Yet another steam-era locomotive facility is to be demolished soon with seemingly no whimpers of protest, this time in Two Harbors, Minnesota. Testing for contaminants must be conducted first, and surprisingly, an archeological survey of the roundhouse site will also be conducted, delaying demolition about 120 days. A review by the National Park Service will also take place.
City officials are eager to see the decayed buildings removed.
The Two Harbors facility was the road s main locomotive repair shop until the 1960 demise of steam. The nearby Proctor roundhouse is still in use, with a newer attached diesel shop. A second diesel shop was once proposed for Two Harbors, but later deemed redundant and was never built. No. 315, long a decaying fixture in a local park at Durango, Colorado. The group has begun replacing some rotted wood parts, but hopes for eventual restoration to operating condition.