RELOCATION OF THE ROUNDHOUSES
"DOYLE" PLAN OF 1873
The first significant plan to relocate the Union Station was proposed in 1873 by a commission appointed by Mayor Doyle. The plan proposed a stub-end terminal on the Cove which was reached from the north by a route around Smith's Hill diverting from the original P&W route near Branch Avenue and running through Pleasant Valley. It was not until 1890 that an acceptable plan was reached for the Union Station that served Providence from 1898 until 1986.
The Doyle plan of 1873 provided each of the railroads terminating on the Providence Cove with its own roundhouse. Each was drawn on the plan with a 160 foot diameter, only 10 feet more than the NYP&B roundhouse built 25 years before. The roundhouses were to be located near the foot of Dean Street around Federal Hill. Notice the Rhode Island Locomotive Works on what is now Hemlock Street. The RILW opened in 1866 and had built about 600 locomotives by 1873.
NEW YORK, PROVIDENCE & BOSTON'S ACORN STREET ROUNDHOUSE
The NYP&B purchased land on Acorn Street in 1883 to build a new roundhouse to replace the antiquated structure near the Union Station. Presumably the location about a mile west of the old roundhouse took into account the likelyhood that plans for a new Union Station would not allow for a closer engine facility. The new building was finished in 1886 with twelve stalls but in 1889 its size was increased to twenty stalls. In 1892 the New York, New Haven & Hartford gained control of the NYP&B which in turn controlled the P&W. In that year the New Haven also acquired the Old Colony which controlled the B&P. Since the NYNH&H now operated the new Charles Street and Oregon Street Roundhouses which were much larger and convenient than Acorn Street it was inevitable that the relatively new NYP&B structure would be closed although I do not know the date.
Route 10 / Route 6 are built over the location of the Acorn Street Roundhouse which was at the foot of Federal Hill.
The spur that runs up Ashley Street serves the Rhode Island Locomotive Works which was located at Valley and Hemlock Streets.
The RILW built about 3,000 locomotives, many of which went to the New Haven and its predecessors.
New York, Providence & Boston 46 was photographed on the Acorn Street turntable not long after delivery from the Rhode Island Locomotive Works in 1889.
The 0-6-0 switcher became New Haven 346 and in 1904 was classified U-1-a number 2515. It was retired in 1923.
New York, Providence & Boston 40 "J.W.Miller", was built by the Rhode Island Locomotive Works as a 4-4-0 but had a trailing axle added to spread weight. The rear axle was eventually removed. "Miller" became New Haven C-2 Class 4-4-0 1697. Photographed on the Acorn Street turntable.
New York, Providence & Boston 49 was built by Manchester in 1890
and was retired in 1926 as New Haven G-2-c class 4-6-0 number 972.
The houses to the rear of the Acorn Street Roundhouse are along West Exchange Street.
NYB&B 34 was built by Rhode Island in 1893 and retired in 1917 as NYNH&H C-2 1703.
NYP&B 47 was built by Manchester in 1890 and retired in 1917 as NYNH&H D-3b 1880.
CHARLES STREET AND OREGON STREET ROUNDHOUSES
Although a final decision regarding a new Union Station was not made until 1890, it was clear that the P&W and B&P roundhouses on Gaspee Street were outdated and would have to go regardless of which station arrangement was settled on. The Providence & Worcester made the first move in 1888 and four years later Boston & Providence moved to the same area west of Charles Street. By the time of the move the P&W was leased to the New York, Providence & Boston and the B&P to the Old Colony. By 1895, not long after construction of the new passenger and freight terminal began, the New Haven gained effective control of all the railroads in Providence and the new terminal was not a union station at completion. The two roundhouses were very similar in design and size. The space between them was taken by the New Haven for a passenger yard since the area close to the new station was used for freight.
The Oregon Street Roundhouse (top) and Charles Street Rhounhouse (bottom) c. 1895. Although from the map it may look like the facilities should have been named after Oriental Street, Charles and Oregon were more directly associated with the roundhouses.
A view of the Charles Street Roundhouse when it was relatively new. The ash pit is being cooled with water. The coaling dock was on the left. The brick building on the right was later used as a supply house but probably had a mixed purpose at the time.
THE CHARLES STREET ROUNDHOUSE WHEN NEW
Providence &Worcester No. 4, "D.R.Arnold" was built by Rhode Island in 1881. It was renumbered 2821, Class X-7,
by the New Haven and sold in 1907
THE PROVIDENCE "WRECK" TRAIN AT CHARLES STREET
The train was kept ready at the roundhouse for a fast response to accidents which were not infrequent.
New Haven 327 was built by the Rhode Island Locomotive Works in 1880 as New York, Providence & Boston 27
and was C-2 Class 1705 when retired in 1917.