General Questions from new member

[Chuck Stewart]

Hi, everybody!  New guy here with some questions:
1) The book, Monon, The Hoosier Line by the Dolzalls says the diesel color schemes were based on the IU and Purdue colors.  The MRHTS history page says that isn’t correct.  I take it the book is in error?
2) Did any of the Monon’s F3’s have dynamic brakes?
3) Where does the MRHTS store its rolling stock?  Is the passenger car and caboose now in Salem?
4) Through the second grade, I lived across from the Monon tracks in Broad Ripple.  Does anyone recall there being a Monon building (repair shop perhaps?) on the southeast corner where East 61st Street crossed the Monon on the south side of town.  On Google Earth (easier to see when the leaves are gone!), you can still see the remnants of a road or roadbed leading to where the building used to stand.
I sure would like to know if that really was a Monon building or am remembering an urban legend from my childhood!  Thanks for your time!

[Joe Land]

Welcome to MRHTS!! I can answer question #2: None of the Monon engines had dynamic brakes. I am sure other members will answer the rest of your questions.

[Chuck Stewart]

Thanks, Joe!

[Walker McCulloch]

It is my understanding the colors were those of Wabash College and DePauw University. 

[Ron Marquardt]

I have heard that too Walker, but other than the info in Hilton's book I've never seen any evidence that this is in fact true.  What I've always questioned is why, when the Monon's two terminals were located at Lafayette and Bloomington, and the major University's at these locations had the same colors, would they have chosen to credit Wabash and Depauw?  I hope some day we can find some documentary evidence to support our opinions,  one way or the other.  / Ron

[Chuck Stewart]

I would agree with your logic, Ron.

[George Lortz]

I tend to believe that the Monon did have their college customers in mind when they selected railroad colors.  It made sense.  Purdue and DePauw both have old gold and black colors.  IU, Wabash and St. Joe all have red (crimson) and white colors.  U of L is red and black.  Butler is the only one that doesn't fit this scheme.  At least I've never seen a blue and white Monon locomotive!

The reason that urban myth seems to favor DePauw and Wabash colors is the connection of the railroad with the annual Monon Bell football game, which started long before the Monon had any diesel locomotives.

George L.

[Chuck Stewart]

Did not know that!  Thanks for the post, George!

[Chuck Stewart]

Regarding question #4...spent the past few hours viewing Sandborn Insurance maps.  I just found a 1929 map which does show an industrial spur which splits into two tracks at the southeast corner of East 61st St. in Broad Ripple.  The property appears to be owned by J. McNamara.  There is a factory on the lot but not near the tracks.  I cannot find any info on McNamara other than it became a florist in 1954 and closed a few years ago.  The map shows four structures near the mainline and the spur tracks.  I'm still wondering if it was a RIP track???
If anybody has further info, I'd love to hear it!

[Chuck Stewart]

For those of you(?) who have been following this saga(?), the mystery has been solved.  The siding lead into the McNamara Journal Box Company.  I have searched the internet and have found absolutely nothing about them.
If you checked out the Google Earth satellite photo of the area, the building that you see was recently torn down.  As soon as the Broad Ripple zoning board grants approval, the tract of land will be turned into some sort of housing…and the last remaining bit of roadbed leading into the property will be lost to history.

[Joe Land]

Chuck, for answer to #3 question:
Scroll down to category "Restoration of MRHTS Rolling Stock Collection".

[Chuck Stewart]

Thanks, Joe!  Now I know!  I had watched the YouTube video of the Lynne move previously.  Call me stupid, but I had no idea the move would include a tunnel!

[Joe Land]

When you take the train ride at French Lick you will see the tunnel from the inside.

[Robert Wheeler]

Bit of trivia about the tunnel at French Lick:

It's on the former Southern Railway, not Monon. The Monon ended on the south side of the SR 56 grade crossing.

The only tunnel on the CI&L (later Monon) was between MP C19.94 and C19.71 just west of Owensburg MP C18.9 on the Bedford-Switz City Branch (AKA B&B Branch and by the names of the several railroads that built and later owned it prior to its acquisition by the CI&L Ry.)  Tunnel has been sealed up and is on private property.

All but the west end of the B&B (about Avoca (MP C6.5) to Bedford) was abandoned in about 1937.

[Chuck Stewart]

Thanks, Joe and Robert.  Found the B&B branch on the Monon map and located Owensburg.  Do we know why this branch was created in the first place…passenger service, limestone…?
If you don’t mind my asking a few questions that I should know the answer to: When did they stop shipping freight on the Monon -Indianapolis branch?  When did passenger service cease on this branch...and was the line abandoned at that time?  Did the L&N ever use this branch after their acquisition in 1971?