Since moving to Winchester, Virginia, I have had a good time exploring the local fire departments. The Winchester and Western Railroad runs very close to several fire departments within Frederick County, which surrounds Winchester.
This is Round Hill Station 15 in Frederick County. While heading out the other evening for dinner, we heard the train cross busy Route 50 West near my home. Once we caught up with the train, I knew it was heading towards Round Hill so me made a stop and waited the short time for it to arrive.
Obviously, the tracks go right across the front apron of Station 15. Hope the big one never hits when the train is coming through. I have been told that the fire department is rarely delayed waiting for a train to pass and most of the trains are shorter in length.
Hope you enjoy the photos.
Photo 1 - Winchester and Western approaching Fire Station 15.
Warwick, NY has a rail line that runs right through the center of the village. That's one of the key reasons why they built a third station on the south side of the tracks.....it's not uncommon for the whole village to be cut in half by a passing freight, and the south side would have no access (or fire protection) for a time until the train passed.
Agree with the others.....that looks very odd to have the track run right across the apron of the firehouse like that. Definitely not something you see every day (unless you live there, of course!)
Chatham, NY is similar, although the bays on side of the station allow most of the rigs to dump out onto a side street. A shot from May 2001 when I first started seriously buffing.
Ed Harvey
[url="http://www.fireservicephotography.com/"][size=2]Fire Service Photography[/url][/size]
"In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." -Dwight D. Eisenhower
All fires will go out; and all bleeding will stop - eventually.
[quote name='WAGONMAN' date='03 October 2009 - 10:46 PM' timestamp='1254623165' post='340713']
Great shots, fire apparatus, train and a Sterling house siren, doesn't get any better than that.
[/quote]
You old bird, you noticed the sterling!! <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/luxhello.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />
Good photos by the way...
John Hinant Retired Member of Richmond VA Fire Bureau
October 25, 1858 - October 25, 2020 = 162 years old The sixth oldest paid, documented, Fire Department in the United States First established in 1782
"In God We Trust - All Others We Take For Granted"
[quote name='AndyC3J' date='03 October 2009 - 10:30 PM' timestamp='1254622257' post='340708']
Warwick, NY has a rail line that runs right through the center of the village. That's one of the key reasons why they built a third station on the south side of the tracks.....it's not uncommon for the whole village to be cut in half by a passing freight, and the south side would have no access (or fire protection) for a time until the train passed.
Agree with the others.....that looks very odd to have the track run right across the apron of the firehouse like that. Definitely not something you see every day (unless you live there, of course!)
[/quote]
Oneida NY used to have two stations, when the city was bisected by the New York Central RR 4 track mainline. A tragedy happened one night in Sept. 1963 when their open cab 1955 Ward LaFrance collided with a passing freight. Both firemen on the truck were killed.
John Kenealy
[url="http://www.cnyfiretrucks.com"]CNYFiretrucks.com: Over 5200 photos of apparatus from over 1000 New York State Departments![/url]
So I guess there's no hose testing on the ramp then huh? <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />
Doesn't the railroad right-of-way extend 100 feet either side of the track centerline? Was the fire station built on RR ROW?
Phil, Bklyn.
[/quote]
Phil, the centerline of a railroad right of way does not depend upon the location of the tracks. There are various ways to determine the centerline depending on the railroad, but it is possible that the tracks could be laid anywhere within the ROW. Plus, most railroads do not have a ROW that is over 100' wide.
John Kenealy
[url="http://www.cnyfiretrucks.com"]CNYFiretrucks.com: Over 5200 photos of apparatus from over 1000 New York State Departments![/url]
Our fire station is only about 100 yards from the railroad tracks. I will have to get a pic but there are a lot of trees in the way covering the tracks, can't get a good view of the train but I will try.
Jason Knecht
Fire Inspector
Township Fire Dept., Inc.
Eau Claire, WI
The tracks parallel Railroad Ave, in Boykins, Va, and are maybe 75 feet from the front of the station. The tracks also bisect the town, and the possibility of a train blocking the tracks and delaying response has been an issue of discussion for decades.
I'll have to grab a couple of pics next time I'm down that way.
Engine 1 to all units, we've got a glow in the sky!
If God's not a Hokie, Then why do the leaves turn Maroon and Orange in the Fall?
My [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotowun/"]Flickr Account[/url]
[quote name='Jamie' date='03 October 2009 - 10:19 PM' timestamp='1254621592' post='340702']
I have never seen that before. It's amazing the dept put up with that location for so long. How long has the station been there?
Worst case scenario a train is going by and goes into emergency while still blocking the apron.
[/quote]
<img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_crazy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I see the alarmists are upset, so here are a few facts...
This is not the CSX or NS or UP or BNSF mainline, just a backcountry shortline that hauls 1 commodity; GLASS Sand, so no hazmat.
RR was built in 1918 to Gore, extended to Wardensville,WV in 1921 to haul out timber.Abandoned back to Gore by 1944 after timber played out. A sand/silica quarry became the main industry, there was only 1 train a WEEK until 1978, when the quarry was bought by Unisil,Inc., and the RR was upgraded to be capable of heavier loads/engines.
The VFC was built in 1957, obviously they were not concerned with the RR's 1 train/week then. The VFC has plans for a new station, but it will probably be on the almost 10 acres they own there.
The twice-daily trains are seldom more than 15-20 cars since 2 locos can only haul that many over the 3% grades on the line.
Mike, you should put up another photo of Gainesboro where the original station is about 20' from the tracks?!
' /> 
![[Image: IMAG0400.jpg]](http://www.cnyfiretrucks.com/IMAG0400.jpg)
New York
' />
' /> I see the alarmists are upset, so here are a few facts...
Facebook
Google
Reddit
Twitter