National New York Central Railroad Museum facts for kids
Some Norfolk Southern intermodal trains pass between the museum and Elkhart Amtrak station
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Elkhart, Indiana |
| Reporting mark | NNYX |
| Locale | Elkhart, Indiana |
| Dates of operation | 1987–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The National New York Central Railroad Museum (reporting mark NNYX) is a railroad museum located in Elkhart, Indiana dedicated to the preservation of the New York Central Railroad (NYC).
The museum includes several outdoor equipment displays, indoor model railroads, artifacts from the NYC and other railroad related exhibits including educational displays pertaining to the history of railroading. The museum is currently expanding its dedication to the preservation of both local and national railroad heritage. The museum consists of a modified NYC 20th Century Limited train set and freight house built by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway (LS&MS) in 1907.
Contents
History
Elkhart was a vital link between East and West during the growth of railroading in the U.S. In 1833 the LS&MS built a line through town; it was later acquired by the NYC in 1914.
The museum is situated opposite the Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) east-west main line; NS freight trains pass approximately every 15 minutes. Amtrak's Elkhart Station is also within walking distance; daily service is provided by the Lake Shore Limited (Chicago-Boston/New York) and Capitol Limited (Chicago-Washington, D.C.).
Equipment
Locomotives
Steam
- New York Central 3001 (Alco #69338 of 1940): The largest surviving example of the NYC's modern steam power technology; only surviving L-3a class Mohawk; one of two surviving NYC 4-8-2 engines; one of the fastest locomotives of its time; primarily designed for mountain grades, it hauled passengers at speeds up to 80 mph (130 km/h) along the NYC's "Water Level Route" in the state of New York.
Diesel
- 1953 EMD E8 (NYC #4085): lead locomotive of the eastbound 20th Century Limited when it left Chicago, Illinois for final run on December 2, 1967.
Electric
- Penn Central (PC) 4882 (Altoona Works, 1939): Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) GG1 painted in PC livery; one of the fastest locomotives of its day, reaching speeds up to 100 mph (160 km/h); designed with the assistance of Raymond Loewy.
- Electric Interurban Car 15 of the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad, built 1926.
Cabooses
- 1974 Conrail bay window caboose #21230
Miscellaneous
- several Pullman Company railcars
- 150 ton (165 Tonnes) crane
- two steel Baltimore & Ohio Railroad freight cars
- 250 ton (275 Tonnes) self-propelled crane
- railroad post office
- PRR diner car
Interior displays
- Model railroads
- NYC memorabilia
