Railroad History of North Judson and the HVRM

The Railroad History of North Judson

.......The first railroad into town was a line constructed from Logansport to Valparaiso, Indiana in the years 1858 through 1861. This railroad was known as the Chicago and Cincinnati Railroad Company. In 1865 the Chicago & Cincinnati was merged with the Chicago & Great Eastern Railway Company. The town was originally called Brantwood, then changed to North Judson, after Judson, one of the promoters of the Chicago & Great Eastern Railway Company. Years later this railroad became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company (PRR).

.......The second railroad into town was the Indiana, Illinois and Iowa Railroad, also known as the 3I route. It was built from Streator, Illinois to North Judson in 1881, and onto South Bend, Indiana in 1894, The 3I would later become part of the New York Central Railroad.

.......The third railroad into town was the Chicago and Atlantic Railroad in the years 1881 through 1883. This railroad later became known as the Erie Railroad Company. In 1902 the Cincinnati, Richmond and Muncie Railroad became the fourth railroad into town. This railroad would later become part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company (C&O).

.......Not only have steam powered locomotives been replaced with diesel powered locomotives, but railroads began to merge. A result of these mergers saw many duplicate railroad lines abandoned and taken up. Soon all that was left behind were the stone road beds. The Erie was abandoned and the track taken up except for a 16 mile stretch from North Judson to Monterey, Indiana. This small railroad is called the JK Line and serves a large grain elevator at Monterey. The JK Line interchanges with the CSX former C&O at North Judson. The CSX still uses the former C&O right of way from North Judson to Lacrosse, Indiana. The C&O tracks to the south of town have been removed, as have the NYC tracks in both directions. The PRR is also abandoned in both directions, and much of the former right of way is now used for farm land. When you come into North Judson, you can see the presence of the former PRR right of way through town. The Erie is all gone west of Town, leaving only the tracks east to Monterey, and the C&O north to Lacrosse. All traffic is interchanged with the CSX at North Judson.

The Chesapeake & Ohio 2789 and a Start

....... The locomotive was taken out of service by the C&O in 1955. In 1961, through the efforts of the Miami County Steam Locomotive Association, engine #2789 was placed on static display in the city park at Peru, Indiana. In 1988, engine #2789 was relocated to North Judson, Indiana, and resides today at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum were efforts are slowly progressing to repair and restore the engine back into operating condition.

.......Since the spring of 1988, and with just #2789 on the end of a stub track, the concept of building a working railroad museum is becoming a reality. Track and switches have been relaid on the abandoned right-of-way of the Erie Railroad through North Judson. Three former C&O railway shanties have been relocated to the museum site, one serving as the depot gift shop originally. A 60' x 100' donated building was relocated and reassembled in 1994-95 and now serves as the museum's backshop, where repair and restoration work continues on the C&O #2789.

.......The museum has over 30 pieces of rolling stock in its collection, most awaiting repair and restoration. Freight cars of the various types, cabooses of various design, Operable diesel switch engines and an Orton Locomotive crane comprise the bulk of the museum collection. The railroad museum also has a disassembled 100' turntable in it collections. Museum volunteers hope to reinstall the turntable in the near future.

.......All the work of building the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum has been and is being done through the efforts of the museum's own membership. The land, track materials, buildings, freight cars and locomotives have all been made possible through the generosity of many local and non-local individuals, companies, and corporations.