Indiana Transportation Museum

Last updated
Indiana Transportation Museum
ITM's GP-7L NKP -426 pulling FairTrain.jpg
Nickel Plate Road GP-7L diesel locomotive #426 pulling the Indiana State Fair Train.
Overview
Headquarters Logansport, Indiana
Reporting mark ITMZ [1] [nb 1] (Temporary equipment transfers/loans)
Locale Northern Indiana
Dates of operation1960 (1960)–2023
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length38 mi (61 km)
Other
Website http://itm.org

The Indiana Transportation Museum (initialized ITM, reporting mark ITMZ [1] [nb 1] ) was a railroad museum that was formerly located in the Forest Park neighborhood of Noblesville, Indiana, United States. It owned a variety of preserved railroad equipment, some of which still operate today. ITM ceased operations in 2023.

Contents

Overview

The Indiana Transportation Museum was an all-volunteer not-for-profit museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing railroads of Indiana, and sharing the equipment and information with the public, as well as operating trains to show how people traveled across the country in the past.

Founded in 1960, ITM began life as the Indiana Museum of Transportation and Communication (IMOTAC) with an initial focus on preserving interurbans and trolleys along with early passenger and freight equipment. IMOTAC initially planned to build its museum in southern Indiana, but these plans did not materialize. In the summer of 1964, IMOTAC signed a 99-year lease with the Noblesville Parks Department to lease a 10-acre (4.0 ha) site in Forest Park. [2] In May 1966, IMOTAC operated a series of sesquicentennial excursions from Noblesville to Indianapolis with Grand Trunk Western 5629. [3] On August 3, 1968, the museum held its grand opening and dedication ceremony. [4] In October 1968, IMOTAC purchased the Indianapolis Traction Terminal train shed. IMOTAC planned to reconstruct it in Forest Park to store and display the museum's collection and also construct a 2-story building next to the train shed to house a museum and waiting room. [5] The train shed was disassembled and moved to Forest Park in late 1968. IMOTAC's plans did not materialize as a result of it being cost prohibitive to reconstruct and it was scrapped in the 1980s. In 1973, IMOTAC began offering trolley rides on a 1⁄2-mile (0.80 km) trolley line that ran from the museum property to the south entrance of Forest Park. [6]

In the 1980s, IMOTAC decided to broaden its focus and changed its name to the Indiana Transportation Museum. In August of 1983, ITM operated daily shuttle trips from Carmel, Indiana, to the Indiana State Fairgrounds over the former Monon Railroad second subdivision during the 1983 Indiana State Fair. The excursions were dubbed FairTrain '83 and became a yearly tradition for ITM. [7] ITM continued operating the Fair Train over the Monon trackage until 1985. In 1986, the Fair Train equipment was moved back to Noblesville and plans to operate FairTrain '86 were scrapped due to high insurance costs. [8] From 1988 to 1998, ITM ran several mainline excursions with NKP 587 and its two Milwaukee Road EMD F7's (numbers 83A and 96C) painted in Monon Railroad colors. In 1990, ITM began operating excursions over the Nickel Plate Railroad line from Tipton to Indianapolis. In August 1990, following a 5 year absence, the FairTrain resumed operations from Noblesville to the Indiana State Fairgrounds during the duration of the Indiana State Fair. Later on, Fairtrain operations were moved to Fishers, Indiana, with the Fairtrain operating from Fishers to the Indiana State Fairgrounds until 2015. In 1999, following the electrical failure of Chicago Transit Authority EL car #4293, ITM shifted away from trolley operations. In 2008, ITM began offering caboose train rides from the museum site to downtown Noblesville. The caboose train was initially supposed to be a temporary replacement for the trolley rides with Chicago Transit Authority EL car #4293. (which was in need of a 50,000 dollar restoration.) [9] As a result of a lack of interest within ITM, Chicago Transit Authority EL car #4293 never ran again. The caboose train became a staple of ITM's later operations and continued until ITM's eviction in 2018.

For the next 25 years, ITM continued to operate excursions over the Nickel Plate line until 2015, when the museum was forbidden from using the Nickel Plate line by the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority (HHPA). With ongoing issues with the city of Noblesville, ITM looked to move the museum to Logansport, Indiana. In 2017 and 2018, ITM operated excursions over U.S. Rail Corporation trackage from Kokomo, Indiana, to Walton, Indiana, using leased Iowa Pacific Holdings equipment. The excursions ceased in 2019. During this time, alongside the Kokomo based excursions, The museum would also operate the Polar Bear Express excursions over Hoosier Southern Railroad trackage from Tell City, Indiana to Troy, Indiana using leased Iowa Pacific Holdings and Hoosier Southern Railroad equipment throughout the fall and winter of 2018.

