Otis, Indiana

Along The Right Of Way

April 2008

M.P. A 47.1 - 3rd Subdivision - X

"Settled in the late 1830's, the town of Westville was not platted until 1851 with the completion of the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago RR. Once in competition with New Durham and Beaver Dam, the railroad established Westville as a grain shipping center and the community grew as the area's agriculture intensified. By 1876, the town was a leading commercial center of the county, offering residents their choice of attorneys, bakeries, gunsmiths, livery stables, well-drivers, express agents, wagon manufacturers, plasterers, harness makers, insurance agents, carpenters, and hotels. The school system was one of the county's finest. From 1860 to 1872, the Laird School, a private high school famous throughout the Midwest, enrolled 100 students annually. The city's location on one of the county's major thoroughfares allowed the community to prosper after rail shipping was replaced by overland truck routes. Westville thrives today as a commuter center, part of the labor base of Valparaiso, LaPorte and Michigan City." - Courtsey of Portable LaPorte County , Copyright 1978 Michigan City Public Library-

Westville Depot. late 1950's early 1960's..

Left: Wabash bridge Westville, March 1907. Pictured is the bridge which the Wabash crossed over the Monon. Looking toward the north. Right: Another picture, taken August 1907. Mike Fleming Collection.

Winter scene along the Monon mainline at Westville. Date unknown, although it may have been taken the same day as the interchange picture, circa 1900 above. Mike Fleming Collection.

Monon Flyer, date unknown, Westville, Indiana. Train is southbound passing under the Wabash. Photo courtsey of the Michigan City Public Library

Westville Indiana, 1970's. Left: Looking south along the mainline. In the distance is the Wabash bridge. Right: Looking north from downtown Westville.

Action on the Michigan City line, circa 1971. Northbound freight approaching the crossing downtown. Also note activity on the N&W (Wabash) in the distance.

Left: Westville, 1976. Historical marker with the mainline in the background. Right: Downtown Westville, 2002. Main Street and Railroad Avenue. Historical Marker. Looking toward the north. Former depot would be to the right of marker.

Right: Westville Hammer Mill/ Elevator, circa 2002. South facade of the building. Left: Westville Hammer Mill/ Elevator. Picture of west facade of building. Siding once curved in from the north and terminated at approximate location where this picture was taken.

Wreck train sits on a siding at Westville. The right of way is visible on the left of the photo. Today Paul's Auto Yard occupies the area. Note oil tank in the distance. This facility was used by an oil refinery which was on the north side of SR 2. The Monon then later L&N brought in boxcars, usually IC or GMO, with bagged clay, which was unloaded into a truck. On occasions tank cars were seen there. Not sure if the facillity was for dirty oil brought in or rerefined oil transported south. Right: Close up of wreck train. Location for both photos, just north of the depot location.

Looking north along the old right of way. This location is north of 300S, north of Westville. It is about halfway from the road to the location where the Air Line crossed the Monon. It is possible to walk all the way to the Indiana Toll Road along the old right of way.

Building the Air Line bridge over the Monon. This picture, looking west is of the wooden trestle being back filled. Towards the left side of the picture are the concrete bridge abutments and bridge which spans the Monon mainline north of Westville. Photo Courtesy Kevin Heggi.

Two views of the Air Line crossing. Left: Detailed look at the freshly built abutments. Looking north along the Monon mainline, the date July 22, 1908. Photos courtesy Kevin Heggi.

Left and Right: North of Westville. Left: Looking south along the former Monon right of way. Bridge abutments pictured are those of the Chicago-New York Electric Air Line Railroad which operated between 1907 and 1917. Right: Detailed look at the east abutment, looking toward the northeast.

Two more looks at the former Air Line/ Monon crossing. Left: The abutment on the east side of the Monon mainline. Right: The west abutment.

Standing on the old right of way looking north towards the Toll Road and Michigan City.

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