A lot of shortlines used the roundhouse/engine house to store locos because they did not run continuously. The big RRs like the Pennsy, NYC, UP etc were 24/7 operations. Many shortlines were daytime only and maybe not 7 days a week especially as passenger service dwindled. Consider the EBT, they have an 8 stall engine house, and they store 6 steamers, and the Gas Electric in it and who knows waht else. I think they have a smalle diesel or 2.
I think were many back woods shortlines run/ran, land was cheaper than hardware. This is just an opinion, but I think they would find it cheaper and easier to maintain a few switches and track than a turntable. and it would probably be easier to buy the land than the TT. Most of these places are pretty rural, not urban, and prior WWII say, land was pretty cheap.
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