August 1, 2020 - Engine 465 leads a afternoon passenger train as it approaches the switch at milepost 74 as it heads for the Gradman Station on the French Lick Scenic Railway through one of many tunnels of trees. According to their website: The Indiana Railway Museum is a tourist railway located in French Lick, Indiana. The Museum was founded in 1961 in the town of Westport, Indiana where the railroad operated a tourist excursion, utilizing one small locomotive, three passenger cars, and about twenty volunteers. Ridership was estimated at about 500 passengers in 1962. The museum and railway remained in Westport until a move was necessitated in 1971. The organization relocated to Greensburg, Indiana where it operated until 1976 when it again, it changed locations. The Museum was relocated to French Lick in 1978 after an agreement with the Southern Railway Company. They deeded the Museum a total of sixteen miles of track stretching from West Baden, Indiana, approximately one mile north of French Lick, to a small village named Dubois, to the south. The Indiana Railway Museum currently operates as The French Lick Scenic Railway operating passenger trains over twenty-five miles of this track from French Lick to Jasper. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 550mm, f/6.3, 1/500, ISO 450.

Engine 465 leads a afternoon passenger train…

August 1, 2020 – Engine 465 leads a afternoon passenger train as it approaches the switch at milepost 74 as it heads for the Gradman Station on the French Lick Scenic Railway through one of many tunnels of trees.

According to their website: The Indiana Railway Museum is a tourist railway located in French Lick, Indiana. The Museum was founded in 1961 in the town of Westport, Indiana where the railroad operated a tourist excursion, utilizing one small locomotive, three passenger cars, and about twenty volunteers. Ridership was estimated at about 500 passengers in 1962. The museum and railway remained in Westport until a move was necessitated in 1971. The organization relocated to Greensburg, Indiana where it operated until 1976 when it again, it changed locations. The Museum was relocated to French Lick in 1978 after an agreement with the Southern Railway Company. They deeded the Museum a total of sixteen miles of track stretching from West Baden, Indiana, approximately one mile north of French Lick, to a small village named Dubois, to the south.

The Indiana Railway Museum currently operates as The French Lick Scenic Railway operating passenger trains over twenty-five miles of this track from French Lick to Jasper.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 550mm, f/6.3, 1/500, ISO 450.

August 1, 2020 - French Lick Scenic Railway Engine 465 (GP-9) a EMD GP9 ex SP, with a Northern Pacific-inspired two tone green paint scheme, leads the afternoon passenger train as it passes the old Twin City Lumber Company at French Lick, Indiana on the old Southern Line. The Indiana Railway Museum currently operates as The French Lick Scenic Railway passenger trains over twenty-five miles of track between French Lick and Jasper, Indiana on the old Monon and Southern tracks. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/5.6, 1/500, ISO 110.

French Lick Scenic Railway Engine 465 at French Lick, Indiana

August 1, 2020 – French Lick Scenic Railway Engine 465 (GP-9) a EMD GP9 ex SP, with a Northern Pacific-inspired two tone green paint scheme, leads the afternoon passenger train as it passes the old Twin City Lumber Company at French Lick, Indiana on the old Southern Line.

The Indiana Railway Museum currently operates as The French Lick Scenic Railway passenger trains over twenty-five miles of track between French Lick and Jasper, Indiana on the old Monon and Southern tracks.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/5.6, 1/500, ISO 110.

August 1, 2020 - Engine 465 (GP-9) leads the afternoon passenger train as it passes through the Indiana countryside on its way to Gradman Station on the French Lick Scenic Railway. The Indiana Railway Museum currently operates as The French Lick Scenic Railway passenger trains over twenty-five miles of track between French Lick and Jasper, Indiana on the old Monon and Southern tracks. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/11, 1/500, ISO 280.

Engine 465 (GP-9) leads the afternoon passenger train…

August 1, 2020 – Engine 465 (GP-9) leads the afternoon passenger train as it passes through the Indiana countryside on its way to Gradman Station on the French Lick Scenic Railway.

The Indiana Railway Museum currently operates as The French Lick Scenic Railway passenger trains over twenty-five miles of track between French Lick and Jasper, Indiana on the old Monon and Southern tracks.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/11, 1/500, ISO 280.

August 1, 2020 - Engine 465 leads the afternoon passenger train as it approaches the Gradman Station on the French Lick Scenic Railway under stormy skies. Despite the COVID19 restrictions the train had a good number of passengers on the train, all wearing masks and separated according the CDC guidelines. According to their website: The Indiana Railway Museum is a tourist railway located in French Lick, Indiana. The Museum was founded in 1961 in the town of Westport, Indiana where the railroad operated a tourist excursion, utilizing one small locomotive, three passenger cars, and about twenty volunteers. Ridership was estimated at about 500 passengers in 1962. The museum and railway remained in Westport until a move was necessitated in 1971. The organization relocated to Greensburg, Indiana where it operated until 1976 when it again, it changed locations. The Museum was relocated to French Lick in 1978 after an agreement with the Southern Railway Company. They deeded the Museum a total of sixteen miles of track stretching from West Baden, Indiana, approximately one mile north of French Lick, to a small village named Dubois, to the south. The Indiana Railway Museum currently operates as The French Lick Scenic Railway operating passenger trains over twenty-five miles of this track from French Lick to Jasper. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/11, 1/500, ISO 220.

French Lick Scenic Railway

August 1, 2020 – Engine 465 leads the afternoon passenger train as it approaches the Gradman Station on the French Lick Scenic Railway under stormy skies. Despite the COVID19 restrictions the train had a good number of passengers on the train, all wearing masks and separated according the CDC guidelines.

