The Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society devotes its efforts to preserving the records and equipment of the Monon Railroad, including predecessor names of the line. MRHTS acquired a number of pieces of Monon equipment, with the idea that it would place this equipment at certain museums, and have the said museum maintain the equipment and occassionally operate it. This system was of limited success. Wide vision-bay windowed cabooses 81528 ended up at the Indiana Transportation Museum in Noblesville, IN and 81532 at Indiana Railway Museum in French Lick, IN. The only surviving Monon transfer caboose # 81551, also ended up at ITM. In reality, MRHTS members have had to restore this equipment, some more than once. And the 81551 has not been restored yet.

Some years ago, the Linden-Madison Township Historical Society, acquired the "L-shaped" junction depot at Linden, Indiana that served both the Monon and the Nickel Plate Road. The L-MTHS also acquired NKP bay window caboose #497 which was restored and placed on the old abandoned NKP right-of-way in front of the restored depot. Meanwhile, MRHTS was looking for a place to establish its "Monon World Headquarters" and considered Linden. There was a vacant parcel of land immediately to the south of the depot and beyond that, a small ranch type home that was for sale. The Society decided to establish its "WHQ" right there. The home currently houses various Monon records. And the Society has acquired, and placed on display tracks built on the vacant parcel, 50' steam-era steel boxcar # 1620, wooden offset cupola caboose #C-283 and flat car #32258. The flat car has steps built up to the deck where photographers can take pictures of passing CSX trains that still use the old Monon trackage through this particular area.

In addition, MRHTS continues to keep an eye out on some ex-Monon equipment for possible inclusion into the societies collection. This includes the last Alco C-420 diesels, an EMD SW1, other cabooses, other freight equipent and a Monon business car. Like all organizations, the Society is short of funds. And many of its members who once worked for the Monon, are passing on. Still, the effort to preserve "The Hoosier Line", continues to go on.

Les