Event

Age of Steam Roundhouse Tour

The Age of Steam Roundhouse near Sugarcreek, Ohio and just recently completed, is an authentic railroad-industrial archetype built for the storage of the owner's collection of railroad steam locomotives. The owner, recently retired, was the developer of the Ohio Central Railroad System during which time he bought and restored steam locomotives and operated them over the system. The new roundhouse was built to evoke the imagery of an early industrial era when the railroad industry was investing heavily in modernization and efficiency. It is an exceptional facility of brick bearing wall and heavy timber construction. This tour will focus on the design, construction procedures and adaptation of this early type of construction to modern needs and requirements.

The tour will begin with general description of the design to the group. Guides will then point out to smaller tour groups specific issues with heavy bearing wall masonry, characteristics of heavy timber post and beam framing, characteristics of long span heavy timber trusses, characteristics of heavy poured concrete construction and methods of placement. Tours will proceed through an attached modern repair shop showing adaptation of this traditional style building to a modern industrial facility. The tour will end as a full group with q question and answer session with key project personnel.