The Last Days of the
Carbondale Roundhouse
Featuring the Photography of Kenny Ganz
In the early 1990's Photographer Kenny Ganz visited the remains of the Delaware and Hudson's Carbondale Roundhouse.  Decades had passed since smoke from one of the D&H's locomotive's drifted over this once magnificent facility and the effects of time, vandalism and mother nature were clearly evident. 

The roundhouse in Carbondale was one of the larger engine servicing facilities on the D&H system.  On eht Penn Division, Carbondale was as far south as the D&H ran their fantastic challenger locomotives in regular service and the size and scope of the building reflected its use as a the turnaround point for these huge engines.  The Carbondale Roundhouse also featured a rare combination of brick, wood and concrete construction; as the east side of the building eventually succumbed to fire, only this skeletal concrete frame remained.

After the railroad converted to diesel motive power the Carbondale engine servicing area would become somewhat redundant and see less and less use.  In the 1970's the D&H re-routed trains off the old Penn Division onto the old DL&W main, thereby completely bypassing Carbondale.  The line was kept in place North from Scranton to Carbondale, but the former railroad town would become little more than a location at the end of a branchline.  Having no use for an engine servicing facility in Carbondale, the bulk of the freight yeard and the roundhouse area was eventually sold to an area scrap dealer.  The 125 ft turntable was removed, it's pit filled in.  In its later years the once proud 42 stall structure housed derelict buses amongst other antiquated machinery and debris.  Even a small steam engine from the Lehigh Valley Coal Company found its way into the building.

The roundhouse would finally meet the wrecking ball in 1997 and become the site of an industrial park which remains largely vacant to this day and sees more sunday joggers than commercial traffic.  Only the powerhouse and coal trestle along with a relatively modern diesel locomotive shed remain today, hinting at once was.

Fortunately these fantastic images remain as well, so join us now for a tour of an amazing facility as it was in its final days!
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