CSX Transportation Historical Society

Whitewater Valley Railroad, Connersville IN - 08-04-2019

After departing the C&OHS Conference at West Chester OH we hustled over to Connersville IN, to ride the Whitewater Valley Railroad noon train to Metamora. My main interest was to see their Lima 750 HP switcher that was formerly at Cincinnati Union Terminal.

1. Whitewater brochure. Page 1. Click here for a larger image.

2. Whitewater brochure. Page 2. Click here for a larger image.

3. Just south of the Whitewater shop we found this display. B&O Dearborn tower. Rushville depot. Connersville IN.

4. GE 8 came from the Muncie & Western Railroad, a short line organized in 1902 to serve the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Plant. Their main line was 0.749 miles in length with 3.181 miles of sidings. Muncie IN and Ball glass jars are synonymous. M&W 8 display. Connersville IN.

5. B&O’s Dearborn tower controlled an interlocked crossing with the NYC at Lawrenceburg IN. Note the B&O dwarf signal. To my knowledge there was no crossing at grade at this location. The B&O (now CSX Indianapolis Sub.) crosses downtown. B&O tower Dearborn IN relocated to Connersville IN.

6. B&O depot from Rushville IN. Relocated to Connersville IN.

7. B&O tower Dearborn IN relocated to Connersville IN. View 2.

8. We bought tickets for the “Valley Flyer” that departed Connersville at noon. I learned that the Lima is used on the weekend dinner train, but this ex-Milwaukee “SD10” didn’t disappoint. MILW 532. Connersville IN.

9. Whitewater ticket.

10. This former New York Central line branched off the Cincinnati-Indianapolis main line at Valley Junction and extended 56.4 mi. to a connection with the Nickel Plate at Beeson. We saw some of the track around Brookville, but it is overgrown with weeds and long out of service. NYC Indiana District map. Click here for a larger image.

11. This schedule came from the NYC Indiana Division employee timetable for 04-27-1958. Click here for a larger image.

12. You can ride in the caboose. WVRR cab C2129 is ex-B&O. Connersville IN.

13. WVRR cab C2129. Connersville IN. View 2.

14. B&O cab C2232. Connersville IN.

15. We passed near the Laurel feeder dam on our leisurely 17 mile ride to Metamora. This feeder dam is the only one remaining of seven feeder dams along the original 78 miles of the Whitewater Canal. Fourteen miles of this early transportation system have been restored. Laurel feeder dam card.

16. Metamora IN brochure.

17. Lock 25. MILW 532 backs north of town to run around the train. Metamora IN.

18. The grist mill was built in 1845 at Lock 25. It uses water from the canal to power its machinery. Mill operation is presently powered by a “breast” wheel housed in the lock. Whitewater Valley’s Lima 750 HP switcher is parked in the background. Whitewater Canal SHS card.

19. Ducks have the right-of-way in Metamora IN!

20. Ex-U. S. Navy GE center-cab switcher 65-00053 powers the “Metamora Local”, a short 30-minute trip south down the line. It is hard to read the yellow lettering, but this engine came from the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Washington state. Metamora IN.

21. The grist mill and Lock 25 looking north toward Connersville. During the operation of the canal, a water wheel did not power the mill. Whitewater Canal lock. Metamora IN.

22. The grist mill water wheel was not in use on this day. Metamora IN.

23. Grist mill exterior view. Metamora IN.

24. Looking south out of the lock chamber. Whitewater Canal lock. Metamora IN.

25. Whitewater Canal water wheel & Lock 25 display. Metamora IN.

26. Although 52 miles from Cincinnati, the branch is 34.2 miles from Valley Junction. NYC milepost CIN 52. Metamora IN.

27. Here is where the corn is ground. Bags of ground corn are for sale. Looks like the depot station sign in the background on the wall. Metamora IN.

28. A belt driven grist mill. Metamora IN.

29. The belt drives downstairs in the grist mill. Metamora IN.

30. More belt drives at the grist mill. Metamora IN.

31. Pennington Street is the main drag of this quaint village. Metamora IN.

32. The engine has run around the train, and now it is almost time for us to depart back to Connersville IN. MILW 532. Metamora IN.

33. A short time after we arrived back in Connersville the “Metamora Local” train dead-headed into the yard at the end of their Sunday runs. Wow! Look at that interesting rolling stock! NKP, B&O and Virginian! More on that later! USN 65-00053. Connersville IN.