Disclaimer: Since 2016, I have been a Save the Nickel Plate and Indiana Transportation Museum supporter. I have tried to keep this article as subjective as possible, any bias is unintentional. The opinions stated by the interviewers do not reflect the opinions of Tuggin' & Trammin' Blogging or Patrick Webb.
The ITM was founded in the 1960’s, according to American-Rails.com, and worked to preserve Indiana’s Railroad history. For around 50 years the ITM’s main headquarters was in Forest Park, located in Noblesville, until things came toppling down in the late 2010’s.
One challenge ITM faces is clearing their tarnished reputation. This started in 2016 when seven volunteers, (who Mitch McConnell, the ITM chairman says, were told to leave the museum) accused the museum of mishandling funds and having dangerous tracks. According to RTV6, the seven whistleblowers were fired from the ITM, violating ITM’s whistleblower policy.
Following the seven whistleblower’s firing, the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority, who owns the line ITM ran on, removed their trackage rights, then announced plans to turn the line into a trail. “Just prior to the HHPA announcement ITM had the railroad inspected by the FRA track inspector and in the FRA report stated the track conditions met Class Two and some areas as Class One,” Mr. McConnell stated; which would mean the tracks were safe to ride on. Mr. McConnell continued: “HHPA called in a private contractor to inspect the railroad who deemed the track as unsafe.”
In Fall 2017, Noblesville filed a complaint with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management who investigated for possible environmental ground contamination, improper chemical storage and waste spills by ITM. IDEM fined ITM $25,312 for a first time offence fine and to pay cleanup costs.
Noblesville and the Parks Department decided in December 2017 to not renew the ITM’s lease in Forest Park, their home of nearly 60 years, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal. The deadline was set on July 12, 2018 following a Court Case by Judge Paul Felix. Friday July 12, 2019 will be the 1st year anniversary since the ITM was evicted.
Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear stated in a letter to Hamilton County’s The Times that ITM’s leadership lost trackage rights on what is known to the public as the Nickel Plate Railroad (named after the now defunct railroad company which once owned the line) because of “questionable management, failed efforts and empty promises;” adding the ITM was only allowed to stay in Forest Park due to volunteers’ efforts. Mayor Ditslear stated that ITM sued Noblesville after offered a timeline to move out with a June 2019 deadline.
Mr. McConnell, responding to the letter, said “But the out plan didn't allow ITM to move any railcars by rail outside the museum grounds fence. The HHPA also refused [to let] ITM use [their] tracks.”
Les McConnell became the Vice Chairperson in 2017, and became the ITM’s Acting Chairperson on July 18, 2018, when his predecessor stepped aside due to personal reasons during the ITM’s Forest Park eviction. “ITM hasn't internally refocused completely. I'm still working on that issue,” Mr. McConnell said.
Les McConnell became the Vice Chairperson in 2017, and became the ITM’s Acting Chairperson on July 18, 2018, when his predecessor stepped aside due to personal reasons during the ITM’s Forest Park eviction. “ITM hasn't internally refocused completely. I'm still working on that issue,” Mr. McConnell said.
ITM’s name became most tarnished during the July 2018 moveout, when many historic pieces were scrapped, according to Mr. McConnell, by the museum assets director Josh Spencer. This included Milwaukee Road SW1 1613, one of 11 SW1 diesel switchers preserved, which some viewed as a childish act to stop other organizations from obtaining equipment. Kevin Kefee, Editorial Vice President of Classic Trains and Trains, compared ITM to a charnel house.
“Noblesville was threatening to fine ITM for any and all equipment left behind after the deadline and only a few museums came to help and fewer purchased railcars or asked for railcars. ITM needed funds to move critical railcars and equipment to a location for repairs and future use. 1613 was found derelict at a grain elevator with a bad prime mover a broken crankshaft,” Mr. McConnell explained, adding it acted as a donor for other locomotives.
“Nobody came to us and offered us money to move,” Mr. McConnell added.
ITM was also criticized for suing Noblesville and waiting for the county judge's decision to allow ITM to stay or not, versus beginning the moveout. “The Judge’s decision favored the city and thus shortened the move out time to a short two week time frame,” Mr. McConnell explained, adding “[Underwood Machinery Transport] was given the challenge to move equipment with good success at a high cost.”
A third challenge is financial. Jim Lesiak, an equipment transport contractor, estimated in the Hamilton County Circuit Court that ITM would have needed $2.5—$3 million to move all 72 pieces of their collection out of Forest Park to their new location. Other costs are the IDEM fine, bills for the ITM’s lawyers, and Nickel Plate Road 587’s approximately $70,000 highway movement cost to Ravenna, Kentucky.
“587 was the most expensive move due to paying for oversize and overweight permits even after further dismantling of the locomotive so it could be moved on the highways,” Mr. McConnell explained. He also stated the road transportation costs for a diesel locomotive is $40—50,000, and $5—10,000 thousand for a boxcar or caboose.
