National New York Central Railroad Museum

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National New York Central Railroad Museum
NYC RR Museum Logo.jpg
NS Intermodal (5054541865).jpg
Some Norfolk Southern intermodal trains pass between the museum and Elkhart Amtrak station
National New York Central Railroad Museum
Established1987
Location Elkhart, Indiana
Coordinates 41°40′48″N85°58′15″W / 41.6799°N 85.9709°W / 41.6799; -85.9709
TypeRailroad

The National New York Central Railroad Museum( reporting mark NNYX) [1] is a railroad museum located in Elkhart, Indiana dedicated to the preservation of the New York Central Railroad (NYC).

Contents

The museum includes several outdoor equipment displays, indoor model railroads, artifacts from the NYC and other railroad related exhibits including educational displays pertaining to the history of railroading. The museum is currently expanding its dedication to the preservation of both local and national railroad heritage. The museum consists of a modified NYC 20th Century Limited train set and freight house built by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway (LS&MS) in 1907. [2]

History

Elkhart was a vital link between East and West during the growth of railroading in the U.S. In 1833 the LS&MS built a line through town; it was later acquired by the NYC in 1914.

The museum is situated opposite the Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) east–west main line; NS freight trains pass approximately every 15 minutes. Amtrak's Elkhart Station is also within walking distance; daily service is provided by the Lake Shore Limited (Chicago-Boston/New York) and Capitol Limited (Chicago-Washington, D.C.).

The bulk of the museum's collection & the museum site was originally owned by the Lakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation (LRHF), A non-profit rail preservation group based in Elkhart. The group subs-subsequently donated their collection & sold the property to the city in early 1987. [3] The museum was founded in 1987. [4] After several years of planning and prep, the museum opened to the public on May 1, 1989. [5]

On October 9, 2024, the museum announced a partnership with the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society to revitalize the museum. [6] Plans call for an assessment of the collection and select pieces being de-accessed. Following the de-accession, a new master plan will be developed for the outdoor equipment displays with the goal of positioning the museum as an anchor for neighborhood redevelopment. [6]

Equipment

NYC EMD E8 #4085 Jrb 20071024 NEW YORK CENTRAL SYSTEM train.JPG
NYC EMD E8 #4085
Restored Conrail bay window caboose ConRail Bay Cab Caboose.jpg
Restored Conrail bay window caboose
Rock Island Observation car #454 Minnesota ElkhartIN NYCRR Museum Entrance.jpg
Rock Island Observation car #454 Minnesota

Locomotives

Steam

  • New York Central 3001 (Alco #69338 of 1940): The largest surviving example of the NYC's modern steam power technology; only surviving L-3a class Mohawk; one of two surviving NYC 4-8-2 engines; one of the fastest locomotives of its time; primarily designed for mountain grades, it hauled passengers at speeds up to 80 mph (130 km/h) along the NYC's "Water Level Route" in the state of New York. Acquired by the Lake Shore Railroad Historical Foundation (LRHF) in 1984 & moved to Elkhart. In 1986 or 1987, the LRHF leased the locomotive to the City of Elkhart for a term of 100 years. In October 2024, the locomotive was acquired by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, who intends to move the locomotive to New Haven, Indiana to undergo restoration to operating condition. [7]

Diesel

Electric

Cabooses

Passenger cars

Freight cars

Special Use

Interior displays

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Central 3001</span> Preserved American 4-8-2 locomotive

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Central 2933</span> Preserved American 4-8-2 locomotive

New York Central 2933 is a 4-8-2 "Mohawk" (Mountain) type steam locomotive built in 1929 by the American Locomotive Company for the New York Central Railroad. The wheel arrangement is known as the Mountain type on other railroads, but the New York Central dubbed them "Mohawks" after the Mohawk River, which the railroad followed. It pulled freight trains until being retired in 1957. As of 2024, the locomotive is on display at the National Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood, Missouri.

References

  1. Railinc, Search MARKs, accessed September 2009
  2. "Elkhart, Indiana (EKH)". Great American Stations. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  3. Kurowski, Jeff (October 19, 1987). "Perron hails step toward museum". The South Bend Tribune.
  4. Admin, Vala. "NNYCRR Museum". City of Elkhart. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  5. Kurowski, Jeff (March 26, 1989). "Railroad restaurant opening expected". The South Bend Tribune. p. 16.
  6. 1 2 "New York Central Mohawk No. 3001 joins Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society fleet for potential return to steam". Trains News Wire. Firecrown Media. October 9, 2024. Archived from the original on October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  7. Franz, Justin (2024-10-09). "New York Central 4-8-2 'Mohawk' to be Restored to Operation". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  8. 1 2 "Museum to add crane, car". No. 278. The South Bend Tribune. December 13, 1991. p. 10.
  9. "Board of Public Works 9-5-23". City of Elkhart. September 5, 2023. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2024.