More Wabash Stations (yes, maybe, maybe not)
Michael Sheliga
A while back, someone was collecting a list of existing Wabash stations.
I'm not sure who it was, but I have a few more stations that I'm pretty sure were not on
the list, plus a couple of questions about where the Wabash ran and when.
First, there is definitely an old Wabash station about a half mile
South of Benton, IN, on the East side of US33. I'm pretty sure this wasnt on
the list. The station is now a private home.
Second, there is definitely an old Wabash station about 4 miles North of
Millersburg, IN (four miles N, 1 mile W on fish lake road, and then the
first house on the right - the station is behind the house ).
I'm also pretty sure this wasnt on the list. The station is now a chicken coop.
Third, the Wabash apparently ran the old Chicago-Rochester &
Indianapolis, later Chicago, Louisville, & Cincinnatti, later
Chicago, Peru & Indianapolis, later Lake Erie & Western (under NYC control for
some time),
later Nickel Platte, later NS. This line would have ran from Michigan City
to Indianapolis, via Laporte, Plymouth, Rochester, and Peru.
Apparently, the Wabash either owned, leased, or operated this line
in the 1880's, possibly while it was in bankruptcy-foreclosure (as such, I'm
not sure if it counts for the station list). Would anyone have any info about
this. I got this from the Fulton Co. Historical society, who got most of
it from the 1929(?) History of Indiana.
Does anyone else have any info on this line, or Wabash' involvement in it?
Existing stations along this line include Plymouth (used by NS) and
Rochester (historical society complex).
Fourth, the Wabash also had a subsidiary(?), the New Jersey, Indiana, and
Illinois. At least I think it was a subsidiary. I do know it operated the
10 miles of track from the Wabash main near Lakeville, IN, up to South Bend,
IN (NS still uses this line).
While there are no stations on this portion, I saw a sign near Lydick, IN,
where an old bridge pier sits next to the Conrail (NYC) and Chicago and South Shore
lines. The pier had a sign painted on it htat said, "Rugby Jct - NJI&I RR and MC RR"
If this sign is correct, NJI&I would have run through here, probably at least as
far as Galien (Michigan Central connection), possibly up to St. Joe (Pere Marquette
and Big 4 connections). If the NJI&I ran the whole way to St. Joes,
it would have used the still surviving stations in Baroda and Darby, and possibly
the MC station in Galien.
Does anyone have any info on this line. When was it pulled? Was
NJI&I an independent RR, or was it a subsidiary of Wabash that existed only on
paper? Where did it run in New Jersey and Illinois,or were these locations just part
of the name? Did NJI&I use the tracks the whole way to St Joes?
Thanks,
Mike
Vernon S. Tyler
In <4qcef9$d...@news.nd.edu> mshe...@laps.cse.nd.edu (Michael Sheliga)
writes:
> ...Was NJI&I an independent RR, or was it a subsidiary of Wabash that
>existed only on paper? Where did it run in New Jersey and Illinois,or
>were these locations just part of the name? Did NJI&I use the tracks
>the whole way to St Joes?
The "Official Guide" in 1968 listed the NJI&I as a separate
railroad controlled by the N&W (the issue was after the N&W had
acquired WAB). The line was shown running 11.4 miles from Pine IN to
South Bend IN.
Perhaps someone else can add detail why it was "NJI&I." Probably a
startup many, many years back with the intention of linking the three
States in its name, but didn't make it.
Vern
Terrell Shearer
BBReynolds
Michaell Sheliga queried whether the NJ&I was an independent railroad from
the
Wabash:
from Donald Heimberger's Wabash (p.23)---
"One more client was added to the already impressive list of automobile
shippers
when in 1926 an off-line connection was secured linking South Bend,
Indiana
with the town of ine, eleven miles south on the Montpelier-Chicago line.
The
Wabash brought controlling interest in a short line bearing the unlikely
name of
the New Jersey, Indiana & Illinois. Incorporated at South Bend in 1902
and
opened in 1905, the NJ&I Railroad was a creation of the Singer
Manufacturing
Company whose plants were located in New Jersey, Indiana and Illinois."
Michael Sheliga
Here is a reply I got to my original questions (from Art O'Toole), that should answer
most questions anyone else should have,
--------------------------------------------------
On Thursday, 20 June you asked several questions about the WABASH
involvement with "the old Chicago-Rochester & Indianapolis, later
Chicago, Louisville, & Cincinnatti, later Chicago, Peru & Indianapolis,
later Lake Erie & Western (under NYC control for some time), later
Nickel Platte, later NS. This line would have ran from Michigan City to
Indianapolis, via Laporte, Plymouth, Rochester, and Peru. Apparently,
the Wabash either owned, leased, or operated this line in the 1880's,
possibly while it was in bankruptcy-foreclosure" and the "New Jersey,
Indiana, and Illinois" railroad/railways.
