Monon Business Car & Caboose Donated to Hoosier Valley RM

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2023 11:56 am

https://www.hoosiervalley.org/connect/n ... oad-museum

Quote:

The Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society has donated two historic pieces of railroad equipment to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Indiana.

NORTH JUDSON, INDIANA – The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum and the Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society are jointly announcing the donation of two historic pieces of Indiana’s railroad heritage. Monon business car no. 2, also known as Lynne, and Monon wide vision caboose no. 81532 have been donated by the society to the museum.

The donation culminates months of work and planning and ensures that the Monon equipment is preserved while achieving the goals of both organizations. The plan includes operating the business car in excursion service as an upscale experience with portions of the ticket sales supporting the society. The deal is viewed as a “win-win” for both organizations.

“The museum is excited to see these historic cars come to North Judson since they have such a solid tie to Indiana’s railroad history,” stated Todd Flanigan, President of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum. “We’re grateful that we have been given this opportunity and are ready to take our excursion operations to the next level.”

“Donating the business car and 81532 to The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum ensures that they will be maintained and used on an active railroad,” stated Jim Craig, President of the Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society. “You will be able to, once again, actually ride in the caboose or the business car!”

The donation will bring together a growing collection of Monon equipment at the museum in North Judson. The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum already houses three pieces of Monon equipment: EMD SW-1 DS-50, boxcar no. 1220, and transfer caboose no. 81551.

Both cars will be moved by rail from their current location in southern Indiana to the museum in the coming weeks. The museum has established a fund to help pay for the move and any future restoration efforts. Donations can be made on the museum’s website at hoosiervalley.org/monon or via check.

More at the link.

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6468

Monon business car number 2 and caboose 81532 officially arrived at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum on 12/11/23. The first photo shows the two cars on the way to the museum. Members and some guests rode in HVRM's EJ&E caboose from the museum to English Lake where the Chesapeake & Indiana (CKIN) had spotted the car for pickup in the morning. These riders then transferred to the business car for the ride back to the museum. The second photo shows number 2 parked at the museum's North Judson depot, where some additional folks got to go through the gorgeous car. Finally, the last photo shows SD9M # 814 shoving the business car into the museums Shop, where it will be worked on over this coming winter so that it will be available for service for the 2024 season.

Les

phillman · **Joined:** Tue Jan 29, 2019 1:53 pm **Posts:** 16

Where were these 2 cars before moving to North Judson? The photos appear to perhaps be at French Lick. If so, why are they better suited for North Judson than French Lick?

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6468

phillman wrote:

Where were these 2 cars before moving to North Judson? The photos appear to perhaps be at French Lick. If so, why are they better suited for North Judson than French Lick?

phillman -

Caboose 81532 and business car number 2 were actually the property of the Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society. The idea of MRHTS was that the cars would be used, at least on occasion. Over the past few years, this was not the case and the Society was told by INRM (French Lick Scenic) that they had no intention of using the cars in the future and they would remain strictly on display. When asked, the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum advised that they would use both the caboose and the business car and would also allow MRHTS access for special events. MRHTS decided that the two cars would be better off at North Judson where society members could ride and enjoy them, at least at times, and both cars were then donated to HVRM.

Les

Monon Business Car & Caboose Donated to Hoosier Valley RM

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