Martinsburg Roundhouse and Bunker Hill Train Shows in West Virginia - 2023 /  by Todd Henson

Today I wanted to share some views of the Martinsburg Roundhouse in West Virginia, an historic railroad site and National Historic Landmark. The photos cover two days in 2023, both when the Bunker Hill Train Club held their model railroad train shows within the roundhouse. We visited the show on April 15 and September 30th.

My goal, of course, was to create some photographs of the site and event that some of you might find interesting. And I did create quite a few, so this is a photo-heavy post. On the first trip in April I had no idea what to expect so I brought my 16-80mm lens, a fairly general purpose lens. It was a very good choice for that location. But even at 16mm I found myself very cramped when inside, so when we returned in September I opted for my 6.5mm fisheye, knowing it would add some distortion but hoping I could capture more of the scene.

Outside Views of the Martinsburg Roundhouse

Below are a number of views of the outside of the roundhouse complex. Towards the end you can see there were two roundhouses at the site but in the early 1990s an arsonist destroyed the second of the two and all that remains of it are parts of the walls and the tracks on the ground.

Arriving at the Bunker Hill Trail Show on April 15, 2023, held at the Martinsburg Roundhouse in West Virginia.

Walking towards the buildings of the Martinsburg Roundhouse. (April 15, 2023)

One of the buildings at the Martinsburg Roundhouse. Nonni's was serving lunch that day. (April 15, 2023)

A view of the Martinsburg Roundhouse. Inside is the Bunker Hill Train Show. (April 15, 2023)

Walking around the Martinsburg Roundhouse. (April 15, 2023)

A view of one of the side rooms/buildings at the Martinsburg Roundhouse in West Virginia. (April 15, 2023)

Outside details of the Martinsburg Roundhouse. (April 15, 2023)

The remains of the second roundhouse at Martinsburg. (April 15, 2023)

Only part of the walls and the ground remain of the second roundhouse in Martinsburg. (April 15, 2023)

Inside Views of the Martinsburg Roundhouse

Inside the roundhouse we get to see views of the Bunker Hill Train Shows and some of the various vendors and visitors. We also get to see some of the core structures of the roundhouse and the adjoining buildings and shops.

A wide view inside the Martinsburg Roundhouse at the Bunker Hill Train Show. This is a wide angle multi-image stitched panorama. Click any photo for a larger view. (April 15, 2023)

A fisheye view of the interior of the Martinsburg Roundhouse while hosting the Bunker Hill Train Show. (September 30, 2023)

A fisheye view of the interior of the Martinsburg Roundhouse showing the actual rotating center. (September 30, 2023)

Another fisheye view inside the roundhouse. (September 30, 2023)

Looking across the rotating center inside the Martinsburg Roundhouse in West Virginia. (September 30, 2023)

Another view of the rotating center inside the roundhouse. To get this view I held the camera above my head and angled it down, experimenting until I found the right angle. (September 30, 2023)

Even with the fisheye lens I wasn’t able to capture the entirety of the ceiling inside the Martinsburg Roundhouse. (September 30, 2023)

The domed ceiling was interesting enough to me I photographed it both days, this time with a 16mm (non-fisheye) lens. (April 15, 2023)

The interior of one of the rooms/buildings attached to the roundhouse. It was empty on April 14, 2023, but on September 30, 2023 it had some local vendors inside. (April 15, 2023)

At the very end of the previous photo is a door leading to this very dark workroom. This was a fisheye view with attempted perspective corrections in Adobe Lightroom. (September 30, 2023)

Details inside one of the shops at the Martinsburg Roundhouse. This was a fisheye view with attempted perspective corrections in Adobe Lightroom. (September 30, 2023)

Another detail view inside one of the shops at the Martinsburg Roundhouse. This was a fisheye view with attempted perspective corrections in Adobe Lightroom. (September 30, 2023)

Parting View of the Martinsburg Roundhouse

And finally, we part with a wider view taken from outside the fence, though I was reaching my arms over it to hold the camera just inside. It shows the back portion of the area. Across the tracks you can see some of the town of Martinsburg, along with the active railroad station.

A parting view of the back side of the Martinsburg Roundhouse complex. (April 15, 2023)

I hope you’ve enjoyed these views of the Martinsburg Roundhouse in West Virginia and two of the Bunker Hill Train Club’s Train Shows in 2023.

Click here to learn more about the Bunker Hill Train Club.

And click here to learn more about the Martinsburg Roundhouse in the City of Martinsburg, West Virginia.

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Nature’s Ornaments /  by Todd Henson

Nature’s Ornaments

This is a photo I lost track of and likely should have processed and posted around the holidays. But I’ve found it and I’m posting it now.

This photo shows cones from an eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) hanging like ornaments on a Christmas tree. The photo was created on August 19th of 2023 at Blandy Experimental Farm, the State Arboretum of Virginia. I loved the look of the cones and was drawn to this arrangement with the tree in the background providing a nice blue-green backdrop for the cone.

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The Well of Segais /  by Todd Henson

The Well of Segais

It’s funny, I recall last I wrote you I stood at a crossroads. There was a path to the left and one to the right. I had to choose which to follow, and surely I must have chosen for I’m no longer there. But I don’t recall which path I took. I’m now hopelessly lost. I don’t know there’s any value in my continued correspondence with you as it must be impossible these words will ever reach you, and more impossible still you could follow my path if I can’t even recall how I came to be here. But, ever the documentarian, I continue putting down my thoughts on the wonders I’ve been fortunate to discover. And I continue capturing photographic evidence that what I write is true.

 I have no grasp how long I travelled after passing by the crossroads. It could have been weeks ago. Or perhaps earlier this morning. Time has no meaning in this realm. Nor does direction, as I can hardly tell up from down, much less north from south. And modern concepts like gravity? Hah! Water might just as easily be found floating before you as resting on the ground below your feet. I discovered this when I stumbled upon what must be The Well of Segais. Never had I expected to see such a sight, one with such history if only in myth. But this journey has proven there may be more to myth than we know.

Now that I’ve found it, what shall I do? Shall I search for the nuts from the nine hazelnut trees? Or dare I approach the waters? Dare I break the surface reaching for the salmon that must surely swim within? Oh, such knowledge I might possess. Would I be allowed this? Or would I share a fate similar to that of Boann? I doubt my mortal mind was made for such as could be found here. I suspect I will simply document, and continue my journey, writing you these missives, hoping you may one day read them and know the truth of their words.

I must say farewell for now. I hear something on the wind through the trees. It may not be safe for me here. I must move on. I will write again when and if I’m able. Stay strong and guard these letters well!

Another Inverted Worlds image and story. I hope you’re enjoying them, even if they are a bit different from the usual depictions of nature I most often write about. And I must apologize for my unabashed borrowing of ancient myth and lore for the little details in the story above. I don’t currently know much of this lore but have enjoyed doing a little research, just enough to discover what a rich and expansive depth there is yet to be explored. 

I don’t yet know where this will lead, or if this will be the last of these posts. Time will tell.

If you’d like to read the previous chapters:

  1. The Gateway to Fairyland

  2. Playground of the Fae

Do you enjoy these posts?

Sign up to receive periodic emails with updates and thoughts. Don’t worry, I won’t spam you. And please consider purchasing artwork or products from my online store, and using my affiliate links in the sidebar to the right when shopping online.

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