Newton Roundhouse

When the railroad laid tracks through Newton in the early 1870s, one of the many necessities that followed was a locomotive roundhouse. The first was built in 1871 but it burned in 1880. It was rebuilt in 1888 with nine stalls. Four more stalls were added in 1891. Santa Fe division headquarters had moved to Nickerson in August 1879, In 1897, through tireless efforts of city leaders, the Santa Fe returned and moved the Nickerson Roundhouse to Newton. The native stone roundhouse was dismantled stone by stone, loaded into coal cars and rebuilt as an addition to he Newton roundhouse. This brought the total count to 32 stalls. In 1907, nine more stalls were added. It served the railroad into the 1950s when at 12:01 am on January 1, 1955, it was officially closed and later razed. Today, only the turntable remains.

Photo 1: View looking northeast in the roundhouse area shortly after completing the move from Nickerson to Newton in 1898.

Photo 2: View of Roundhouse, 1950s.

(Billie Wilson)