June 27, 2006 Visit to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum
North Judson, Indiana
Fathers Day weekend. Also, the Town of North Judson celebrates their annual Mint Festival. The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum ran excursion from North Judson, north on the old C&O line to English Lake and the final excursion of the day ran all the way into LaCrosse, Indiana.
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Left: I arrived at the museum a little early. My family was taking advantage of the wares at the Mint Festival. While waiting for the 4:45 Excursion to LaCrosse, I was invited to take a speeder ride down the old Erie right of way. It brought back memories of my first speeder ride, back in 1966-67, when some boys "borrowed" one sitting at Lowell, and riding down to Belshaw Road and back. I was hoping Stan Conyers was attending this years Mint Fest with his Monon motorcar. It is identical to the one we kids "borrowed" Right: The end of the run east. We are just short of the Route 10 crossing on the old Erie main. The ride was a little bumpy, but that is to be expected.
Left: One more shot from the end of the run. I neglected to get the name of the owner. Here we are getting ready to return to the museum depot. Right: Earlier excursion to English Lake returning to the depot.
Left: Before the 4:45 trip, the crew from HVRM needed to run the Alco around the caboose train. I decided to ride the EJ&E transfer caboose so I could stand on the end platforms and take pictures. It would also give me some breeze on this rather warm and humid afternoon. Right: Alco 310 passing by my position. I love the job they did restoring her Erie paint.
Left: After coupling to the cabooses, we waited for some late arriving passengers. Here you are looking at the old C&O line, railroad north. Right: Leaving North Judson behind us. You are looking railroad north, next stop LaCrosse.
Left: Still northbound towards LaCrosse. On of several rural crossing we passed. The old PRR right of way between North Judson and LaCrosse runs parallel to the C&O. Right: Oh no, here we go again. On the way home from a Monon Society Board Meeting I passed some railroad signs and artifacts in the middle of a field near Francesville, Indiana. On our trip north, we passed these PRR artifacts. They sit on the old PRR right of way and the property owner is a PRR fan and has started collecting. No news if he's planning a museum or not.
Left: Near English Lake we are coming to the bridge across the Kankakee River. East of this bridge the Yellow River and Kankakee come together. Right: A shot of the old PRR Kankakee River bridge. There will be additional pictures towards the bottom of this page. The angle of the sun and trees were not good for taking pictures while crossing the bridge.
Left: Looking back, toward the south, of the Kankakee River Bridge. Right: Ahead in the distance is LaCrosse. The former PRR right of way can be seen towards the left side of the photo.
Left: Old bridge site on the old PRR right of way. One of the many drainage ditches in this rich farm land. Right: Another rail fan watching the train pass at another crossing near LaCrosse.
Left: Starting around the curve near LaCrosse. Right: Another shot down the side of the train heading into the curve. Note grain bins in the distance, we are almost to LaCrosse.
Left: Coming into LaCrosse. Looking down the right side of the train. There was once a passing siding here, as evidenced by the roadbed. Right: Highway 8 crossing in LaCrosse looking toward the west.
Left: Another look at the Route 8 crossing as we continue into town. " Right: The town park where the northbound part of the trip ended. Pictured is the town park, where we waited while they turned the locomotive. Pictured are two PRR signals that the museum refurbished. Where they are sitting will soon be the home of the new LaCrosse Library. The shelter also pictured was the site for the original log cabin library. The fireplace in the shelter is the original one from the log cabin library.
Left: We have arrived safe and sound in LaCrosse. All passengers were asked to get off the train while it was turned on the wye, north of this location. When questioned, the guys from the HVRM only answered, "insurance reasons." Right: And a shot of the other side of our train.
Left: Hey, look who followed us! Much as I enjoyed the smooth ride of the caboose train, making the trip on one of those motorcars would have been really neat too. Maybe next time. " Right: After turning the locomotive the caboose train returns to the park to gather up the passengers.
Left: Shot of the locomotive, gondola and NKP caboose. The passengers are getting back on the train now. Right: The EJ&E transfer caboose on which I shot these pictures.
Left: Heading back to North Judson. The old PRR right of way is to the right side of the image. Right: Looking down the side of the train as we head into the curve.
Left: Another shot down the side. In the distance, where the tracks take a jog, this was the southern end of a passing siding. Right: Hard to see because of the trees, but you pass a piece of history during the trip. North of the Kankakee River sits an old hunting lodge. Called the Alpine Hunt Club, it dates back to the days before the Kankakee River was straightened and dredged. It is currently under private ownership and the owner enjoys his privacy. The property has several buildings which date back to the late 1880's, including boathouses on the old Kankakee River channel and the Cook House, where the caretaker resides. The main building has been renovated but it still is easy to identify as a former hunting club.
Left: Looking back north over the bridge. Right: Sunday, on my way back to South Bend, I decided to swing through English Lake and take some better pictures of the bridges. Pictured is the only business, a grocery store. People say when you walk in, it is like a trip back in time. Today, it was closed.
Left: West of the crossing at English Lake there is this foundation. I have no idea what it was once used for. Right: Looking to the west at the railroad bridges across the Kankakee from where the Kankakee and Yellow Rivers come together.
Left: Looking north across the Kankakee River bridge at English Lake. Right: East side of the bridge.
Left: Looking south across the bridge. Right: The west side of the bridge.
Left: Shot of the former PRR double tracked bridge at the Kankakee River. Looks in bad shape. Right: Another shot of the bridge, south of the river. And so ends another railroad adventure in the life of "Indiana" Kepshire.
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