KINGFIELD DEPOT REPORT
JUNE 27, 2003
BOB TROUP
Webmaster's Note: What follows is a report to the SR&RL Board of Directors produced at the end of June, 2003. It is strictly the webmaster's proposal to the board and may not represent the final action taken, if any. That being said, we are now soliciting quotes and suggestions from professional movers to the goal of accomplishing something like what is put forward below. THE PROBLEM is that we do not have the money to pay for this move ($15,000-$30,000), and without it, the building will be lost!!! [2010 footnote: It was lost. ALL GONE.]
Preface:
As some of you know, we have been offered the Kingfield Depot for the cost of moving it and restoring the site to level. The existing proposal put forward by Bill Berry is to clear the picnic area just below the museum, cut the building into manageable section, or reduce it to panels, and reassemble the structure in the picnic area, eventually removing the existing museum/bunkhouse/car shed structure. The problems with this proposal are the size of the building (even as panels), how to move it, and how to get it to this location. The author supports this basic proposal, with a few further suggestions.
The Report:
Bob Troup and Noah MacAdam visited Kingfield on June 25, 2003. We were able to gain entry of the depot with the permission of the Knapp Brothers Automobile Dealership (the current owners).
Overall length and width were measured (we’ll only claim +/-3 inch accuracy), as well as the height from the doorsill to under the roof at the bay window/door. These key dimensions were used to scale the photographs taken, resulting in the drawing of Figure #1. For those that can’t read the dimensions on figure #1, the Passenger portion is 49’ long, the Freight portion is 38’ long, and both portions are 20’ 6" wide exclusive of roof overhang. The Bay door structure and dormer over the center Passenger portion door add 3’ to the width making the overall passenger portion 23’ 6" wide.
We were quite pleasantly surprised by the generally good condition of the building, inside and out. There is much interior woodwork in the Passenger portion of the structure that can be preserved/restored. There is even a wood ceiling above the current suspended ceiling. In other words, most of the original interior is still there.
The main detraction from the building is the shed addition that was placed on the track side of the building to support use as a residence after the railroad was abandoned. There were also interior walls added to create several rooms for this same purpose. This resulted in partitioning of a third of the Passenger portion abutting the Freight portion, as well as about 25% of the Freight portion. If there is any significant loss of the original interior walls, it is in this area.
Given the interior quality of the passenger side of the depot, it is the author’s feeling that an effort should be made to move this portion intact. If it can not be moved fully intact, then the next best thing would be to cut it off above the ceiling line and re-splice or replace that upper portion. The intent here is to move it without destroying the depot’s interior. This clearly prohibits making the move directly to Phillips via Rte 142 due to the one tight bridge clearance (14' H, [18' ?] W). But, even if the building was disassembled into panels, some panels would not fit through that bridge!
Move Proposal:
Challenge:
I recognize that there will be those that flinch at this proposal, but I think it is the best way to get the structure while retaining most of its value. If nothing else, I challenge you all to come up with a better proposal.
See Jones, Two Feet Between the Rails, V2, p325 for a Linwood Moody photograph of the building as it appeared in common carrier days.