In 2018, the museum was evicted from its home in Forest Park by the city of Noblesville. ITM moved a majority of its retained equipment to the former General Tire plant property in Logansport, Indiana. In 2019, ITM struck a deal with the Logansport & Eel River Railroad (LER) to purchase the LER's 1.6-mile (2.6 km) rail line in Logansport. [10] In 2021, ITM became involved in yet another lawsuit. The deal to purchase the Logansport & Eel River Railroad fell through and ITM was evicted from the LER property. ITM sold and scrapped its remaining assets and ceased operations. [11] ITM was administratively dissolved by the Indiana Secretary of State on March 5, 2023.

Heritage railroad

While located in Noblesville, the Indiana Transportation Museum operated excursion trains on 38 miles (61 km) of a former Nickel Plate Road line originally built for the Indianapolis and Peru Railroad and, at the time of ITM's eviction, owned by the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority (HHPA), which is made up of the Indiana cities of Indianapolis, Fishers, and Noblesville. Excursion service on the line had been suspended due to a dispute with the HHPA. The museum submitted a proposal to HHPA requesting authorization to resume service. [12]

The museum operated out of Forest Park in Noblesville and traveled to the northern terminus of the line in Tipton, Indiana, and to the southern terminus at approximately 39th Street in Indianapolis. The rail line originally extended further south but had been abandoned.

The rail line originally connected to the Norfolk Southern railroad in Tipton and to the CSX railroad in Indianapolis via the Belt Line. The railroad line had also been operated as a freight railroad by the Indiana Rail Road, hauling coal to the power generating plant in Cicero, Indiana, until the plant's conversion to natural gas in 2003.

The connection in Tipton was cut by Norfolk Southern in 1997 and the bridge connecting the line to CSX was removed by the Indiana Department of Transportation during the rebuilding of Interstate 70 in Indianapolis. In spring 2010, CSX railroad removed the diamonds connecting the southern portion to the Belt Railroad, thus isolating the line from the U.S. rail system.

Preservation

Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotive #587 in the restoration shops at the ITM. Restoring Mikado -587.jpg
Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotive #587 in the restoration shops at the ITM.

The museum was home to many pieces of railroading history, with primary emphasis on locomotives and equipment relating to the Nickel Plate Railroad. Most passengers were carried in the museum's restored Budd cars that dated back to 1937 and were originally in service on the Santa Fe Railroad and the New Jersey Transit Authority before being sold to the museum as scrap in 1983. Several cars were restored and others awaited funds for restoration.

ITM also had an extensive collection of trolleys and interurbans with ties to Indiana's railroad history. ITM operated several different interurbans over its trolley line between 1973 and 1999.

While the museum was in Noblesville, it had in its collection the 1898 private railcar of Henry Morrison Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad (FEC) #90.

At the beginning of 2003, the museum's operating steam locomotive, Nickel Plate 587, was taken out of service for a federally mandated boiler rebuild. Since then, work had been ongoing for the restoration of this locomotive. In 2008, ownership of the engine was permanently transferred from the Indianapolis Parks Department to the ITM. In 2018, the locomotive was held in storage in Ravenna, Kentucky, by the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation. On March 5, 2021, the ownership of No. 587 was transferred from the ITM to a private individual. [13]

ITM's tracks in Fishers, Indiana. ITM's tracks -5.jpg
ITM's tracks in Fishers, Indiana.

Events

While in Noblesville, the Indiana Transportation Museum operated different excursions, ranging from holiday trains to shuttles in freight cabooses.

School programs

The museum offered custom school tours, which included a tour of the museum grounds and an excursion train ride.

