Rocklin’s Roundhouse, 1867 to 1908

"Did You Know? Rocklin’s Roundhouse: 1867 to 1908" by Gary Day, © The Placer Herald, 5/8/08. (News Article)

"Rocklin's roundhouse included 25 engine stalls, a turntable and an 8,000-square-foot woodshed. It was demolished in 1912 after the operation relocated to Roseville. ... Judah’s plan in 1863 was to build a roundhouse at Junction, now Roseville, to service the extra engines that would be needed to help trains surmount the Sierra. But Judah died that year and new CP managers decided to build the roundhouse at Rocklin instead, closer to the point where the rail bed steepens as it heads toward Auburn. ... In 1869 the woodshed burned and was quickly rebuilt. In 1873 the roundhouse burned again as its roof was being tarred. The fire destroyed ten engines and damaged several coaches but the facility continued to function without interruption. ... By April 1908 the railroad had moved all roundhouse operations to Roseville and the Rocklin facility closed permanently. ... Rocklin’s roundhouse employed 300 people. The monthly payroll was $25-30,000. ... Rocklin’s population declined by 80 percent as roundhouse workers abandoned their homes or moved them to Roseville on flatcars." [More]

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