National New York Central Railroad Museum facts for kids
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Some Norfolk Southern intermodal trains pass between the museum and Elkhart Amtrak station
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| Established | 1987 |
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| Location | Elkhart, Indiana |
| Type | Railroad |
The National New York Central Railroad Museum (reporting mark NNYX) is a fun museum about trains in Elkhart, Indiana. It's dedicated to saving the history of the New York Central Railroad (NYC).
At the museum, you can see real trains outside! Inside, there are cool model railroads and old items from the NYC railroad. You can also learn about the history of trains. The museum is growing to save even more local and national train history. The museum itself is made from a special 20th Century Limited train car and an old freight house. This freight house was built way back in 1907!
Contents
Discovering Train History in Elkhart
Elkhart was a super important spot for trains connecting the East and West in the U.S. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway (LS&MS) built a train line through town in 1833. Later, the NYC railroad took over this line in 1914.
The museum is right across from the main train line of the Norfolk Southern Railway (NS). You can often see NS freight trains zooming by every 15 minutes! The Amtrak station is also close by. You can watch passenger trains like the Lake Shore Limited and Capitol Limited pass through daily.
The museum's collection and land first belonged to the Lakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation (LRHF). This group worked to save train history in Elkhart. They gave their collection and sold the land to the city in early 1987. The museum officially started in 1987. After a few years of planning, it opened its doors to everyone on May 1, 1989.
In October 2024, the museum announced exciting news! They teamed up with the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society to make the museum even better. They planned to check all the items in their collection. Some items might be moved to new homes. After that, they would create a new plan for the outdoor train displays. The goal is to make the museum a key part of making the neighborhood even more awesome!
Cool Trains and Equipment to See
The museum has many different types of trains and equipment. You can see powerful locomotives, cozy cabooses, and passenger cars.
Locomotives: The Powerhouses of the Rails
These are the engines that pull the trains!
| Number | Image | Type | Class | Builder | Built | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4085 | Diesel | E-8A | Electro-Motive Diesel | 1953 | Display | This engine was built for the New York Central. It was the lead locomotive for the last eastbound 20th Century Limited train. That famous train left Chicago, Illinois on December 2, 1967. The museum bought it in 1987. | |
| 4882 | Electric | GG1 | PRR Altoona Works | 1939 | Display | This powerful electric engine was built for the Pennsylvania Railroad. It could go up to 100 mph (160 km/h)! A famous designer, Raymond Loewy, helped create its sleek look. The museum bought it in 1987. | |
| 15 | Electric | Interurban | Pullman Standard | 1926 | Display | This electric car was built for the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad. It was given to the museum in 2002. |
Cabooses: The End of the Train
Cabooses were like small homes for the train crew at the back of freight trains.
| Number | Image | Type | Builder | Built | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19211 | End Cupola Caboose | New York Central Railroad | 1910 | Static Display | Built for the New York Central. It was given to the museum in 1989. | |
| 21084 | Bay Window Caboose | New York Central Railroad | 1963 | Display | Built for the New York Central Railroad. | |
| 21230 | Bay Window Caboose | Fruit Growers Express | 1974 | Display | This caboose was built for Conrail. It was used in special "wreck train" service. Conrail gave it to the museum in 1997. |
Passenger Cars: Traveling in Style
These cars carried people across the country.
| Number | Image | Type | Builder | Built | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5104 | RPO | Standard Steel Car Company | 1914 | Display | This car was originally for the Michigan Central Railroad. It was later used by the New York Central Railroad for work trains. The Lakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation bought it in 1996. | |
| 2691 | Heavyweight Coach | Standard Steel Car Company | 1914 | Display | Named Elkhart River. It was built for the Illinois Central Railroad. It was given to the museum in 1987 and is painted in NYC colors. It's used as an exhibit car. | |
| 454 | Observation | Budd Company | 1937 | Static Display | Named City of Elkhart. This car was built for the Rock Island Railroad. It was sold to the City of Elkhart in 1987 and is painted in NYC colors. |
Freight Cars: Hauling Goods Across the Nation
These cars carried all sorts of goods, from food to fuel.
| Number | Image | Type | Builder | Built | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16039 | Tank car | General American Tank Car Corp. | 1952 | Display | Built for the New York Central. It was given to the museum in 2006. | |
| 288121 | Boxcar | 1957 | Display | Built for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. It's painted in NYC green with museum logos. | ||
| 38662 | Reefer | 1940s | Display | This special car was built for the Milwaukee Road and kept food cold. |
Other Special Equipment
The museum also has unique equipment used for maintenance and emergencies.
| Number | Image | Type | Builder | Built | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-13 | 250-ton Wrecking Crane | Industrial Brownhoist | 1946 | Display | This huge crane was built for the New York Central Railroad. It was used to help clean up train accidents. Conrail gave it to the museum in 1997. | |
| X-28 | 150-ton Wrecking Crane | 1920s | Display | Another wrecking crane built for the New York Central Railroad. It was given to the museum in 1991. |
Former Locomotives and Equipment: Moving On
Some trains that were once here have found new homes or are waiting for new adventures.
| Number | Images | Type | Class | Builder | Built | Status | Owner | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3001 | Steam | 4-8-2 | American Locomotive Company | 1940 | Display, awaiting move and restoration | Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society | This is a very special steam engine! It's the largest surviving example of the NYC's modern steam power. It was one of the fastest locomotives of its time, reaching speeds up to 80 mph (130 km/h). It was acquired by the Lakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation in 1984. In September 2023, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society took ownership. They plan to move it to New Haven, Indiana to fix it up so it can run again! | |
| 3042 | Auxiliary Water Tender | None | American Locomotive Company | 1940 | Display, awaiting move and restoration | Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society | This car carried extra water for steam engines. It was saved by the NYC and later used for the American Freedom Train. It was given to the museum in the 1980s and displayed behind engine 3001. In September 2023, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society bought it. It will move to New Haven, Indiana with engine 3001. |
Inside the Museum: Fun Displays
- Model railroads: See miniature trains running on tiny tracks!
- NYC memorabilia: Look at old tickets, uniforms, and other cool items from the New York Central Railroad.
See also
- NYC Mohawk
- 20th Century Limited
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
