Location: Escanaba, MI - C&NW Roundhouse

The Chicago & North Western roundhouse in Escanaba was a significant locomotive servicing facility. In 1899, it had 33 positions around the turntable. It had a large adjacent machine shop and a large blacksmith shop.

Image info: Top image is a Sanborn map view of the engine house at Escanaba yard. 2nd image is a new 150-ton coal loader, built in 1946 and replacing a dock built in 1880's. This dock only served about 10 years before the railroad was dieselized. [EDP]

Notes

According to notes in the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, it employed 300 men. It had one Fairbanks Morse & Company pump in the machine shop drawing from a cistern which was supplied by city water. A Blake pump in the boiler house next to the wood working ship draws from a cistern also supplied by city water. Electric lights were powered by a Worthington Duplex pump at an electric light plant 500' north of the round house. 14 employees were trained as a fire brigade and there were 5 auxiliary fire alarm boxes which were connected with the city fire department. All shop buildings were whitewashed inside. Boxes of sand were kept in the oil house. The car repair shop was heated by stoves but the main facility was heated by steam. [SBM-1899]

Time Line

1971. May. Pickets have been set up at the C&NW roundhouse at Escanaba by the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen as a result of a national strike. Ore continues to be loaded into boats but no new ore is being brought in. The C&NW has 2 million tons of pellet iron ore in stockpile at Escanaba. Pickets are also in place on the Soo Line in Gladstone but they do not handle ore at that location. [EDP-1971-0517]