The historic railroad facility in Silvis is getting new life and new amenities to tell the story of railroading.
Work has started on the installation of a new railroad turntable and roundhouse at the National Railway Equipment (NRE) complex at 1101 Second Ave. North.
A railroad roundhouse is a building used for servicing and storing locomotives, traditionally built around a central turntable. These buildings were essential for maintaining steam engines by providing facilities for repairs and daily upkeep, with tracks leading into different stalls, each serving a specific purpose. A railroad turntable is a large, circular platform that rotates to turn locomotives and railcars, allowing them to change direction.
The entire project could cost $15 million. The turntable portion of the project, expected to cost about $2.5 million, could be complete in the summer of 2027, according to leaders of the nonprofit group that owns the Silvis facility.
“All of this is funded by donation to our nonprofit organization. We do have a few major donors that have pledged donations to get the project started. Because we don’t have all of the funds, we do not have a completion date at this time,” Steve Sandberg, president and chief operating officer of the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA), owner of the Silvis complex, told the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal on Monday, Nov. 24.
RRHMA officials recently announced that the first steps were taken in this project when contractors began demolition of the original roundhouse foundation in preparation for the new foundation to take its place. This long-awaited project is a major milestone in RRHMA’s mission to preserve and showcase Midwestern railroad history.
The Silvis train facility was bought a couple of years ago by RRHMA, a Minneapolis-based railroad heritage organization. That group is using the facility to restore and repair train cars, and eventually open a train-themed museum there.
RRHMA’s latest project centers on a new 135-foot turntable, donated by BNSF Railway. It will be installed near the original turntable’s location at the Silvis shops. Once completed, the fully operational turntable will be the largest preserved turntable in the United States.
“This project takes our organization to a whole new level,” said Mr. Sandberg in a news release. “We are thrilled to break ground on the turntable and roundhouse … Our vision is to make Silvis a national hub of living railroad history – a place where we can preserve and operate vintage trains and share that experience with the public for generations to come.”
According to RRHMA, the new turntable and roundhouse will serve several key purposes including:
- Operational use: The fully functional turntable will allow RRHMA crews to easily reposition locomotives and railcars, just as railroads did in the steam era. This capability is crucial for servicing and operating large steam locomotives such as Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985, which is currently in the restoration process at the Silvis facility.
- Public exhibit: The accompanying roundhouse-style building will serve as a living museum where visitors can experience historic railroad equipment in an authentic setting. During special events and open houses, guests will be able to see the massive turntable in action and tour the locomotives and railcars housed in the roundhouse.
- Restoration facility: By constructing a multi-stall roundhouse, RRHMA gains much-needed covered space to protect and maintain its fleet of vintage locomotives and cars. The roundhouse will revive part of the Silvis site’s original purpose, once again housing engines under a sheltering roof for upkeep and display, just as the Rock Island Railroad did decades ago.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, RRHMA said it is seeking financial support from donors, businesses, and volunteers to support the turntable and roundhouse project.
