Lafayette, IN

MP 120.0 - 1st Subdivision - AD

Lafayette is a highly urbanized area with a city population of around 45,000. In early times the city was a meat packing center and the city is surrounded by farmland. Founded near the head of the navigation for the Wabash River, it was chosen as the county seat of Tippecanoe County in 1826. The city was named in 1824 by its founder William Digby for the Marquis de la Layette. It was often spelled with two words until the last half of the 1800's. The Wabash and Erie Canal opened in 1843 connecting Lafayette and Toledo, Ohio. The first railroad was the Lafayette and Indianapolis (NYC) and was completed in 1852. The New Albany and Salem was second to arrive and demanded to run down any street it chose. They were finally given the green light to put track down 5th Street. Trains continued to use 5th Street until July 22, 1994 when a new railroad relocation was completed.

Steam, street running in Lafayette, September 1938. Steam locomotive #229 running down 5th Street.

Street running in Lafayette. Steam locomotive makes its way down 5th Street in Lafayette. Date unknown.

This picture, circa early 1900's shows a passenger train making a stop in Lafayette.

Passenger train stops in front of the 1902 depot, just out of the picture to the left. The unusual 3 story building on the right is still there. The year is 1922. -Ken Weller Collection-

The year is 1925. Pictured is the special arriving in Lafayette with the IU football team and fans. Unknown original photographer.

What a difference a few months make. Left: Mikado 510 with southbound Day Express down 5th Street. Right: Later that same year F381 A&B on southbound Train 5 at the same location.

May 26, 1947. General Motors Train Of Tomorrow arrives on 5th Street in Lafayette. The E7 leads the chair car Star Dust, diner Sky View, sleeper Dream Cloud and lounge-observation Moon Glow through the streets of Lafayette. Right: July 27, 1947 and the new Hoosier is rolling down 5th Street.

Right: May 22, 1948. Black and Gold F3 draws freight down 5th Street.

Left, Right and Below: Street carnival on 5th Street. Southbound makes its way through the scene.

Left, Middle and Right: Street running on 5th Street.

Passenger train making its way down 5th Street. Unknown date. Courtesy John Eagan.

The year is 1967. The last Monon football special loads up on 5th Street prior to heading south to Bloomington for the IU - Purdue Oaken Bucket Game. The Hoosiers won 19-14 and represented the Big 10 in the 1968 Rose Bowl.

Monon F3A #84 on the point of Train #5 making a station stop in Lafayette, July 1961.

Northbound Train #6 coming into the Salem Street depot.

Left and Right: Director's Special passing through the Shops Yard. -Dick Fontaine Photographs-

More street running in Lafayette. Left: The Thoroughbred making its way through the streets of Lafayette, August 1958. Right: C-628 #400 pulling a freight slowly through the streets of Lafayette.

Lafayette, Indiana 2003. Left: One of the unique features of the former Monon was the love affair with street running. Pictured is the former depot on 5th Street, now a civic playhouse or theater. Right: At least they left part of the old track still in the street. This section is in front of the former depot.

Lafayette, Indiana the way it was. Left: Built in 1902, using Indiana Limestone, the Lafayette depot was a classic and was used until 1959. Right: Monon C420 in the lead of the Thoroughbred northbound at Lafayette, September 1967. The last Monon passenger train. J. Anthony Koster photo.

Left and Right: 1947 Exhibition Train making a stop in Lafayette. -Lloyd Kimble Photograph/ MRHTS Archives-

RDC in Lafayette, making a stop in downtown Lafayette, April 8, 1950. This car ran trial runs on the Monon.

Lafayette 1947. Train Number 6, with F3 #84 in the lead is making a station stop. Louis A Marre photo.

North side of Lafayette. In 1959 the Monon stopped using the depot, built in 1902, in downtown Lafayette. Until another brick structure could be built, the railroad used a retired grill-coach car #67 as a temporary depot. You are looking north. Station was located at the north end of the street running section through downtown. Right: A color look at the temporary depot which by the time this picture was taken was no longer being used.

Left, Right and Below: Construction of the final Monon Depot and Freight House in Lafayette, IN. -MRHTS Photo Archives Collection-

Left and Right: The last Monon Depot at Lafayette, at Salem Street. -Charles Huffer Collection-

Two more views of the Salem Street Depot, both circa 1961.

Left and Right: Director's Inspection Special sits at the Salem Street depot. -Dick Fontaine Photographs-

Left: Salem Street Monon Office Building, exact date unknown. Judging by the vehicles pictured, 1950's early 1960's. Right: Office building, circa 1976.

Another shot of the Monon office building at Salem Street. Date unknown. -MRHTS Photo Archives Collection-

Southbound freight at Main Street. With U23B #605 in the lead, this southbound leaves the yard, June 1971. It's destination, Louisville. Mike Schafer photo.

Left: Looking at the former 4th Street underpass. Right: Another view of the Office Building (right) and the Freight House and Passenger Depot.

Lafayette, Indiana Freight House. Left: Side view of the Freight House. Right: Looking south at the Freight House. Note High Speed Merchandise box cars spotted. Both pictures circa 1950's.

NEW 01-23-2011 The Lafayette Freight House, front view. -MRHTS Photo Archives Collection-

Left and Right: Two more views of the former downtown Lafayette freight house.

Approaching the 4th Street underpass, October of 1967. The mainline passed under 4th Street before taking up street running down 5th Street in Lafayette.

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