Whitewater Valley Railroad

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The Whitewater Valley Railroad is a heritage railroad in Indiana.

The railroad is dedicated to the preservation and presentation of a 1950s era of branch line railroading. It is now operated by vintage diesel switchers and road switchers during most of the year. Steam operations vary from year to year, see the railroad's website. The most recent steam locomotive donated to the organization is New York Central B-10W 0-6-0 #6894. It is nearly identical to the last steam engines operated on the line. It is currently being evaluated for eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. This may allow for funding options to restore the locomotive to operation.

History

Whitewater Canal with railroad and train visible near Metamora, Indiana

The Whitewater River formed a natural trade route for Native Americans and for early settlers. In 1836 the new state of Indiana approved funds to build the Whitewater Canal, following the river from Lawrenceburg, Indiana all the way to Hagerstown, Indiana 76 miles (122 km). It was opened to Connersville, Indiana in 1845. While improving trade for the area, it suffered from alternate droughts and floods, which carried away aqueducts and embankments. It was so damaged by floods in the later 1850s that residents petitioned the state to sell the right of way for a railroad.

In 1863 the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Railroad (I&C) acquired the right to build on the old towpath, although many portions of the canal remained open as a source of water power for mills like the one still operating in Metamora, Indiana. The canal remained open in Connersville until 1953, when Western Avenue was built over the top of it.

After the I&C purchased the canal right-of-way, its subsidiary, the White Water Valley Railroad (WVRR), reached Connersville in the Spring of 1867, and continued on to Hagerstown in 1868. The WWVRR connected with the I&C main line at Valley Junction, 17 miles (27 km) west of Cincinnati, and ran trains into Cincinnati over that line.

Initially operated by the I&C, the WVRR operated independently for several years. In 1890 the WVRR was absorbed by the growing *Big Four* - the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis. The Big Four (later the New York Central Railroad or NYC) operated commuter trains from Connersville and from Harrison, Ohio, into Cincinnati, and briefly operated through trains and parlor cars from Cincinnati to Fort Wayne, changing at Connersville to the tracks of the Lake Erie and Western Railroad.

The little used section between Connersville and Hagerstown was abandoned by the NYC 1931, with the track removed from this section in 1936, and all passenger service ended in 1933. Local freight continued behind steam locomotives until 1957, and behind diesel locomotives until discontinued by the NYC's successor, the Penn Central Railroad in 1972.

The formation of Conrail in 1976 saw that company provide rail service in Connersville, however the line was disconnected from the rest of the Conrail system.

The line between Metamora and Connersville was sold to the non-profit Whitewater Valley Railroad in 1984, although freight operation from Brookville to Valley Junction was taken over in 1979 by the Indiana and Ohio Railway. Freight service was abandoned on the Whitewater line between Brookville and Connersville in 1974. The portion of the remaining NYC branch between Connersville and Beeson's Station was sold to Indiana Hi-Rail Corporation in 1981.

Present operation

The present Whitewater Valley Railroad was formed as a not-for-profit corporation in 1972, and began weekend passenger operations in 1974 on 25 miles (40 km) of leased Penn Central Railroad track between Connersville and Brookville. After a substantial washout closed the track between Metamora and Brookville in 1974, the Penn Central lifted 4 miles (6.4 km) of track in 1976.

The remaining 18 miles (29 km) of line from Connersville through Metamora were formally purchased by the Whitewater Valley in 1983, followed later by an additional 1-mile (1.6 km) of track in Connersville that was no longer wanted by the Indiana Hi-Rail Corporation.

Operation of the heritage railroad has always been conducted entirely by volunteers, supplemented by a paid office manager. Track upgrading has been assisted by matching grants, totalling over $1.6 million since 1994. The railroad museum has rescued two historic railroad structures from the region including Dearborn Tower (NYC - B&O) from Lawrenceburg, Indiana as well as the B&O Rushville, Indiana passenger depot. These buildings are located on the south end of the Connersville Yard. The railroad proposes to install a turntable and roundhouse shelter to protect locomotives and other equipment from the weather in this general location along with providing space for other historic buildings. In 2012 the railroad constructed a 150' x 60' restoration shop on the north end of the Connersville Yard.

The railroad operates passenger excursion trains pulled by historic diesel locomotives and open window Erie, New York Central, and Rock Island coaches on a regular schedule. These trains often include a caboose from the museum's collection. One route, the Valley Flyer, operates from Connersville to Metamora, while another operates as the Metamora Local, carrying passengers south on a 2-mile (3.2 km) excursion along the restored canal, past the canal boat dock, a working aqueduct, and a restored lock. This train consist usually includes at least one caboose and a coach. During winter operations, trains operate with steam heat provided by a generator car formerly used by Via Rail Canada.

Locomotives

Current roster

Number Railroad Builder Type Date
8 Muncie and Western Railroad GE GE 70-ton switcher 12-1946
25 Cincinnati Union Terminal Lima Locomotive Works LS-750 06-1951
99 Amherst Industries originally Baldwin demonstrator DF-100 Baldwin Locomotive Works Baldwin DS-4-4-1000 1949
210 Calumet & Hecla Copper GE GE 70-ton switcher 12-1946
320 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Lima Lima LS-1200 12-1950
346 Patapsco and Back Rivers Railroad Baldwin Baldwin S-12 09-1951
532 Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Electro-Motive Diesel EMD SD10, upgraded from EMD SD9 in October, 1975. See roster listing here. 02-1954
709 Armco Steel Corporation Lima Lima LS-1000 03-1950
2 France Stone Company Plymouth Locomotive Works ML-6 01-1930
11 Southwestern Portland Cement Vulcan Iron Works Vulcan 0-4-0T 12-1924
6 East Broad Top RR Baldwin Locomotive Works standard gauge 0-6-0 Switcher 02-1907
1 USN 1 GE GE 65-ton switcher 1942
9339 The Procter & Gamble Company#9 painted as NYC#9339 American Locomotive Company ALCO S-1 1-1948
6894 New York Central Railroad Michigan Central American Locomotive Company Pittsburgh Works NYC B-10W 0-6-0 Switcher 1912

Former locomotives

Number Railroad Builder Type Date
100 Escambia Railway Baldwin 2-6-2 1919

Current operations

Train along the Whitewater Canal
Rail transport
  • Valentines Train to Dinner
  • Easter Bunny Train
  • Weekend Train (Connersville, IN to Metamora, IN and return)
  • Metamora Shuttle
  • Wild West Train
  • Pumpkin Train
  • A Day Out With Thomas (Late June)
  • Fall Excursions
  • Train to Dinner
  • 4 July Train
  • Labor Day Steam Trips
  • Santa Trains
  • The Polar Express (November to December)

See also

External links

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