FORT WAYNE, INDIANA – Thanks to a generous donor and the efforts of Noblesville, Indiana’s Parks and Recreation Department, and the City of Logansport, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society has recovered over half a dozen pieces of vintage railroad equipment for preservation.
Throughout 2021 and into 2022, the Fort Wayne Railroad worked to identify and relocate surplus railroad equipment left at the former locations of the Indiana Transportation Museum in Noblesville and Logansport, respectively. Stored in deteriorating condition and a barrier to mediation efforts at each site, the Fort Wayne Railroad, volunteers, and contractors undertook a Herculean effort to dismantle several locomotives for shipping and prep remaining equipment for stabilization and transportation by truck. Additional assistance was provided by the Nickel Plate Express, US Rail Corporation, and Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company.
The saved equipment includes:
- Two Milwaukee Road F Units, no. 72-A, and 96-C
- One Milwaukee Road B-Unit no. 68-B
- One Pennsylvania Railroad hopper car no. 257784
- One Lake Erie & Western/Nickel Plate Road boxcar no. 18013
- One Louisville & Nashville boxcar no. 12177
- One Wabash Railroad boxcar no. 49762
“We’re grateful that Noblesville and Logansport elected to partner with us to find new homes for these historic artifacts. It’s an unusual burden for a City to be faced with de-accessing railroad equipment of any size or age and an enormous challenge for a non-profit like ours to be able to intercede,” said Kelly Lynch, Vice President of the Fort Wayne Railroad. “Fortunately, a private donor stepped up to assist in saving these pieces of Indiana history. Everything relocated is destined for restoration and interpretation of some kind and will help tell the story of Hoosier railroading.”
Several mechanical components from the vintage locomotives have been made available to other rail preservation organizations, and at least one diesel locomotive is being considered for an interactive display. Plans call for a portion of the freight cars to be used in a variety of educational capacities as the Fort Wayne Railroad expands its programs and events, and continues work on establishing a regional railroad attraction in Northeast Indiana. Inquiries on locomotive parts can be made by clicking here.
The equipment is currently stored at a privately owned, rail-served facility where stabilization efforts will take place, along with:
- Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive no. 624 and Milwaukee Road reefer no. 37076, saved for preservation and relocated in a partnership with the City of Hammond in 2017
- Former Louisville & Nashville auxiliary water tender no. 40985 and originally the tender to Louisville & Nashville Berkshire no. 1989, and later preserved for use with Bessemer & Lake Erie steam locomotive no. 643 and relocated from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2019
- Pennsylvania Railway Post Office Car no. 6523, purchased at auction from the Noblesville collection in 2018
- Former Santa Fe baggage cars no. 1255 and 1257, acquired via a donation from Amtrak in 2019
Due to the active industrial nature of the storage site, the equipment is not currently available for public viewing or tours.
While this equipment is currently in storage, the Fort Wayne Railroad is hard at work to finish several important restoration projects, including our dining car Silver Diner, Nickel Plate Road diesel locomotive no. 358, or future open air car no. 3671. Click here to make a contribution.
For 50 years, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society has dedicated itself to providing outstanding, hands-on educational and recreational experiences through the preservation, restoration, and operation of historic railroad equipment and artifacts significant to Northeast Indiana. An all-volunteer, award-winning non-profit organization, it has operated Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive no. 765 over 300,000 miles in public exhibition and passenger train excursion service and routinely welcomes passengers from all 50 states and half a dozen countries. In addition, Fort Wayne continues to restore and exhibit other historic steam and diesel locomotives, freight cars, and passenger cars from the Golden Age of Railroading. Its operations are funded entirely from memberships, donations, grants, and sponsorships. For several years, the Fort Wayne Railroad has worked to establish Headwaters Junction, a rail interpretive facility and regional destination, for its successful events and programs. For more information, visit headwatersjunction.org.
