Lindblom Gift Expands the Fort Wayne Restoration Shop

Published: November 4, 2026

NEW HAVEN, Ind. — Former president Art Lindblom has given the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society more than $1.4 million, the largest single gift in its history, to expand the restoration shop at 15808 Edgerton Road. The society announced the gift on October 28. The enlarged building will be named the Art Lindblom Locomotive Shop.

Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 #765 inside the Fort Wayne shop. Fort Wayne Historical Society photo.

A shop built in 1991

Lindblom was president of the society and the primary project manager when the Edgerton Road shop was built in 1991. The gift pays for construction, erection of the building, and site work. Since 1991 the shop has supported a major overhaul of Nickel Plate Road No. 765, the restoration of Chesapeake & Ohio No. 2716, and more than six passenger-car restorations.

Work is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027. The society has been working with Leatherman Construction on design and planning. The addition will stand on the west side of the present building. The rear wall stays. A third shop track will give room for restoration, stabilization, and assembly. The society says the present shop holds New York Central No. 3001, Nickel Plate caboose 141, Nickel Plate Pullman 1, and URTX refrigerator car 37314.

The new space is planned for restoration of No. 3001, stabilization of Nickel Plate No. 624, historic freight cars, and the annual and seasonal maintenance of No. 765. It will also take Nickel Plate Pullman No. 1 and passenger-car work on the society’s Great Steel Fleet of New York Central cars. Volunteers will get a break room, a shower, and, for the first time in the organization’s history, indoor restrooms.

“Art helped build the facility that has supported decades of railroad preservation,” said Kelly Lynch, executive director. “Now, the largest single gift in our history will help prepare it for the next generation of work. This expansion will give our crews more room to advance major restoration projects and better accommodations for the volunteers whose time and skill make that work possible.”

Equipment the addition is meant to shelter

The society lists pieces it plans to move into the expanded shop. They are Pennsylvania Railroad hopper 257784, Lake Erie & Western and Nickel Plate boxcar 18013, Louisville & Nashville boxcar 12177, Wabash boxcar 49762, Milwaukee Road refrigerator car 37076, and Louisville & Nashville water tender 40985. The freight cars were recovered through preservation work involving Noblesville and Logansport in 2021 and 2022. No. 624 and the Milwaukee Road refrigerator car were saved with the City of Hammond in 2017. The tender was built for Louisville & Nashville Berkshire No. 1989 and later kept for use with Bessemer & Lake Erie No. 643. It was moved from Pittsburgh in 2019.

The Edgerton Road work is one part of a wider look at shops and property. The society is also exploring space along the Indiana Northeastern Railroad, where it runs the Indiana Rail Experience. The note at the end of the announcement says those trips have welcomed over 80,000 visitors and generated over $5 million in economic impact since 2022. The society was founded in 1972.

Outfitting the new bay

With the gift covering construction, erection, and the site, the society is asking supporters for approximately $20,000 in tools and equipment. “Art’s generosity is creating the space,” Lynch said. “Our supporters can help put that space to work.” Checks can be marked for the Shop Expansion and mailed to the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Post Office Box 11017, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46855. The announcement prints employer identification number 23-7255168, and it points readers to an online Shop Expansion Fund.

Sources

Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, “Historic $1.4 million gift to expand restoration facility,” Kelly Lynch, October 28, 2026. More than $1.4 million from Art Lindblom, the largest single gift. Shop at 15808 Edgerton Road, New Haven, Indiana, to be named the Art Lindblom Locomotive Shop. Lindblom was president and primary project manager of the 1991 building. Gift covers construction, erection, and site improvements. Shop record since 1991 includes Nickel Plate Road 765, Chesapeake & Ohio 2716, and more than six passenger-car restorations. Work planned for the fourth quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027, with Leatherman Construction. West-side addition, rear wall retained, third shop track. Planned work on New York Central 3001, stabilization of Nickel Plate 624, freight cars, maintenance of 765, Nickel Plate Pullman 1, and Great Steel Fleet cars. Break room, shower, and first indoor restrooms. Equipment list and the Hammond, Noblesville, Logansport, and Pittsburgh moves, as stated in the post. Indiana Rail Experience on the Indiana Northeastern. About note: over 80,000 visitors and over $5 million in economic impact since 2022. Approximately $20,000 for tools. Mail to Post Office Box 11017, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46855. EIN 23-7255168. Founded in 1972. Quotes from Kelly Lynch.

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Lindblom Gift Expands the Fort Wayne Restoration Shop

A shop built in 1991

Equipment the addition is meant to shelter

Outfitting the new bay

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Sources