Large Scale Central

Rail History: Ludlow Depot, Massachusetts

A couple days ago I visited my new job location. It’s still under construction, but nearly done. The first photo is an abandoned locomotive shed across the street from the company’s new building. The other two images are of the ceiling inside our new space. One is in the cafe area and the other is in the kitchen space.
We aren’t working here quite yet, but we will be soon! I am told there is plaques along the rail trail explaining some of the area history. So, I plan to check those out soon.

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Cool space. I love repurposed old mills and industrial sites.

Some more photos of where I now work.

First, a quick shot of the floor. This appears to be narrow-gauge track in the floor (now under our new epoxy).

Now, some more interior shots of the bakery. Mostly the ceiling. This pulley system is throughout the building. Does anyone have an idea what it may have been used for? Originally I was thinking working on rail equipment, but now I’m thinking that’s not the case.

Finally, some more shots of the train shed across the road from our building. I took these yesterday before work. There’s still quite a bit of track in the ground and even an entire old rail bed beside the shed. I’d love to get in that shed, if I could.

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Maybe a cloth mill?

Eric

That pulley system powered all the tools of the day. Belt drive to what ever they needed :sunglasses:

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I should have realized that… Thank you David. Water-powered belts drove whatever was in here. Like Eric said, it certainly could have been a mill. It’s smaller than most area mill buildings though. Maybe a RR machine shop?

An aside, when we first moved into this house 20+ years ago, an old building a couple streets down was being torn down for the wood, and the company was offering all the belts and line pulleys for free to whoever could take them down that weekend. I’m still sad I never tried to get a team together to do that.

Good Luck Thus weekend John, I hope you both well wishes …

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Sean;

There is still a remnant of (very - less than 24 inch) narrow-gauge track embedded in the sidewalk outside the older N&W General Office Building in Roanoke, VA. The light rail line was used to take parcels and mail trackside (about 50 to 100 feet beyond the building). In the 19th century a lot of light rail lines were used for (manual) labor saving devices.

Regards, David Meashey

John I don’t know if they have powered it up yet but East Broad Top
s shop is still as it was when shut down I’m sure a Friend of member on here can tell you if it’s all still ready to roll, belts and all. Tis really a beautiful sight to see

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What a cool buiding, John!

Have you looked into the Sanborn maps for Ludlow? You should be able to find a set / year that has your RR track, and maybe the engine house and your building. Since it’s some sort of mill or factory, it might say what its use was as of the map date.

If you haven’t seen it already, here’s a set from 1919, I expect there are others.

FWIW, here’s a couple of line shaft videos I took at Knight’s Foundry in CA a few years ago. It used to be operated by a Pelton wheel, but now from a motor.

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Hopefully he’s going on his honeymoon :grin:

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