Need help editing articles? Start out with the new Introduction to Editing Articles Video.
Indiana Rail Road
The Indiana Rail Road is a railroad system in southern Indiana. It is a United States Class III railroad, operating trackage from Lis, Illinois to Indianapolis, Indiana, Including sections through Bloomington. In Bloomington, it was preceded by the Monon Railroad. It owns 117 miles of old Illinois Central-Gulf track.
Their main office is located in Indianapolis. The company opened in 1986.
They are popular for running a special "Santa Train" through southern Indiana and Illinois every year since 1989. A train consisting of one engine and two passenger cars brings Santa Claus and his friends to many towns for people to visit with Santa.
In 1993, A flood wiped out the CSX bridge over the White River at Gosport and the railroad chose not to replace it. CSX chose instead to contract with Indiana Rail Road to haul freight to and from its now isolated railyard, according to a city proposal. East of Bloomington, tracks include a 500-foot-long tunnel and the 750-foot-high Shuffle Creek viaduct. To the west, trackage is supported by the 2307-foot-long Tulip Trestle.
Engines
- Most of their engines are painted red with white lettering and a red and white stripe pattern on the front of the engine. Some of their engines are painted grey.
- One of their engines is often parked on the side track behind General Electric just off of Profile Parkway.
Trivia
- It should not be confused with a similarly named passenger railroad system called The Indiana Railroad that existed in the 1930s. Interestingly, this old railroad went to Martinsville, but not all the way to Bloomington.