Excursions are still available in the Noblesville area, under a new operator Nickel Plate Express. Nickel Plate Express has been accused by ITM supporters as being a Noblesville—Fishers replacement for the ITM, and that ITM was evicted quickly to provide NPE with equipment. While the ITM’s collection that was left in Forest Park is currently being auctioned, according to Trains Magazine, none of the collection pieces have been given to Nickel Plate Express.
Currently, ITM is relocating from Noblesville, 60 miles North, to Logansport and Kokomo, Indiana. ITM is running excursions with rented equipment from US Rail, a short line company, as their diesels 83A, Nickel Plate 426 and Union Pacific 200 were left in Forest Park because ITM was unable to move them out.
Mayor Kitchell of Logansport, an integral leader in the ITM’s relocation, stated in 2018 that relocation talks started in early 2017. Logansport, Mayor Kitchell explained, is a logical location for a railroad museum due to it’s railroad heritage. Steam locomotives were built in Logansport, one survives at the B&O Railroad Museum, and the Wabash and Pennsylvania Railroads were large employers.
Mayor Kitchell offered his personal thoughts on ITM. His family held their son’s fourth birthday in Forest Park in 2011, and complimented the ITM on being accommodating. Mayor Kitchell stated his family’s dismay at the “political wranglings involving the museum and its access to tracks to the Indiana State Fair.”
“ITM had filled a void for the State Fair that would have cost the communities or the state hundreds of thousands of dollars, yet there seemed to be an unusually toxic opposition to its existence. As I followed the museum’s plight in the Indianapolis Star, I couldn’t believe a 501c-3 nonprofit with a 60-year track record could be put through local politics at its worst, all in the name of what some would term progress. The worst part of the story is that the people hurt most are children and families who just want decent things to do and places to go.”
Mayor Kitchell praised the ITM’s professionalism: “We can make room for a charitable organization that brings tourism dollars to our community and provides free excursions to local residents from schools, nursing homes and centers for the disabled. That’s a part of ITM’s profile its critics don’t mention and ITM doesn’t tout, but it’s one of several ways the museum is going above and beyond to further the cause of our Indiana rail heritage as well as the nation’s.”
Logansport used to have excursions with the Logansport & Eel River Railroad, which ran during the Iron Horse Festival from 1981—2001, until the Logansport & Eel River Railroad stopped excursions. Despite the Festival’s ending, Mayor Kitchell says Logansport has kept its love of trains. Logansport also has a “railroad hospital” to renovate freight cars, an asset, Mayor Kitchell explains, most towns don’t have.
The ITM has already received a warm welcome in Logansport and Kokomo. 2017’s Polar Bear Express had 14,000 riders, Mayor Kitchell predicted the number will continue increasing. Mayor Kitchell also stated 2017’s Bunny Hop Train brought Logansport and Walton, a neighboring town, closer together as people came to watch the trains at crossings and take videos.
Meanwhile in Kentucky, Nickel Plate Road 587, the 100 year old steam locomotive and the gem in ITM’s collection, rests in the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation’s Ravenna, Kentucky works. 587 was once a famous steam locomotive, according to Mr. Keefe. 587 was one of 625 locomotives known as the USRA Light Mikado 2-8-2 class. During World War 1, the US’ railroads were nationalized, according to History.com, under the command of the United States Railroad Administration. The USRA was disbanded in 1920, leaving behind a legacy of simple standard locomotives, according to Classic Streamliners, with 1,930 standard steam locomotives built. After the USRA’s disbandment, 641 more USRA Light Mikados were built for US Railroad.
587 is one of only seven surviving USRA Light Mikados. In 1955, 587 was donated by the Nickel Plate Road to Indianapolis for display. In 1983, 587 was pulled from being a park display and became a mainline excursion engine in 1988. 587 brushed shoulders with equally famous excursion locos Norfolk & Western 611 and 1218, and she travelled to two National Railroad Historical Society Conventions. 587 was the first locomotive to be registered by the National Register of Historic Places.
Unfortunately, 587 needed another restoration, which became stalled at ITM’s workshop, and the landlocked engine was into a precarious situation with the eviction. Thankfully, the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation helped rescue 587 from Forest Park. In return, ITM transferred ownership of their canteen tender, a former L&N “Big Emma” tender, PRR Tool Car and Baggage car.
To help cover 587’s movement and restoration costs, Mission 587 was formed. The organization is a coalition of Save the Nickel Plate, The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation, and The ITM. KSHC will restore 587 and Save the Nickel Plate will provide public relations and advertising assistance.
Mr. McConnell declined to comment on The ITM’s role in Mission 587, ITM is maintaining ownership of 587. Chris Campbell, Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation President, stated in a Facebook video that restoration will start once ITM acquires the funds.
Mission 587 has a Go Fund Me fundraiser to cover 587’s transportation cost. Currently $667 of $10,000 have been raised. Logan Day, a former Save the Nickel Plate spokesman (who stepped down to run for the position of Mayor in Fishers, which he lost to long time Mayor Scott Fadness) stated even if $10,000 is not raised, all funds will go towards 587. Mr. Day, as a third party, also added that both sides are equally at fault for the July moveout.