Motive power

Interurbans and trolleys

Rolling stock

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Indiana Transportation Museum: Equipment". Archived from the original on 2009-10-20. Retrieved 2009-10-28. Equipment markings used on official railroad-owned rolling stock.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Noblesville Daily Ledger (January 29, 1965). "Chamber Brought Up-to-Date on IMOTAC". No. 25. Noblesville Daily Ledger. p. 1.
  3. ↑ The Indianapolis Star (April 21, 1966). "Nickel Plate Steamer to Run May 15-21". No. 320. The Indianapolis Star. p. 46.
  4. ↑ The Anderson Herald (July 30, 1968). "Museum Opens In Noblesville". No. 37. The Anderson Herald. p. 1.
  5. ↑ The Indianapolis News (October 23, 1968). "Terminal To Be Moved, Rebuilt". The Indianapolis News. p. 80.
  6. ↑ Bill Gifford (March 29, 1973). "The Interurban Rides Again". No. 76. Noblesville, Indiana: The Noblesville Ledger. p. 8.
  7. ↑ Bruce A. Douglas (August 20, 1983). "Take The Train! Fairtrain '83 Offers State Fairgoers a Nostalgic View of the Past". No. 143. The Muncie Star. p. 8.
  8. ↑ John Strauss (July 31, 1986). "Insurance Cost Cancels Train to State Fair". No. 124. The Muncie Star. p. 2.
  9. ↑ Chris Sikich (April 25, 2008). "Caboose rides are at front of schedule". No. 140. The Noblesville Ledger. p. 5.
  10. ↑ Chris Anderson (March 5, 2019). "Indiana Transportation Museum close on purchase of railroad". Trains Magazine. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  11. ↑ James D. Wolf (June 23, 2021). "Derelict train car fire spreads smoke over northwest side". Logansport, Indiana: The Pharos-Tribune. Archived from the original on Jun 24, 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  12. ↑ "Indiana Transportation Museum Plan Expands Education, Entertainment and Excursion Trains from Tipton to Lucas Oil Stadium". Indiana Transportation Museum. Shank Public Relations Counselors, Inc. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  13. ↑ Campbell, Chris (2021-03-05). "KSHC Acquires Cars; New Path For Nickel Plate 587". Kentucky Steam. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  14. ↑ Tuohy, John. "New operators of fair train sought". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  15. ↑ "I T M - Pizza Plus Express". Archived from the original on 2011-09-05. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Collaboration Between Indiana Communities and Fort Wayne Railroad Saves Historic Artifacts". Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. March 13, 2022. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "MILW 1613". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  18. ↑ "Rare, Wooden General Electric locomotive from 1898 returns for preservation". Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company. Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company. September 21, 2021. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  19. ↑ Susan H. Miller (October 8, 1998). "Vintage train cars getting new home". The Indianapolis Star. p. 4.
  20. ↑ "Citizens Street Railway No. 69". Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company. Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company. January 20, 2020. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  21. ↑ Kathy Gillespie (March 25, 1972). "Streetcar Set For A Rebirth In New Museum". No. 204. The Bedford Daily Times-Mail. p. 1.
  22. ↑ "Indianapolis Railways No. 153". Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company. Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company. July 22, 2018. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  23. 1 2 "Terre Haute Indianapolis & Eastern No. 81 "Central Normal"". Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company. Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company. July 22, 2018. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  24. ↑ Illinois Railway Museum. "Chicago Aurora & Elgin 308". Illinois Railway Museum. Illinois Railway Museum. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  25. ↑ The Indianapolis Star (July 26, 1964). "Noblesville Park Museum Offered Old Interurban Car". The Indianapolis Star. p. 27.
  26. ↑ "Union Traction No. 429 "Noblesville"". Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company. Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company. July 21, 2018. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Union Traction No. 437 "Marion"". Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company. Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company. July 21, 2018. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  28. ↑ Illinois Railway Museum. "Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee 172". Illinois Railway Museum. Illinois Railway Museum. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  29. ↑ David Mannweiler (September 2, 1982). "Trolley Cars Downtown?". The Indianapolis News. p. 33.
  30. ↑ The Indianapolis News (August 3, 1996). "Fire destorys historic rail car". The Indianapolis News. p. 2.
  31. 1 2 Bill Gifford (April 1, 1967). "IMOTAC's Park Plans Are Ambitious". The Noblesville Ledger. p. 1.
  32. ↑ Sutliff, Dick (August 22, 1969). "Historic Rail Car Bought by Hulman". No. 83. The Terre Haute Tribune. pp. 1, 2.
  33. ↑ Davis, Rich (June 24, 1985). "All aboard...Indianapolis train and good times with roll to Thunder". No. 146. Evansville Courier and Press. pp. 1, 3.
  34. ↑ Indiana Transportation Museum. "NKP 1". Indiana Transportation Museum. Indiana Transportation Museum. Archived from the original on March 22, 2003. Retrieved July 18, 2024.

Notes

  1. 1 2 Direct sources from the AAR/NMFTA cannot be publicly accessed/located, although such markings have been second-handedly verified via the FRA and visual wise; however, these marks may be considered expired, reassigned, or unofficial as of 2009.
External images
Searchtool.svg Railroad Picture Archives — Indiana Railway Museum photographs from Noblesville, Indiana.
Searchtool.svg RailPictures.Net — Indiana Railway Museum photographs at RailPictures.Net.

40°03′26″N86°1′09.38″W / 40.05722°N 86.0192722°W / 40.05722; -86.0192722

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