This is a collection of photographic prints from the collection of Robert Clemons, all donated by Thomas Clemons to the Illinois Railway Museum. Many thanks to Thomas and the Clemons family for their generous donation. All images are copyright Illinois Railway Museum. Images may not be reproduced or distributed without authorization.
These photos are mostly of the Northern Indiana Railway, or NIR, and associated lines.
La Porte & Michigan City Traction (LP&MC) car 211 or 212 is on Main Street near Michigan Avenue in La Porte circa 1915
NIR 162 is at the Notre Dame Avenue shops on February 20, 1938. It was built by Brill in 1899 for Cleveland Electric Railway, their 602 (later 302, then 672); went to Northern Ohio Traction & Light, their 816; and arrived in South Bend in 1922.
MC&LP (later NIR) 217 was rebuilt from MC&LP 2, a 1902 Jewett product. It was later rebuilt again as NIR 308.
NIR 300-307 were built by Cincinnati in 1907. Car 301 is shown in South Bend on August 15, 1932, showing off its reconfiguration for one-man operation. George Krambles Photo.
NIR 304 has also been converted for one-man operation by reversing the direction of the car and installing folding doors.
The NIR 300s were real beauties. NIR 307 escaped being one-manned but did acquire a name, "Keshena." These cars had Type M control and were occasionally operated in two-car trains coupled back-to-back.
Earlier in its career, NIR 307 suffered this indignity, apparently while operating over the Winona Railroad.
NIR 308 is pictured at the car barn. This car was built by Jewett in 1902 and rebuilt a couple of times, eventually emerging with a similar appearance to the 300-series Cincinnati cars.
NIR 320, a former Jackson & Battle Creek Traction 44-48-series trailer, is pictured on September 7, 1934
Another view of NIR 320, this time at the car barn. This car was purchased in 1919 from Michigan United Railways.
And NIR 320 is pictured in the yard. By this time it appears to have been one of the few cars not painted in traction orange.
NIR 351 was one of a series of 10 lightweight cars built by Cummings Car & Coach in 1930. It's pictured at the builder's plant in Paris, Illinois.
NIR 356 is shown in Michigan City. Barney Neuberger photo
NIR 360 is in service in Michigan City in this Ed Frank photo. These cars were returned to Cummings in 1935 and afterward used by Indiana Railroad as their cars 90-99.
NIR line car 571 was constructed in 1923 by modifying a freight trailer.
NIR work car 580 is a rebuilt streetcar (this info is written on the print but may be incorrect; this number does not appear in a published NIR roster)
NIR Birney 603, built in 1919 by Cincinnati, is pictured at the Notre Dame Avenue shop in 1939
An unknown NIR 300-series car is northbound on Franklin Street in Michigan City. A close look reveals the car's bulky storm windows and a following Birney.
NIR 308 is shown in operation in South Bend on August 7, 1932. It is on East Division Street, about to back into Francis Street.
NIR/Southern Michigan Railway freight motor 504 is in South Bend on June 24, 1935. It was built by Niles in 1909 as Southern Michigan 1. I can't identify the type of truck under the car.
Chicago-New York Electric Air Line (CNYEAL) 101. This car and sister 102 were built by Niles in 1907.
CNYEAL 101 passes a steam engine and PRR gondola at South La Porte
CNYEAL 102 is in La Porte in 1909 with a plow attached.
CNYEAL 103, the "Ohm," was built by McGuire-Cummings in 1909 and sublettered for Gary South Bend & Chicago.
1 comment:
Great article and thanks to the Clemons family for sharing the resources. Can you remind me what NIR car IERM/IRM folks looked at getting, and passed on? As I recall from a chat with Bruneau, this car was better than what some of the Body Snatchers efforts went after, and we passed because of rot that was basically cosmetic (siding?). Some small part of that car was saved and parts were still in Union. Decisions were made, and we live with them today, and it is just how it is. Still makes you wonder what could have been. O. Anderson
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