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Indiana Transportation Museum

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Coordinates: 40°03′26″N 86°1′09.38″W / 40.05722°N 86.0192722°W / 40.05722; -86.0192722
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Not to be confused with Indiana Railway Museum.
Indiana Transportation Museum
Nickel Plate Road GP-7L diesel locomotive #426 pulling the Indiana State Fair Train.
Overview
HeadquartersLogansport, Indiana
Reporting markITMZ[1][nb 1] (Temporary equipment transfers/loans)
LocaleNorthern Indiana
Dates of operation1960 (1960)–2023
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length38 mi (61 km)
Other
Websitehttp://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.

Overview[edit]

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.

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[edit]

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[edit]

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.

Events[edit]

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

  • The Morse Lake Dinner Train was a dinner train that operated from Noblesville to a variety of restaurants in Cicero, Indiana, near Morse Lake.
  • The Fair Train was the museum's biggest yearly event with ITM passenger trains transporting as many as 16,000 people to the Indiana State Fair daily, with ten daily round trips each day of the fair during August.[14]
  • The Polar Bear Express was held in the months of November and December. It included a train ride and a visit from Santa Claus.
  • The Harvest Train was held every weekend in October and was supported by the Hamilton Heights High School FFA, who grew and sold pumpkins alongside the rail line.
  • The Blue Arrow, often called the Pizza Train, was run multiple Saturdays throughout the late spring, summer, and fall from Noblesville to Tipton. It gained its name because the stop in Tipton was at end of the track and adjacent to the Pizza Shack, where riders could eat. Riders also had the option of being shuttled to the nearby Pizza King or Jim Dandy Restaurant for their buffets, or on select dates, a meal at the Tipton Elks Club.[15]
  • Special events included various festivals in Tipton and the towns of Atlanta and Arcadia; private charters were also available.

School programs[edit]

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

Motive power[edit]

  • Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 #587; built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in September 1918 as Lake Erie & Western 2-8-2 #5541; Leased by ITM from Indianapolis Parks Department in 1983; operated by ITM from 1988 to 2002; under restoration from 2003 until 2018; ownership transferred from the Indianapolis Parks Department to ITM in 2008; moved to Kentucky for restoration in 2018 and sold to a private owner.
  • Nickel Plate Road GP7L #426; built by Electro-Motive Diesel in July 1953, operated by ITM from 2002 to 2018, sold to Nickel Plate Express, and Restored to working order in 2020.
  • Indiana Transportation Museum GP9 #200; built by Electro-Motive Diesel in April 1954 as Union Pacific GP9 #200; operated by ITM from 2000 to 2018; retained by the city of Noblesville; and restored to working order by Nickel Plate Express in 2023.
  • Nickel Plate Road F7A #83A; built by Electro-Motive Diesel as Milwaukee Road F7A #110C in December 1950, purchased by ITM in 1982, operated by ITM from 1983 to 2018, sold to the Nickel Plate Express.
  • Monon SW-1 #DS-50; built by Electro-Motive Diesel in February 1942; Purchased by private owner in 1989 and moved to ITM in 1989. Used for ITM's Caboose Trains; cab destroyed on route to Logansport, Indiana; moved to Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum; currently undergoing restoration to operating condition.
  • Nickel Plate Road VO-1000 #99; built by Baldwin Locomotive Works as Crane Naval Depot VO-1000 #9 in April 1945; formerly on static display; sale to the city of Kokomo failed; retained by city of Noblesville and remains on display.
  • Nickel Plate Road 44-Tonner #91; built by GE Transportation as Boyne City Railroad 44-Tonner #70 in September 1950; formerly on static display; sale to the city of Kokomo failed; sold to Coastal Logistics Group of Garden City, GA via Ozark Mountain RailCar in 2019.
  • Monon FP7 #96C; built by Electro Motive Diesel as Milwaukee Road FP7 #96C in January 1951; purchased by ITM in 1982. Operated by ITM from 1983 to 1999; Sold to Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in 2021.[16]
  • Milwaukee Road F7A #83C; built by Electro-Motive Diesel as Milwaukee Road F7A #72C in July 1950; purchased by ITM in 1982; under restoration from 2007 to 2018; Sold to Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in 2021.[16]
  • Milwaukee Road F7B #68B; built by Electro-Motive Diesel in July 1950; purchased by ITM in 1982; in storage from 1983 to 2021; Sold to Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in 2021.[16]
  • Indianapolis Power & Light 0-4-0 Fireless #1; built by H.K. Porter in 1950; Donated to ITM by Indianapolis Power and Light in 1990 or 91; To be restored to operating condition by ITM, but plans did not materialize; Stored by ITM from 1990 or 91 until 2018. Sold to the Hesston Steam Museum in 2018; the tank/pressure vessel was scrapped in Noblesville.
  • Milwaukee Road SW-1 #867; built by Electro-Motive Diesel in 1939; Used as a parts source for Monon SW-1 #DS-50; repainted to original Milwaukee Road #1613[17] by Thomas Harleman in 2015; scrapped in Noblesville on July 4, 2018.
    Milwaukee Road SW-1 #1613 after Restoration by Thomas Harleman
  • Singer Sewing Machine Company Electric locomotive #1; Built by General Electric in 1898; Purchased by private owner in 1971 and moved to ITM. Operated by ITM from 1971 to 1988; Displayed by ITM from 1988 until 2018; Sold to RAIL Foundation in Francisville, Indiana, in 2018; Sold by RAIL Foundation to Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company in 2021.[18]
  • Evansville & Ohio Valley Steeple Cab Electric locomotive #154; Built by General Electric in 1912; Scrapped in Noblesville in July 2018.
  • Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Railway (CRANDIC) Steeple Cab Electric locomotive #55; Built by the Detroit United Railway in 1915; Sold to Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company in 2018; Scrapped for parts by HHTC in 2019.
  • Twin Branch Railroad Steeple Cab locomotive #4; Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works/Westinghouse in 1929; Sold to Ironhorse Railroad Park in July 2018.

Interurbans and trolleys[edit]

Rolling stock[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b c d e f g h "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b Bill Gifford (April 1, 1967). "IMOTAC's Park Plans Are Ambitious". The Noblesville Ledger. p. 1.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b 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 links[edit]

External images
image icon Railroad Picture Archives — Indiana Railway Museum photographs from Noblesville, Indiana.
image icon RailPictures.Net — Indiana Railway Museum photographs at RailPictures.Net.

40°03′26″N 86°1′09.38″W / 40.05722°N 86.0192722°W / 40.05722; -86.0192722

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