Historic Buildings

Jamestown Roundhouse

 

 

 

 

 

 

The historic Jamestown Roundhouse is the center of activity at Railtown, where work ranging from routine inspections to in-depth repairs are performed on steam locomotives. It was built by the Sierra Railway in 1910 to replace the original wood sided roundhouse which burned down that same year. Steam locomotives were serviced and rebuilt under its roof on a near-daily basis until 1955 when the Sierra Railroad purchased diesel locomotives to replace them. Due to the recurring use of the railroad’s steam locomotives in Hollywood movies and Television shows, the building was retained and continues to serve its original intended purpose. The Jamestown Roundhouse is the oldest continuously operating building of its kind in existence in the United States.

 

Machine Shop

The Machine Shop was constructed in 1898 and is one of the oldest buildings in the Jamestown Shop complex. It originally functioned as an engine house for servicing and repairing steam locomotives and was replaced by the original roundhouse in 1900. The building was converted into a Machine Shop at that time and features a wide assortment of historic machinery, most of which were powered by a single 20 Horsepower electric motor via an overhead line shaft and a series of leather belts. This building was essential for maintaining steam locomotives and rail cars, as each of the machines performed a unique task required for their upkeep. This building is one of the only original railroad machine shops still in existence featuring an overhead belt system.

 

Blacksmith Shop

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Blacksmith Shop was built in 1899 and used for fabricating and repairing various metal components used on steam locomotives and rail cars, including bearings, castings, and various tools. As the railroad began downsizing operations, the building was no longer needed and was leased to a local manufacturing company for the production of leaf springs.