Mr. Day argues both sides didn’t keep good relations with each other, but added ITM was left to maintain the tracks “when the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority is the ONLY agency we've identified with a written obligation to do so. We [at Save the Nickel Plate] are left wondering how ITM was removed as operator of the railroad line for the Port Authority's ‘failure’ to maintain the railroad.” Mr. Day added that Save the Nickel Plate does not desire speak extensively on the issues regarding the ITM.
When asked about the ITM’s 2019 plans, Mr. McConnell declined to comment. “We do have goals,” He explained, “but I'm not making it public at this time. Major corporations have strategic plans, but don't announce them until after they’re ready to fully implement them.”
Mr. McConnell described the ITM’s reception in Logansport and Kokomo as “A great opportunity” and that he was very thankful that Mayor Kitchell wanted the ITM. He declined to comment on the opportunities and obstacles the ITM has with the move, and on how they have learned as an organization from the events in recent years.
Mr. McConnell did say: “The environmental issues are still looming. Clean up company ELAM Inc. discovered a chemical found in the groundwater called by trade name Chromium 6 inside the North area of the museum grounds. It's important to note that part of the museum grounds was an old chemical company property from the early 1900s, which can be found in state records, and also found in the local newspaper article from the 1920s the same land was used as the city dump.” The Indiana Department of Environmental Management said there was no other source for the chemical spills ITM was fined for.
When asked about Nickel Plate 587, Mr. McConnell said “Absolutely. 587 will run again.” He estimated 587 will be operational in 5—10 years. Regarding ITM as a whole, and where they will be in 10—20 years, Mr. McConnell replied “Alive.”
“[ITM’s had] many scares over the years. People have intentionally and unintentionally caused the demoralizing events that closed the chapter of ITM in Forest Park. ITM didn't start in Forest Park and it won't end there.”
Concluding, Mr. McConnell stated “I'm an Assistant Fire Chief and for many years and I've put out fires and prevented fires. I'm not letting ITM burn down to the ground. Hopefully at the end of 2019 I can explain in more detail.” Mr. McConnell recommends that every rail museum and rail heritage organization must maintain an active roll with their local communities and adhere to all federal, state and local codes.
On March 5, 2019, Trains Magazine announced that ITM are in talks to purchase the now defunct Logansport & Eel River Railroad. According to reporter Chris Anderson, ITM has already paid for 1.6 miles of track. This will give ITM a lot more security as owning their own property will ensure they cannot be evicted.
With 2018 behind them, the ITM can look to the future and rebuilding. The ITM has a rare chance to learn and start over in a new location. Hopefully, 2019 will be the end of the ITM’s recent woes and will be a more positive year for the museum.
Special thanks to Mayor Kitchell, Mr. Day and Mr. McConnell for their interviews. Special thanks also to Mary Elizabeth Reid who helped edit the article. She can be found on Twitter at @ilooktothesea
To read more about the ITM’s recent situation, please check out my sources below. If you wish to donate towards 587’s movement costs, check out Mission 587’s Go Fund Me Fundraiser: www.gofundme.com/mission587
ITM can also be found on Facebook. Readers should note that ITM’s Facebook account is not very active, the last post was on December 19, 2018. www.facebook.com/IndianaTransportationMuseum
Sources
American-Rails.com. “Indiana Transportation Museum.” www.american-rails.com/itm.html
Anderson, Chris. “Indiana Transportation Museum close on purchase of railroad.” Trains
Magazine. 5 March, 2019.
on-purchase-of-railroad
Classic Streamliners. “United States Railroad Administration.”
Ditslear, John. “Other Voices: Noblesville Mayor John Distlear.” Hamilton County The Times. 22
September, 2018.
Erdoby, Lindsey. “Noblesville ends lease agreement with Indiana Transportation Museum.”
Indianapolis Business Journal. 20 December, 2017.
History.com. “US Governments takes over control of nation’s railroads.” 5 November, 2009.
Kitchell, Dave. “Other Voices: Mayor Dave Kitchell.” Hamilton County The Times. 14 September, 2018.
Keefee, Kevin. Classic Trains Magazine. “The Survivor: Nickel Plate 587.” http://cs.trains.com/ctr/b/mileposts/archive/2018/07/10/the-survivor-nickel-plate-587.aspx
IBJ Staff. “UPDATE: Noblesville says museum mishandled chemicals on park grounds.”
Indianapolis Business Journal. 31 March, 2017.
Leapple, Wayne. “Indiana Transportation Museum equipment auction scheduled.” Trains
Magazine. 9 May, 2019.
Mission 587. “Mission 587.” Go Fund Me. www.gofundme.com/mission587
Quinn, Samm. “Judge Gives Transportation Museum Until July 12 to Leave Noblesville Park.”
Indianapolis Business Journal. 29 June, 2018.
RTV6 The Indy Channel. “Feds, state investigating Indiana Transportation Museum.” 14 June,
Tuhoy, John. “Judge Orders Train Museum Out of Noblesville Home by July 12.” Indianapolis
Star. 29 June, 2019.
me-july-12/746477002/
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