As train museum moves out, new train to run next month

The County Line

Forest Park may be more attractive in the next year or two without the Indiana Transportation Museum rail yard, but everything has its price. Noblesville is losing some of Indiana’s oldest and most famous railroad relics.

Of course, the public never got to fully appreciate a restored display of rail cars and locomotives because the museum never completed its plans for a true outdoor museum of railroading. There was never enough money.

After more than 40 years, city officials grew tired of the unfinished and “junky” looking site that the museum leased in Forest Park. Last month the rail cars and equipment began a slow exodus from the park after a court ordered their removal.

Through the years, museum personnel did provide a popular Fair Train and some other excursion trains on the Nickel Plate tracks which run the length of Hamilton County. But, safety concerns put an end to that more than a year ago. The museum has now moved its operation to Logansport.

On the brighter side, the new Nickel Plate Express, with funding assistance from the county tourism bureau, is set to begin operations in mid to late September. Newly purchased passenger cars, a dining car and two locomotives will run on the rail line. A traditional caboose will ultimately be added. Nickel Plate Express has not attempted to purchase any of the museum’s pieces.

In the beginning, the new train will run only from 206th Street to Atlanta because of the condition of the rail bed south of 206th, according to Nickel Plate director Toni Dickover.

Eventually, the excursion train will run from Noblesville, possibly as far north as Tipton. It will not be able to offer a Fair Train because the railroad south of Noblesville is planned to become a walking and biking trail similar to the Monon Trail. But, other popular rides on the Santa Train and Pumpkin Patch will be seasonal opportunities for youngsters.

The collection of vintage museum rail stock is being scattered. The century-old steam engine 587 is being renovated in Kentucky. It may go to Logansport when it is returned to service, according to some reports.

The historic Flagler Car, built for industrialist Henry Flagler, has been sold to a private buyer. One report indicates it may go to the Monon museum at Monon, Ind., but that is not confirmed. Flagler is credited with creating a tourist mecca of Miami, Fla., in the 1920s by building a rail line to South Florida.

And, no one seems to know what has become of the restored interurban car known as the ‘City of Noblesville.’ It was restored about 1970 for use as the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce office and was located along North 8th Street near the city water plant before going to Forest Park.