Last Train from Noblesville

To make a long story short, the Indiana Transportation Museum has been evicted from its home of many years in Noblesville's Forest Park.  The current deadline to remove all remaining equipment is July 12.  But be that as it may....

On Thursday, Norm Krentel, Bill Wulfert, and I drove down to Noblesville to pick up a compressor we wanted and to investigate a couple of possible acquisitions.  And while we were at it, we took a final look at some of the equipment there.  I won't say anything about possible acquisitions until decisions have been taken by the responsible parties.  But we can see a few of the better pieces at the museum that will be preserved elsewhere.

Norm and Bill drove a Museum truck to carry the D3F compressor.  

The museum grounds were very busy, with various types of machinery in motion everywhere, operated by different groups or companies.

Here Norm and Bill are finishing up putting blocking around the compressor.

The Nickel Plate locomotive was being prepped to be hoisted out.  It will be going to Kentucky.  I will be interested to see pictures of exactly how it will be done.

Inside the storage barn is the real jewel of the collection, Flagler's private car, the FEC 90.  Craig Presler kindly gave us a complete tour of the interior of the car, which is in amazingly good condition.  The car is complete with all of the original furnishings and appurtenances.  It will be going to Logansport.

The car was evidently built with Pintsch gas lighting, later changed, of course.

The woodwork (entirely satinwood) is stunning.

Nickel-plated fixtures.

And then there's the Singer engine, a very early (1898) electric locomotive used at the Singer plant in South Bend, still in excellent condition.   It too will be going to Logansport.

There is also the body of a mule car dating to 1869, or so they say.