From historic railroad signal poles to a towering SP&S 700 tire and a locomotive bell that actually rings, the outdoor plaza is designed to immerse you in the wonder of railroading from the moment you arrive.
The Brooklyn Roundhouse Railroad Turntable is the centerpiece of the plaza. Built by the American Bridge Company in 1924, the turntable was installed in Southeast Portland’s Brooklyn Rail Yard for use by the Southern Pacific Railroad. The primary function of the turntable was to rotate locomotives, allowing them to be directed onto different tracks or into the roundhouse for maintenance and repairs. After 75 years of operation, the turntable was decommissioned in 1999, and the Brooklyn Roundhouse was demolished in 2012. The turntable was then donated to the ORHC. It has since been restored and reconstructed and is once again operable today. You can often find a locomotive or caboose displayed on the turntable in the plaza.