Connecticut Valley Railroad Roundhouse and Turntable Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Connecticut Valley Railroad Roundhouse and Turntable Site
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Off Main Street in Fort Saybrook Monument Park in Saybrook Point, Old Saybrook, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1871 |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000395 |
| Added to NRHP | April 28, 1994 |
The Connecticut Valley Railroad Roundhouse and Turntable Site is a historic spot in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. It was once a busy place for trains! Here, you can find the remains of a roundhouse and a turntable. These were built way back in 1871 by the Connecticut Valley Railroad.
This site is special because it sits on top of something even older. It's built partly on the remains of Fort Saybrook. This fort was a very important defense for the early Saybrook Colony in the 1600s. Today, the roundhouse and turntable are the only parts left of what was once a much larger railroad area. This site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
What is a Roundhouse and Turntable?
A roundhouse was a special building for trains. Imagine a big, circular garage for locomotives (train engines). It had many "bays" or stalls where trains could be parked. Workers would clean, repair, and get the engines ready for their next trip. The Connecticut Valley Railroad's roundhouse had six bays. Its foundations were made of strong brick and stone.
A turntable worked with the roundhouse. It was a giant spinning platform. Trains would drive onto it, and then the platform would rotate. This allowed the train to turn around or move onto a different track. It was like a huge lazy Susan for trains! The turntable here had a concrete base. You can still see parts of these structures today in the park. Signs help explain what they were used for.
Building the Railroad
The Connecticut Valley Railroad started in 1868. It began running trains just three years later, in 1871. The trains traveled between Saybrook Point and Hartford. They also connected to another train line at the Saybrook Junction station.
The railroad was very important for moving people and goods. It helped connect towns and cities in Connecticut. Over time, things changed. The train service to Saybrook Point stopped in 1922. After that, the railroad facilities, including the roundhouse and turntable, were no longer used.
Discovering the Past
For many years, the old railroad facilities were hidden. But in 1981 and 1982, archaeologists started digging. They carefully uncovered parts of the roundhouse and turntable. This helped us learn more about how the railroad worked.
The area around the roundhouse was once much bigger. It had other buildings like an icehouse and a coal bin. There was also a dock for steamboats and a signal tower. Experts believe that the remains of these other buildings are still buried nearby. The parts that were dug up are now visible in Fort Saybrook Monument Park. They remind us of a time when trains were a major part of life.
