Bloomington Indiana

October 2008

M.P. 220.5 - 4th Subdivision - W

Bloomington was settled around 1815 and platted on April 11, 1818. Bloomington incorporated as a city in 1876 with Charles W. Henderson as Mayor. There are many legends surrounding the naming of Bloomington. One oral tradition maintains that the name was suggested when a group of early settlers, gazing from a hill overlooking the site, were impressed by the flowers and foliage which were in bloom. Another legend suggests that the name honors an early settler, William Bloom.

Bloomington 1905. Could this depot at one time also been a "run through" like Gosport? Original photographer unknown. Courtesy of Ken Weller.

Bloomington Indiana depot, circa 1910. Exact date unknown.

From the Monon Railroad Historical Technical Society's photo archives. Steam locomotive #31 on a turntable, which was by the depot. Date unknown.

Left: Bloomington Depot, built of Indiana Limestone, it was considered an improvement made by W.H. McDoel. Right: The Monon Centennial in 1947 was a cause to celebrate the railroad. Pictured is the arrival of the B&O's historic locomotive #25 at Bloomington.

Crowd awaiting the arrival of the 1947 Centennial Train and celebration at Bloomington.

Left and Right: Front entrance side of the Bloomington, Indiana depot, circa late 1950's early 1960's.

Another view of the front of the Bloomington depot, with REA truck standing by. Unknown date.

Southbound passenger arriving in Bloomington. Date of the photograph, unknown. Train number unknown also.

Northbound "Thoroughbred" passenger train making a stop at Bloomington, 1959.

Bloomington Depot, circa 1960.

Bloomington Indiana, March 1, 1964. The "Thoroughbred" comes to a stop at the depot. Bloomington was the largest community between Lafayette and New Albany, as well as the home of Indiana University. In the final years of the Monon's passenger service, deficits had become a growing burden. There was a proposal to drop passenger service south of Bloomington. The resulting train could still service all the college towns on the Monon.

April 16, 1966. Monon C628 leads a 70 series frieght into Bloomington. Through trial and error the Monon found that three C628's were too much power for a typical freight. However, lashing two up with a recently rebuilt RS2 was just the right amount of power.

McDoel Yard Office, circa 1917. This photo is of the office at McDoel Yard in Bloomington. Photo is courtesy of John Stigall.

Group of Monon employees at McDoel Yard, exact date unknown.

Two view of the turntable at McDoel. Left: Circa 1976. Right. Three years later, 1979.

The sand house and tower at McDoel. Left: Circa 1979. Picture taken from turntable. Note former troop kitchen cars. Right: 1976. Note camp cars to the right and turntable in background.

McDoel Yard Office. Left: Date Unknown. F3 64B pictured. Right: Another view, circa 1960's.

Two shots of the McDoel Yard office. The mustang on the left dates the picture on the left to between 1965 and about 1970. The warehouse is still there today with the loading doors blocked up. The station has had the roof overhanges cut off so boxcar could clear the building. I would say this station building was torn down after the new building at Grimes lane was completed. Right: This station and the addition shown is circa 1961. Obviously the other two buildings behind the yard office had to be torn down for the warehouse and railroad siding to fit to the west of the yard office.

Southbound passenger at Bloomington, McDoel Yard. No date listed on photo. -Courtesy Steve Dolzall-

Looking south at McDoel Yard. This photo is circa mid to late 1960's.

Rusting old fuel tank, circa 1976. Monon name still visible, but just barely.

Monon Water Tower, McDoel Yard. October 1962.

Monon Freight House Bloomington, Indiana. 1964

The roundhouse at McDoel. Unknown date.

Steam engine #606 and crew pose at McDoel Yard, 1937.

Left: Northbound Train 74, with a A-B-A F3 lash up, passing through downtown Bloomington, May 1947. Landmarks of Bloomington in the late 1940's include the Hotel Graham and the Monroe County Court House. Right: July 1971. RS2 #56 takes a spin on the McDoel roundhouse turntable. The condition of the roundhouse notwithstanding, the Monon was maintained in excellent condition to the end.

McDoel Turntable, circa 1970. Two looks at the turntable.

Left: Black and gold F3 sits on the turntable at McDoel. Right: Oaken Bucket Special waits at McDoel Yard. This was the last Monon football passenger special.

Southbound passenger at McDoel Yard, date unknown.

McDoel Yard, 1970. Yard office building. In 1966 this building was built and housed the passenger terminal until the discontinuance of passenger service in 1967.

McDoel Yards, November 1968. Monon C-420 517 and 505 await assignment.

McDoel Yard. C-420 #516 in consist. Turntable can be seen in the background.

Left: RS2 #53 and C-420 #156 near turntable, May 1986. Right: RS2 #51, date unknown.

Great shot looking over the top of C-420 #503 in consist, date unknown.

Left: Monon BL2 #30 crossing 2nd Street in Bloomington, Indiana. July 7, 1961. Bloomington High School is in the background. Right: Shower Brothers Furniture Factory, unknown date.

Left: Northbound "Thoroughbred" near the depot, year is 1962. Right: Another shot of the northbound "Thoroughbred" north of McDoel Yard.

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