| This was the Illinois Central Gulf shop complex at McComb, looking south from the Pearl River Ave. overpass. From left to right are a red wooden shed which was attached to the Boiler Shop, the Boiler Shop, and the Blacksmith Shop. In the center, with SAFETY FIRST above the doors, is the Locomotive Shop; and behind it, with the sawdust collector, is the Woodworking Shop. Any work which required lifting an engine was done outside on the west side of the Locomotive Shop, using the overhead gantry crane. The north end of the car shop can be seen at the upper right. Up until the 1950's, a 30-stall roundhouse was located in the open area on the left, north of the 85-foot turntable. Most of the brick shop buildings were built in 1888. |