Indiana Railway Museum facts for kids
Main Station
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | French Lick, Indiana |
| Reporting mark | IRM |
| Locale | Indiana |
| Dates of operation | 1961–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The French Lick Scenic Railway is a fun train ride located in French Lick, Indiana, United States. It lets you experience what it was like to travel by train in the past!
Contents
History of the Railway
The story of the French Lick Scenic Railway began in 1961. It started as the Indiana Railway Museum in a town called Westport, Indiana. Back then, it had just one train engine and three passenger cars.
The museum moved a couple of times. In 1978, it found its home in French Lick. This happened because the Southern Railway gave them about 16 miles of train tracks. These tracks stretched from West Baden, near French Lick, all the way to a small village called Dubois.
Today, the old museum building is a gift shop and where you pick up your tickets. The French Lick Scenic Railway still uses these tracks for exciting train trips!
Train Collection
While there isn't a traditional museum building anymore, the French Lick Scenic Railway has a cool collection of trains. They once had over 65 different pieces of rolling stock and locomotives!
They have several diesel locomotives that are ready to pull the trains. These include powerful engines like the ALCO RS-1 or EMD GP16.
When you ride, your train might have special cars. These can include bi-level commuter cars, a snack car, and even a unique dome car. There's also an old caboose, which is the car at the very end of the train!
Meet the Locomotives
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The railway has many interesting locomotives. Here are a few examples:
- IRM #4 is an ALCO RS-1. It used to be with the Algers, Winslow and Western Railway.
- IRM #6 is a GE 80-ton switcher. This type of engine is great for moving cars around.
- IRM 1813 is an EMD GP16. It was originally built for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad.
- In 2024, the railway also got some modern Colorado Railcar DMU trains. These are special cars that can run on their own!
Exciting Train Rides
The French Lick Scenic Railway offers fun train rides on a 10-mile section of track. This part of the line is known as a heritage railway.
The main trip is a 20-mile round trip. It takes you through the beautiful Hoosier National Forest. The ride lasts about 1 hour and 45 minutes. A highlight of the journey is going through the 2,000-foot-long Burton Tunnel! It's a really cool experience.
Special Events and Themes
The railway also hosts many special events throughout the year. These themed rides are very popular!
- You can go on a dinosaur adventure train.
- There's an Easter bunny express around springtime.
- The Polar Express is an award-winning event during the holiday season. It's like stepping into the famous Christmas story!
They also have special tasting trains for adults aged 21 and over. These include unique experiences like wine, beer, or chocolate tasting trips.
See also
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
- List of museums in Indiana
