After the Santa Fe, my favorite railroad is the Monon, in part because my favorite layout is one built by Lance Mindheim and and in part because of relatives from Indiana.
The Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railroad was an Indiana based railroad with approximately 300 miles of track located entirely within the state of Indiana. It was referred to in several different ways, the CI&L, Hoosier Line, Monon route, but it is best known simply as Monon.
The name is derived from the town of Monon where the railroad’s track crossed itself forming an X pattern. From the town of Monon, track ran south to Louisville, southeast to Indianapolis, north to Michigan City and northwest to Chicago.
Since the Monon Railroad owned no track outside of Indiana, it reached Louisville with trackage rights granted from The Louisville & Nashville Railroad (L&N) to cross the Ohio River. It reached Chicago by connecting to the Chicago & Western Indiana(C&WI) railroad track at the Illinois state line at Hammond, Indiana.
Monon linked with other railroads that crossed Indiana at various interchange points including B&O, C&O, EL, GTW, L&N, NYC, PRR, WAB, NKP, C&EI and a few other roads. The Monon Railroad Historical Technical Society, Inc. provides a Monon System Map and Interchanges that illustrates these connection points across the state of Indiana.
I enjoyed your photos as usual, Ed. But in the one of the officials christening the Monon-Hoosier I note the fellow in the middle of the back row is sporting a pair of white saddle shoes. I mean, who shows up at trackside wearing white shoes? For that matter, who wears (girl’s) white saddle shoes with a suit? I remember a TV reporter showing up to ride a CVSR steam train in a white suit! That Monon official probably didn’t get up close very often with his company’s trains.
John W. Barriger III was indeed a standout railroader. His railroad photos always get my attention.
Sign of the times. It was a bit of a fashion statement in some circles! I remember in the summer months at GE as soon as the executives at the top started sporting their white shoes, the next day or so the underlings would also have theirs on, too.
Some interesting photos from the Monon Railroad Historical Technical Society Inc. website.
In the first photo, a Monon passenger train is arriving at Dearborn Station. In the second photo, a Monon passenger train is departing Dearborn Station. In the third photo, a C&WI switcher is pulling a string of passenger cars from the Dearborn Annex area to be serviced.
What I find so fascinating is the third photo in which a C&WI switcher is handling the chore of cleaning and turning the Monon passenger car consist. There is nothing unusual about C&WI doing this since it switched passenger cars for the other owner roads, C&EI, Wabash and Erie. But those three roads had servicing facilities nearby the C&WI yard. Monon did not. The Monon facilities were in South Hammond, about 30 miles south of downtown Chicago.
C&WI had its own service facilities at 47th St. The C&WI handled Monon’s passenger trains there, as long as they had any. Hammond was C&WI’s freight service facility.
Unlike Wabash, Erie and C&EI, Monon did not have its own facility along the C&WI mainline between 21st Street and 55th Street. Where were the Monon passenger cars cleaned, turned and serviced?
Awesome. Really appreciate it, rcdrye. For me, it is more than just simple knowledge. I model Dearborn Station, so it is extremely important to understand the operational aspect of passenger operations. Thanks again.
I still have not resolved who moved the Grand Trunk Western passenger cars back and forth between Dearborn Station and Elsdon Yard. I had hoped to find some information about that or even a photo, but nothing. Is it possible that C&WI switchers performed those moves?
I think in later years the GTW just used the road locomotives, as all of GTW’s passenger GP9s (and two GP18s) were dual control. The “Train Watchers Guide” says that by 1969 GTW just parked its trains in Dearborn, most likely in the no-longer-needed C&WI layover yard.
Living in Indiana, the Monon was the Hoosier Line.
There is a very good museum just north of Monon called Monon Connection Museum and Whistle Stop restaurant. For those of you passing thru North Central Indiana, this is well worth a visit as there is a massive collection of rolling stock, signals and memorabilia. MASSIVE. I would suggest you visit their website.
The restaurant serves good (not great) food…burgers, sandwiches, salad bar, etc. But, the highlight is the restaurant is the collection of Pennsylvania Railroad calendars which are displayed. Mint condition from the 30’s - Grif Teller artwork. I dont want to downplay their food - it is good and very good value.
Everything about this museum is first class. The owner had a career owning a large quarry operation in the Monon area. He sold out to a large corporation (possibly General Dynamics) years ago and needed something to do. A friend suggested railroads as he shipped stone by rail and had developed an interest. He took the suggestion to heart and started collecting.
This museum is privately owned and operated. If you like Monon Railroad, it is worth a visit. It sits across from the branch line which originally ran to Michigan City and now only runs north about 20 miles to service grain elevators. A CSX local is based on Monon and serves the area. There is a small yard south of the crossing. CSX runs massive Chicago - Indianapolis trains and the Amtrak passes thru town. Not too many trains, but the museum is worth the trip.
Monon, In. did quite well. Had a railroad named, a creek named, and at one time Monon Trailer (now Vanguard Trailer).
My other Monon good memory was north of Crawfordsville where up until about 12 years ago semaphore signals still were in use. The signals were between Crawfordsville and Linden, but have been replaced.
Another great story, MP173, like the one you wrote on the GTW thread. The Monon is one of my very favorite railroads. I was not aware of the museum, but I should check it out this summer. Thanks for posting.
I am not a big museum guy, but this place is amazing.
I grew up in southern Illinois - small town called Dundas, Il.(population 100) I walked into the museum and there was the Dundas, Il. station sign displayed. That floored me. I have photos taken in the 70s of trains passing that sign.
