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
DirectorBrent Holaway
Website elkhartindiana.org/government/nnycrr-museum/

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 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

Locomotives

Locomotive details
NumberImageTypeClassBuilderBuiltStatusDescription
4085 Jrb 20071024 NEW YORK CENTRAL SYSTEM train.JPG Diesel E-8A Electro-Motive Diesel 1953DisplayBuilt for the New York Central. No. 4085 lead locomotive of the eastbound 20th Century Limited when it left Chicago, Illinois for final run on December 2, 1967. Purchased by the National New York Central Railroad Museum from New Jersey Rail Operations in 1987.
4882Electric GG1 PRR Altoona Works 1939DisplayBuilt for the Pennsylvania Railroad. To Penn Central in 1968. Sold by Penn Central to New Jersey Transit in 1976. Sold by New Jersey Transit to New Jersey Rail Operations. Purchased by the National New York Central Railroad Museum from New Jersey Rail Operations in 1987. One of the fastest locomotives of its day, reaching speeds up to 100 mph (160 km/h); designed with the assistance of Raymond Loewy.
15 Chicago South Shore and South Bend 15 in Elkhart 2025.jpg Electric Interurban Pullman Standard 1926DisplayBuilt for the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad. Sold by Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad to National Park Service in 1984. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by the National Park Service in 2002.

Cabooses

Caboose details
NumberImageTypeBuilderBuiltStatusDescription
19211End Cupola Caboose New York Central Railroad 1910Static DisplayBuilt for the New York Central. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Al Nakon in 1989.
21084Bay Window Caboose New York Central Railroad 1963DisplayBuilt for the New York Central Railroad.
18136Transfer Caboose New York Central Railroad 1967DisplayBuilt for the New York Central Railroad, Converted from a 1949 boxcar.
21230 ConRail Bay Cab Caboose.jpg Bay Window Caboose Fruit Growers Express 1974DisplayBuilt for Conrail, used in wreck train service. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Conrail in 1997.
75End Cupola Caboose American Car and Foundry or Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway19??DisplayBuilt for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Sold to the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. Purchased by the Lakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation in 1983 or 1984. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1986 or 1987.
10Caboose19??DisplayBuilt for the Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway. Purchased by the Lakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation in 1983 or 1984. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1986 or 1987.

Passenger cars

Passenger cars details
NumberImageTypeBuilderBuiltStatusDescription
5104 RPO Standard Steel Car Company 1914DisplayBuilt for the Michigan Central Railroad and numbered 1016. Renumbered 5104 by the New York Central Railroad, converted for work train service in the 1950s. Purchased by the Lakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation in 1996 & moved to the museum.
2691Heavyweight Coach Standard Steel Car Company 1914DisplayNamed Elkhart River. Built for the Illinois Central Railroad. Purchased by Robert Spaugh & Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1987. Painted in NYC paint, Used as exhibit car.
2694Heavyweight Coach Standard Steel Car Company 1914DisplayNamed St. Joseph River. Built for the Illinois Central Railroad. Purchased by Robert Spaugh & Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1987. Painted in NYC paint, Used to house the museum's archives.
454 ElkhartIN NYCRR Museum Entrance.jpg Observation Budd Company 1937Static DisplayNamed City of Elkhart. Built for the Rock Island Railroad and originally named Minnesota. Purchased by Robert Spaugh, Sold to the City of Elkhart in 1987. Painted in NYC paint.
953Dining Pullman Standard 1949DisplayBuilt for the New Haven Railroad as a grill-dining car. Converted for wreck train service. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Conrail in 1997.
45710BM-70K RPO PRR Altoona Works 1920sDisplayBuilt for the Pennsylvania Railroad and numbered 5710. Converted to wreck train service and renumbered 45710. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Conrail in 1997.

Freight cars

Freight cars details
NumberImageTypeBuilderBuiltStatusDescription
16039Tank car General American Tank Car Corp. 1952DisplayBuilt for the New York Central. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Sturgis Iron and Metal in 2006.
288121Boxcar1957DisplayBuilt for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Painted in NYC Century Green with City of Elkhart and National New York Central Railroad Museum logos on it.
288257Boxcar1957DisplayBuilt for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
902Covered Hopper car19??DisplayBuilt for the New York Central Railroad.
38662 Reefer 1940sDisplayBuilt for the Milwaukee Road.
38794 Reefer 1940sDisplayBuilt for the Milwaukee Road.
499656X26 BoxcarPRR Altoona Works 1910sDisplayBuilt for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
X26 BoxcarPRR Altoona Works 1910sDisplayBuilt for the Pennsylvania Railroad as a X26 Boxcar. Converted into Idler car following fire for NYC X-28 Crane, Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1991. [7]
725220Flat car Merchants Despatch 19??DisplayBuilt for Merchants Despatch. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Norfolk Southern in 2007.
725023Flat car Merchants Despatch 19??DisplayBuilt for Merchants Despatch. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Norfolk Southern in 2007.

Other equipment

Special use details
NumberImageTypeBuilderBuiltStatusDescription
X-13 2024-01-27 NYC Rail Crane at the National New York Central Railroad Museum - 02.jpg 250-ton Wrecking CraneIndustrial Brownhoist1946DisplayBuilt for the New York Central Railroad, based in the NYC Harmon Yard in Croton-on-Harmon, New York. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Conrail in 1997.
X-28150-ton Wrecking Crane1920sDisplayBuilt for the New York Central Railroad. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1991. [7]
504472Idler Car19??Static DisplayBuilt for the New York Central Railroad. Idler car for NYC X-13 Crane, Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Conrail in 1997.
45507Idler Car19??Static DisplayBuilt for the New York Central Railroad. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Conrail in 1997.

Former locomotives and equipment

Locomotive details
NumberImagesTypeClassBuilderBuiltStatusOwnerDescription
3001 3001 In Elkhart 2025.jpg Steam 4-8-2 American Locomotive Company 1940Display, awaiting move and restoration Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society 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 Lakeshore 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 September 2023, 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. [8]
3042Auxiliary Water TenderNone American Locomotive Company 1940Display, awaiting move and restoration Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society Originally built for NYC L-3b "Mohawk" 3042. Retired by the NYC in September 1953, locomotive scrapped in October 1953. Tender saved by NYC for non-revenue service, converted into diesel fuel tank car. Purchased by Ross Rowland for the American Freedom Train in 1975. Used as water tender for Reading 2101 for the American Freedom Train and the Chessie Steam Special from 1975 to 1979. Damaged in a Roundhouse fire in Silver Grove, Kentucky along with 2101 on March 6, 1979. Sold to Bob Spaugh in the 1980s. Donated by Spaugh to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1986 or 1987, Displayed behind New York Central 3001. Sold to the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in September 2023. [9] Currently on static display at the National New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart, Indiana, to be moved to New Haven, Indiana along with 3001.

Interior displays

See also

References

  1. ↑ Railinc, Search MARKs, accessed September 2009
  2. ↑ "Elkhart, Indiana (EKH)". Great American Stations. Retrieved November 27, 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 October 15, 2024.
  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. 1 2 "Museum to add crane, car". No. 278. The South Bend Tribune. December 13, 1991. p. 10.
  8. ↑ Franz, Justin (October 9, 2024). "New York Central 4-8-2 'Mohawk' to be Restored to Operation". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  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.
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