According to their website: The Indiana Railway Museum is a tourist railway located in French Lick, Indiana. The Museum was founded in 1961 in the town of Westport, Indiana where the railroad operated a tourist excursion, utilizing one small locomotive, three passenger cars, and about twenty volunteers. Ridership was estimated at about 500 passengers in 1962. The museum and railway remained in Westport until a move was necessitated in 1971. The organization relocated to Greensburg, Indiana where it operated until 1976 when it again, it changed locations. The Museum was relocated to French Lick in 1978 after an agreement with the Southern Railway Company. They deeded the Museum a total of sixteen miles of track stretching from West Baden, Indiana, approximately one mile north of French Lick, to a small village named Dubois, to the south.

The Indiana Railway Museum currently operates as The French Lick Scenic Railway operating passenger trains over twenty-five miles of this track from French Lick to Jasper.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/11, 1/500, ISO 220.

August 24, 2019 - The Norfolk Southern Safety Train (OAR, Operation Awareness & Response) sits tied down at MP 163 in the Yard at Princeton, Indiana where it waits for its next training class for first responders. It is headed up by NS 5642 the Training First Responders engine. According to the NS OAR Newsletter: Launched in June 2015, the goal of OAR is to educate the public about the economic importance of the safe movement of hazardous materials by rail and to connect emergency first responders in Norfolk Southern communities with information and training resources. The remaining schedule for the safety train for the year is: August 27-29 Princeton, IN September 10-12 Decatur, AL September 17-19 Corinth, MS October 1-3 New Orleans, LA October 8-10 Slidell, LA October 22-24 Savannah, GA November 5-7 Augusta, GA

French Lick and West Baden Trolley 1 passes old glory…

August 24, 2019 – French Lick and West Baden Trolley 1 passes old glory at French Lick, Indiana as it heads for West Baden, IN with its passengers.
According to the French Lick website: Like a lot of the French Lick Resort treasures, the trolley’s history spans many decades, starting in 1903. In 2014, trolley service returned more than 100 years after it was first launched in French Lick and West Baden.

In 1903, the roads were dirt and horse-drawn carriages were the norm. When electric trolley service began, guests could catch the streetcar at the steps of West Baden Springs Hotel and go all the way (a whole mile) into downtown French Lick.

The trolley was a raging success, and in 1916 it set a record for carrying 250,000 people in a single year. At a nickel a ride, that’s over $300,000 in revenue in today’s world. Not bad for what was billed as the “world’s shortest trolley line.”

According to Railway Historian Alan Barnett, the electric cable car offered “ping-pong” service because it was not designed to make turns. When the car reached French Lick, the conductor would physically move the overhead power line around the back, allowing for the return trip to the depot at West Baden.

The advent of the automobile put the brakes on the trolley service in 1919. That is, until Barnett and the folks at the Indiana Railway Museum resurrected the idea in 1987. They were able to find Trolley Car #313 from Portugal, the closest thing they could find to the original 1903 car.

The trolley is making rounds again, thanks to a partnership between the resort and the Indiana Railway Museum. The museum worked with the Indiana Department of Transportation to draw up plans to redo the original track and secured a $200,000 grant.

August 24, 2019 - Indiana Railroad Museum's #4 (Ex Algers, Winslow and Western Railway #4, Built as Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic #103) heads through the crossing at Twin City Lumber Company as it pulls a passenger train south on the French Lick Scenic Railway from French Lick, Indiana. According to their website: The Indiana Railway Museum is a tourist railway located in French Lick, Indiana. The Museum was founded in 1961 in the town of Westport, Indiana where the railroad operated a tourist excursion, utilizing one small locomotive, three passenger cars, and about twenty volunteers. Ridership was estimated at about 500 passengers in 1962. The museum and railway remained in Westport until a move was necessitated in 1971. The organization relocated to Greensburg, Indiana where it operated until 1976 when it again, it changed locations. The Museum was relocated to French Lick in 1978 after an agreement with the Southern Railway Company. They deeded the Museum a total of sixteen miles of track stretching from West Baden, Indiana, approximately one mile north of French Lick, to a small village named Dubois, to the south. The Indiana Railway Museum currently operates as The French Lick Scenic Railway operating passenger trains over twenty-five miles of this track from French Lick to Jasper. Visit them at: http://rhpfrench18.wpengine.com/

Indiana Railroad Museum’s #4 (Ex Algers, Winslow and Western Railway #4)…

August 24, 2019 – Indiana Railroad Museum’s #4 (Ex Algers, Winslow and Western Railway #4, Built as Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic #103) heads through the crossing at Twin City Lumber Company as it pulls a passenger train south on the French Lick Scenic Railway from French Lick, Indiana.

According to their website: The Indiana Railway Museum is a tourist railway located in French Lick, Indiana. The Museum was founded in 1961 in the town of Westport, Indiana where the railroad operated a tourist excursion, utilizing one small locomotive, three passenger cars, and about twenty volunteers. Ridership was estimated at about 500 passengers in 1962.

The museum and railway remained in Westport until a move was necessitated in 1971. The organization relocated to Greensburg, Indiana where it operated until 1976 when it again, it changed locations. The Museum was relocated to French Lick in 1978 after an agreement with the Southern Railway Company.

They deeded the Museum a total of sixteen miles of track stretching from West Baden, Indiana, approximately one mile north of French Lick, to a small village named Dubois, to the south.

The Indiana Railway Museum currently operates as The French Lick Scenic Railway operating passenger trains over twenty-five miles of this track from French Lick to Jasper.

Visit them at: http://rhpfrench18.wpengine.com/