Indiana Railway Museum
Encyclopedia
The Indiana Railway Museum in French Lick, Indiana
is a railroad museum
dedicated to preserving and displaying artifacts related to the history of railroads in Indiana.
The museum's collection includes more than 65 pieces of rolling stock and locomotives. The museum has three steam locomotives on display that are not operational and three operational diesel locomotives. Excursions are typically powered by a diesel locomotive.
line running from West Baden Springs
in Orange County
, through French Lick
, then southwest to the towns of Cuzco
and Dubois in Dubois County
.
The track beyond Dubois is operated by the Dubois County Railroad
, a for-profit subsidiary of the museum.
and carried approximately 23,000 passengers in 2004.
Excursions are based on a 20 mile round trip through portions of the scenic Hoosier National Forest and the 2200 foot Burton Tunnel and takes approximately 2 hours.
town of Westport
, but moved in 1971 to Greensburg
, and then in 1978 to its present location in French Lick.
French Lick, Indiana
French Lick is a town in French Lick Township, Orange County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,807 at the 2010 census. In early 2006 the French Lick Resort Casino, the state's tenth casino in the modern legalized era, opened drawing national attention to the small town.- History :French...
is a railroad museum
Railway museum
A railway museum is a museum that explores the history of all aspects of rail related transportation, including: locomotives , railway cars, trams, and railway signalling equipment.See List of railway museums...
dedicated to preserving and displaying artifacts related to the history of railroads in Indiana.
Collection
Rail line
The museum owns 16 miles of an ex-Southern RailwaySouthern Railway (US)
The Southern Railway is a former United States railroad. It was the product of nearly 150 predecessor lines that were combined, reorganized and recombined beginning in the 1830s, formally becoming the Southern Railway in 1894...
line running from West Baden Springs
West Baden Springs, Indiana
West Baden Springs is a town in French Lick Township, Orange County, Indiana, United States. The population was 574 at the 2010 census. It is the birthplace of NBA legend Larry Bird.-Geography:West Baden Springs is located at ....
in Orange County
Orange County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,306 people, 7,621 households, and 5,342 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile . There were 8,348 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
, through French Lick
French Lick, Indiana
French Lick is a town in French Lick Township, Orange County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,807 at the 2010 census. In early 2006 the French Lick Resort Casino, the state's tenth casino in the modern legalized era, opened drawing national attention to the small town.- History :French...
, then southwest to the towns of Cuzco
Cuzco, Indiana
Cuzco is an unincorporated town in Columbia Township, Dubois County, Indiana.The American Civil War historian Gilbert R. Tredway was reared in Cuzco during the 1920s and 1930s....
and Dubois in Dubois County
Dubois County, Indiana
Dubois County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. The county seat is Jasper. As of 2010, the population was 41,889.Dubois County is part of the Jasper Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
The track beyond Dubois is operated by the Dubois County Railroad
Dubois County Railroad
The Dubois County Railroad is a Class III short-line railroad serving Dubois County in southern Indiana, United States, and is a for-profit subsidiary of the Indiana Railway Museum....
, a for-profit subsidiary of the museum.
Heritage railroad
The museum operates the 10-mile stretch of the line between French Lick and Cuzco as a heritage railroadHeritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
and carried approximately 23,000 passengers in 2004.
Excursions are based on a 20 mile round trip through portions of the scenic Hoosier National Forest and the 2200 foot Burton Tunnel and takes approximately 2 hours.
History
The Indiana Railway Museum was founded in 1961 in the Decatur CountyDecatur County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,555 people, 9,389 households, and 6,882 families residing in the county. The population density was 66 people per square mile . There were 9,992 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile...
town of Westport
Westport, Indiana
Westport is a town located in Sand Creek Township, Decatur County, Indiana. The population was 1,379 at the 2010 census. The town was founded in 1836...
, but moved in 1971 to Greensburg
Greensburg, Indiana
Greensburg is a city in Decatur County, Indiana, United States. The population was counted at 11,492 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Decatur County....
, and then in 1978 to its present location in French Lick.