I had been hoping some expert on those RRd/Rwys would answer your
questions because I would like to find out more about the old WABASH
lines. Since no one has, let me pass on to you the little I do know, and
believe to be true.
The best reference I have found so far to old WABASH historical
origins is "WABASH" by Donald J. Heimburger, Heimburger House Publishing
Company, 310 Lanthrop Avenue, River Forest, Illinois 60305, Copyright
1984, Library of Congress Card Number 83, 83067, ISBN 0-911581-02-2.
Heimburger, states, page 26,
"The Indianapolis, Peru & Chicago Railway had its origins in a strap
iron railroad chartered in 1846 as the Peru & Indianapolis Rail Road
(note the separate words, O'T) and was built as a 73 mile extension of
the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad (one word, O'T) north to a
connection with the Wabash and Erie Canal at Peru. M&I locomotives
operated the line until 1856 when the road was closed to replace strap
with T rails and the first locomotives were acquired. After six years
of receivership the railroad was reorganized as the IP&C (Indianapolis,
Peru & Chicago, O'T) Ry. in March, 1864.
The Cincinnati, Peru & Chicago Ry., organized in 1853, completed 28
miles of line between La Porte and Plymouth as part of a projected 88
mile extension north from Peru to Michigan City. After organization of
the CP&C in 1856 as the Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville RR, track was
completed into Peru in July, 1869 and Michigan City in April, 1871. In
May, 1871 the CC&L (Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville RR, O'T) was
acquired by the IP&C (Indianapolis, Peru & Chicago Rwy, O'T). Wabash,
St. Louis & Pacific leased the IP&C in September, 1881 and operated line
until March, 1887 when it was sold to the Lake Erie & Western (later
Nickel Plate). During the six years under Gould control, 10 Wabash (sic)
locomotives were transferred to the Indianapolis Division and were
included in the LE&W purchase."
I cannot verify the validity of either of those paragraphs of
Heinburger, but that's what he says.
I suggest his statements are more likely to be correct than the
information you received from the Fulton County Historical Society. With
all due respect to local historical societies, and local newspapers,
their information often is not quite correct. Much of their "history"
apparently comes from recollections of "Old Timers", which may not be
quite accurate. Note the similar, but different order of the towns in
the names of the predecessor railroads you received from the Fulton
County Historical Society, and their misspellings.
>> Note that the mispellings, etc. were mine, and not the historical
>> societies. The historical society got most of their info from
>> two referenced works, one being a history of Indiana written, I
>> believe, in the 1920's. Unfortunately, while I was looking at
>> their article today, I forgot to bring it with me. . . Overall,
>> the sources they used, while most likely "correct", were much
>> more sketchy than the above.
"Following the organization of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific in
1879, Gould brought in 10 small connecting railroads which the Wabash
controlled under 50 year leases. (Most of those 50 year leased were
abrogated about 6 years later in 1885 after the Wabash defaulted in
1884. O'T) . . . One line, the Indianapolis, Peru & Chicago, ran
entirely in Indiana and linked Indianapolis and Michigan City with the
Wabash at Peru. . . ."
WRT the New Jersey, Indiana, and Illinois Railroad Company:
Heinburger states, page 23:
"One more client (Studebaker, O'T) was added to the already
impressive list of automobile shippers when in 1926 an off-line
connection was secured linking South Bend, Indiana with the town of
Pine, eleven miles south on the Montpelier-Chicago line. The Wabash
bought controlling interest in a short line bearing the unlikely name
of the New Jersey, Indiana & Illinois. Incorporated in South Bend in
1902 and opened in 1905, the NJI&I was a creation of the Singer
Manufacturing Company (Sewing machines, O'T) whose plants were located
in New Jersey, Indiana and Illinois. Appropriately enough, the Wabash
worked the little line with Mogul-type engines, and beside Singer and
Studebaker business, it handled a large volume of interchange traffic."
I've seen other references which agree with those comments. They
imply that Singer was not willing to be held to the rate structures of
the railroad(s) serving his plant(s) so he built his own little
railroad(s). But, I never have seen any indications of any NJI&I
trackage/operations other than between South Bend and Pine, Indiana;
much less anywhere in New Jersey or Illinois. It very well may have, but
I've never seen anything to indicate that it did whilst digging around
about the WABASH.
Heinburger has several photos of those Mogul locomotives and NJI&I
cars in his book, but I don't have all the page references for you.
There is a 1981 Heinburger photo of NJI&I 50' box #3495 on page 234. It
has the large WABASH on the left, the flag on the right, and the NJI&I
reporting marks under the flag.