Railroad History

Passenger and Commuter Rail

Railroading Today

Rolling Stock

Infrastructure and Terms

Museums and Tourism

Miscellaneous

About The Site

[?] Subscribe To American-Rails.com

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. While the ITM may not be as large as its neighbor to the west, the Illinois Railway Museum, they do attract a lot of visitors annually and plenty to offer including five operational early EMD model diesel locomotives and they are in the process or restoring an F7 as well as Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 #587 (both of which are nearing operational status). In any event, if you are in the area around Noblesville, Indiana or would like to visit on the finer railroad museums you should consider stopping to the group at the Indiana Transportation Museum.

The history of the Indiana Transportation Museum dates back to 1960 and began as an all-volunteer effort to preserve the state's history of railroads. The group would eventually gain a former Nickel Plate Road line between Indianapolis and Tipton, a distance of about 38-miles (today this property is owned by the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority, which itself is owned by the cities of Fishers, Indianapolis, and Noblesville). For many years the line was not operated for excursion service but also included freight trains operated by shortline Indiana Railroad. However, this service dried up in 2003 when the last remaining customer, a coal-fired power plant switched to natural gas.

Aside from the ITM's excursion trains they also have several display pieces (many of which are listed below) at their headquarters in Noblesville. Interestingly, much of their equipment is diesel locomotives, many of which are former Milwaukee Road units (although they do feature one former Nickel Plate Road switcher), including F7A #72A that they are planning to restore. Additionally, there is one replica depot on site at Fishers (it sits on the foundation of the original once located there, which was originally built by the Lake Erie & Western Railroad). Also, an original LE&W depot is used by the museum; known as Hobbs Station today it was originally located in Arcadia.

Five of the Indiana Transportation Museum's diesel locomotives are currently operational; former Milwaukee Road FP7 #110C (painted as Monon #83A), former Union Pacific GP9 #200, Monon SW1 #DS-50, NKP GE 45-tonner #91, and finally Nickel Plate Road GP7 #426. However, the future pride and joy of ITM will be former Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 Mikado #587 built in 1918 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. The steam locomotive's operation on the ITM is quite befitting considering it regularly operated the Nickel Plate's main line between Indianapolis and Michigan City. The museum spent five years in the late 1980s slowly bringing back the old workhorse to life, which ultimately cost the ITM more than a quarter-million dollars. The 2-8-2 spent many years hauling passengers until it needed to go under repairs for major overhaul work, which is currently underway.

Along with the ITM's static displays its available train rides are many. If you are interested in a short trip (most of which are specials held a different times of the year) there is the Earthfest Caboose Train, Father's Day Train, Forest Park Caboose Train, First Friday Caboose Train, Great Towns Train, Porkfest Caboose Train, and the Street Dance Caboose Train. However, the museum also operates numerous seasonal specials and festival trains such as the Dinner in the Diner, Pizza PLUS Express, Polar Bear Express, and the Polar Bear Express. These, of course, are just a sampling of what they have to offer. For more information about the Indiana Transportation Museum please click here to visit their website which includes all of the information regarding available trains and activities on the grounds.

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. Below is a more specific breakdown of the museum's collection. The museum also has a large collection of freight and passenger cars. For information about some of this equipment please click here.

Steam Locomotives

Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 #587: Under restoration, nearing completion to operational status.

Diesel Locomotives

Milwaukee Road EMD F7A #72A: To be restored as MILW #72A.

Milwaukee Road EMD F7A #110C: Preserved and operational as Monon #83A.

Milwaukee Road EMD F7B #68B: On static display.

Milwaukee Road EMD FP7 #96: Preserved as Monon #96.

Monon EMD SW1 #DS-50: Operational as Monon #DS-50 (the railroad's first diesel).

Nickel Plate Road EMD GP7L #426: Operational as NKP #426.

Nickel Plate Road GE 45-Tonner #91: Operational as NKP #91.

Union Pacific EMD GP9 #200: Operational as Indiana Transportation Museum #200.

Please Click Here To Return To The Main Railroad Museum Section

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.

Share Your Thoughts

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. Please note that while I strive to present the information as accurately as possible I am aware that there may be errors. If you have potential corrections the help is greatly appreciated.