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The Indiana Transportation Museum

The Indiana Transportation Museum is quite similar to the Indiana Railway Museum in its goal to preserve Indiana’s railroading history. The museum is located at Noblesville, Indiana and along with its collection it also operates over 38 miles of ex-Nickel Plate Road (New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad) trackage.

The New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, historically known as simply the Nickel Plate Road, was a medium sized Class I operating in the Midwest from Buffalo and Pittsburgh in the east to Chicago and St. Louis in the west. Although this railroad is usually associated as another David among Goliaths in the Northeast-Midwest rail market it held its own and operated excellent freight service throughout its area of operations. The NYC&StL gained its name, Nickel Plate, from an Ohio newspaper columnist as a compliment for the railroad’s high standard of construction when it was completed and opened in 1881.

Indiana railroading has a rich history dating back to the 1830s and historically has not only been home to the important market of Indianapolis but also a key through route to other important markets like St. Louis (the third busiest gateway behind Chicago and Kansas City) and Chicago. Today, Indiana is home to four of the seven Class I systems and has numerous shortlines, museums and tourist railroads operating with its borders.

Indiana railroading has its beginnings dating back to 1838 when the Madison, Indianapolis & Lafayette Railroad opened its original 15-mile main line from North Madison, Indiana. Much like Illinois, Indiana had virtually no railroads prior to 1840 but this quickly changed by 1880 when the state boasted over 4,000 miles of trackage. As with Illinois, Indiana was one of the few states that had both east-west main lines accessing Chicago and Indianapolis as well as north-south key routes (Louisville & Nashville and Illinois Central).

Indiana railroading is perhaps best remembered and known for the little Monon Railroad (known for years as the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railway until its nickname became the railroad’s official name). With almost no friends and because it depended heavily on bridge traffic, the Monon Route’s owners were seriously considering completely shutting down the railroad after the Great Depression forced the carrier into yet another bankruptcy. Its savior would come in the way of wartime traffic in the early 1940s, which gave the entire industry a much-needed boost after the rough years during and after the depression. After enjoying the prosperity of wartime traffic the Monon gained its most influential president in 1946 who would secure its future, John Barriger.

Today, most of Indiana’s rails are operated by four Class Is; CSX, Norfolk Southern, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific. The rest is operated by shortlines and Regionals which include the Indiana Rail Road; Indiana & Ohio;Chicago Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad; Elkhart & Western Railroad; Evansville Western Railway; Indiana Northeastern Railroad; Indiana Southern Railroad; Lake Michigan and Indiana Railroad; Louisville & Indiana Railroad; Louisville New Albany & Corydon Railroad, and the Respondek Railroad.

While the Indiana Transportation Museum tries to focus its collection on NKP pieces it also showcases pieces from a number of different railroads. Along with the railroad museum’s two operation ex-NKP diesel locomotives, a GP9 and GP7, they also own a fabulous light Mikado steam locomotive, also of ex-NKP lineage numbered 567. So, if nothing else, the steam engine is definitely worth going to the museum to see!

Along with the Indiana Transportation Museum’s fine collection of railroad equipment they also offer a number of different events throughout the year and even have a school programs to teach kids about not only the local area’s railroading but also railroading in general.

For more reading about Indiana's most famous railroad you might want to consider the book, Monon: The Hoosier Line from Gary Dolzall. The little Monon Route, known for years as the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railway until its nickname became the railroad’s official name, was a Midwestern regional that struggled on and off for many years but for the last thirty years of its history did quite well. The Monon was never a large railroad and lived among giants only owning a bit over 500 total miles of track at its peak. As its original name implies it served the cities of Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville and was also a bridge route, hauling traffic for larger railroads like the Southern Railway and Louisville & Nashville. The author gives an excellent history of the railroad in his book with over 200 pictures (all black and white). If you are a fan of the Monon and/or are interested in learning more about the railroad I am sure you will find the book very enjoyable.

Also, for more information and reading about excursion trains and railroad museums you might want to consider picking up Tourist Trains Guidebook from the editors of Kalmbach Publishing's Trains magazine. The book lists and reviews over 400 excursions and museums found throughout the country and is an excellent resource, which has received superb reviews by readers, if you're looking for one to visit. In any event, if you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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