country, plans are to make castings for nuclear power plants, ships and other heavy equipment used in the cement and mining industries." [mcall]
Three images from MyCompanies. This site also provides details about its corporate history and product lines.
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"Birdsboro Steel Foundry and Machine Company traces its beginnings back to 1740 when William Bird built a forge, a saw mill and grist mill and founded the town of Birdsboro. His oldest son, Marcus, enlarged on his father’s work and constructed Hopewell Furnace. He was the largest producer of iron in America during the Revolutionary War." [BerksHistoryMysteries]
Pennsy Depot
Robert Wanner posted three photos with the comment: "Pennsylvania Railroad, Schuylkill Branch, Birdsboro, Pa. in 1952. Train time at the PRR Birdsboro, Pa station as Sunday-only Train 686 arrives and departs on its return trip from Reading to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Surprisingly there is a good group of passengers alighting this day, maybe a hiking group returning to the big city. Photos by Robert Wanner."
Jay Krajcovic shared
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Pennsy Freight House
Gregory D. Pawelski posted three photos with the comment: "Pennsylvania Railroad Schuylkill Branch Freight Depot at W. 1st & S. Furnace Streets. in Birdsboro, Pa. - Then, Then and Now."
Alexander Mitchell shared with the comment: "Another one bites the dust, sadly."
Jim Kelling: Is it supposed to be reassembled somewhere else, or is that not happening?
Alexander Mitchell: Disassembled for future potential relocation, apparently by a private firm.
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If I "drive" street view to the left to get rid of the signs, it switches to 2019 photos.
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| Street View, May 2023 |
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| Street View, Apr 2025 |
Of course, I had to check out the feed mills in the background of Gregory's photos.
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| Street View, May 2023 |
Pennsy Tower
Darren Reynolds posted six photos with the comment:
Conrails (Ex-PRR)"Brooke" towerBirdsboro, Pennsylvania
Tim Shanahan shared
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| 1 "Brooke" tower in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania.. Photo & Date: Unknown |
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| 2 Inside of "Brooke" tower on November 23,1974... Photo by: Robert Staples |
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| 3 "Brooke" tower on Nov 23,1074 Photo by: Robert Staples |
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| 4 The interlocking at "Brooke" tower on November 23,1974 Photo by: Robert Staples |
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| 5 A couple of Baldwin switchers do there job in front of "Brooke" tower on July 1964 |
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| 6 "Brooke" tower way back in August 1930 Photo by: Henry Wilhelm NRHS |
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| Mark Jurasinski commented on Darren's post Simplified sketch of the track arrangement. |
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| Mark Jurasinski commented on Darren's post A different view of the levers taken ten years earlier in October 1964. And, yes, the model board was saved and is in the good hands of a private collector. |
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