Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Watertown, NY: CSX/NYC Railyards, Roundhouse, Coal Dock and Water Towers

Pine St. Yard: (Satellite)
Massey Yard: (Satellite)
Old Roundhouse: (Satellite)
New Roundhouse: (Satellite, once again, trees are a monument to polluted land.)
Diesel Fuel Tank: (Satellite, another monument to pollution.)

You haven't lived in Watertown, N.Y., if - posted
The New York Central coal trestle in the Pine Street railroad yard was built in conjunction with the engine terminal and roundhouse constructed in 1918-1919. Situated west of the roundhouse, the coal trestle ran perpendicular to a couple of Sand Flats streets, Casey and Dorsey, while the roundhouse itself was located at the end of Smith (Coleman) Ave. The project was a hastily executed initiative by the Federal Government’s wartime spending effort to improve railroad services and capacities as part of a $1 billion effort. 
Steve Abel: The photo above was taken during a rail workers labor union strike which is why there are over 20 engine/tender combinations parked all over the place.
Robert Sharrott: You haven't lived in Watertown, N.Y., if - what happened to the Pine St railroad yard. Did it become the reserve center, eventually, the Watertown School building?
Bob Kinstrey posted
John E Bush: So is that USRA-pattern 0-8-0 in the foreground. The 10 locomotive designs were completed within months of creation of the administration, itself a remarkable feat, but all were of substantially straightforward mechanical design, and they were generally robust and long-living machines. They were, without much doubt, successful.

Steve Abel commented on Robert's comment
No--most of it was abandoned in 1953 when the present CSX rail yard on outer Massey Street at the city boundary was opened. The major railroads had switched almost all their engines to diesel power and no longer needed all the expensive maintenance facilities and large real estate holdings. And, with everyone mobile in the 1950s, it was easier for railroads to build yards outside of cities where the property tax rates were much, much lower. Much of what WAS the Pine Street NYC yard is where the city industrial park is with the police and sheriff's office and several businesses. Let me know if you want a tour!

Howard James Holub commented on the above post

Steve Abel commented on the above post

This is the coaling dock that the Pine Street Yard had.
Photo by Tom Barker via memoryln
"The length of the coal trestle would be 300 feet and contain 24 pockets."

And where you need coal, you need water.
memoryln
This engine servicing facility was torn down in 1952 because NYC had already switched to diesels.

The old roundhouse was up by the river.
1909/09 Watertown Quad @ 62,500

This shows the roundhouse built during WWI.
1943/43 Watertown Quad @ 31,680

The railyard built for diesels has a wye instead of a turntable to turn engines.
1959/61 Watertown Quad @ 24,000

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