2-6-0 #17 (another 3-foot design built by H.K.United Fruit Company 2-6-0 #2 (a 3-footer built by H.K.2-4-2 #242 from Chicago's Brookfield Zoo (built in 1972).Deutche Reichsbahn 0-8-0 #99 (a 2-footer built by Orenstein & Koppel of Germany in 1939).0-4-0T #125 (carrying a gauge of 600 millimeters, it was manufactured by Ceskomoravska Kolben Danek of the Czech Republic in 1940).Their locomotive collection, featuring many foreign designs, includes: They also run scale trains of various size. The Hesston Steam Museum, operated by the LaPorte County Historical Steam Society and based in Hesston, is an organization dedicated to the preservation of steam-powered machines.Īmong their collection are several operating narrow-gauge steam locomotives of various types, leisurely taking passengers on short trips along 2.5 miles of track. To learn more please visit their website by clicking here. They operate numerous excursions east of the Mississippi River throughout the year while their downtown facility in Fort Wayne keeps the locomotive ready for service. Overview Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society/TrainTownīased in New Haven this organization is the official caretaker of the restored and operational Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 #765. Today, according to the Association of American Railroads, 41 different freight railroad continue to operate 4,274 miles of trackage. Stover, mileage peaked at over 7,400 and then slowly declined as other modes of transportation gained favor. Louis, numerous short lines, and even several electrified interurbans like the Chicago, South Shore & South Bend (the "South Shore Line").Īccording to the book, " The Routledge Historical Atlas Of The American Railroads" by author John F. Incredibly, this steep corridor survived until the Conrail era (post-1976)!īy the 1920's, railroads crisscrossed Indiana there were trunk lines to Chicago (New York Central, Pennsylvania, Baltimore & Ohio, and Erie), Southern's line to St. Louis, a Pennsylvania Railroad subsidiary. The M&I later became part of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. It contained an incline operation that began in Madison, north of the intersection at West Main and McIntire Streets, which ran a length of 7,012 feet (1.33 miles).ĭuring this distance it rose 412 feet with a grade of 5.89%, earning it the distinction as the steepest standard gauge main line in the United States. The railroad contained a very unusual and unique design feature for a standard-gauge operation of its length. However, attempts to finish the line, at least to Indianapolis, proved unsuccessful.įinally, the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad Company (M&I) was chartered in early 1843 as another private operation to pick up where the state and the previous contractors had left off.ĭuring the next four years the line was finished in stages until the entire 86 miles was completed to Indianapolis on October 1, 1847. Several more years passed with little work carried out the state attempted to have private contractors take over the endeavor, and they were able to complete a 27.8-mile segment from Madison to Queensville by June 1, 1841. Unfortunately, support failed to materialize and after years of dormancy the state took over the project in 1836 as part of an Internal Improvement Act to improve infrastructure. The system was to run from the Ohio River in a roughly northwesterly direction. If you are interested in intercity/long distance rail travel please visit Amtrak's website.Īccording to an in-depth analysis Trains Magazine published in its January, 2007 issue entitled, " Great Railroading: State-By-State," Indiana's introduction to railroading began when the Madison, Indianapolis & Lafayette Railroad was chartered on Februfor the purpose of linking its namesake cities. Please note! The guide information here pertains only to Indiana scenic train rides related to vacation and tourism destinations. There are some real jewels including the French Lick Scenic Railway (operated by the Indiana Railway Museum), trips offered by the Indiana Transportation Museum, and even excursions hosted by the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum. Today, several museums and a few tourist-based scenic train rides can be found in the state. Better remembered as the "Monon" this company was an important transportation artery until being swallowed by the much larger Louisville & Nashville during the 1970's. Indiana was even home to its very own railroad, the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railway. There were also lines accessing Michigan while powerful southeastern carrier Southern Railway maintained a southern corridor not far from the Ohio River in an effort to reach St. Louis, Indianapolis, and even Kansas City. Several important eastern systems crossed its borders as they sought Midwestern connections at Chicago, St. Indiana has acted as a gateway state since railroading's earliest days.
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