FEBT Restoration – Car Shed

Rockhill Car Shed in 1999
Rockhill Car Shed in 1999

The Maintenance Car Shed is a small building near the south end of the yard. It was built to house hand or gas powered maintenance-of-way cars or trailers and other track maintenance supplies. It is unknown when the building was constructed, but it appears to date from 1910s or 1920s. It was connected to the main track by a short “jigger” track that allowed track cars to be rolled out and positioned onto the track.

The building had been unused for at least 30 years and likely more than 40. By the late 1990s it had become severely deteriorated. Largely overgrown and devoid of siding on its south wall, it was on the verge of collapse.

Rockhill Car Shed under restoration in 2002
Rockhill Car Shed under restoration in 2002

In early 2002 a crew of EBT and trolley museum volunteers cleared the brush and trees away from the building and jacked it back into level. They removed and re-framed the south wall, part of the south roof gable, and the south floor beam. From there, the FEBT work crew started work on the building, our first project in Rockhill. The crew modified the framing to accommodate a replica window opening and applied reproduction siding. The siding on the other three walls was replaced where needed. The south roof received a layer of period rolled roofing and the north roof had its tile roof repaired. New trim was applied across the building and reproduction doors were built and applied. The rear window sash was repaired and reinstalled and a replica was built and installed in the south wall. Inside, the shelving on the south wall has been recreated and the rail boards reinstalled on the floor.

During a severe windstorm in early 2008 the replica rolled roofing was destroyed and had to be replaced with more modern and durable shingles. Otherwise the restoration is complete and it has been returned to its common carrier appearance. The building is now periodically used for its original purpose of storing motor car trailers.