PRR Depot, 1962.
In addition to the New York Central and Grand Trunk, the City of South Bend was served by other railroads. One of the largest, at one time, was the Pennsylvania Railroad. For most of their independent existence the Pennsylvania and New York Central railroads were bitter rivals. In 1900 the Vandalia Railroad, part of the Pennsylvania Railroad, constructed a brick structure on the southwest corner of Main and Bronson Streets, pictured above. Date of picture unknown. Photo courtsey and licensed by the Northern Indiana Center for History, South Bend, Indiana.
Left and Right: Pennsylvania steam locomotives at the yard, south of the the depot. Picture on left, circa 1935. Locomotive on the right, circa July 1936. Harry Zillmer photos, courtsey Jeff Strombeck.
June 1947, Steam locomotive 9794 is brought it to provide power for a local passenger. Note Gas/electric "doodlebug" behind the tender of the locomotive. Picture at depot on Bronson Street. Note Studebaker complex to the left of the picture.
Pennsylvania action in South Bend. Left: PRR switch engine working August 14, 1964. Location is immediately south of the PRR freight platform. You are looking northeast and Main Street is in the background. -Additional information courtesy Dan Lawecki- Right: 5-25-1964. This location is easy to deduce. This PRR is working the freight platform at the Vandalia Station. In the background are buildings of the Studebaker Corporation. To the left of the photo, buildings 48, 48A, 47 and 47A. Building 62, now the offices of the South Bend School Corporation is in the background to the right side of the image. Dennis Schmidt photos, courtsey George Ellwood's Fallen Flags website.
PRR depot, circa 1962. Left and Right: Military 6x6 truck loading at the PRR yard east of Studebaker.
Left: Old track. These rails were once part of the Vandalia, later PRR. They were probably the mainline. This picture was taken on the southside of Indiana Street. The fence in the background is the auto scrap yard. Right: Concrete bases and old railroad tie, east of rails pictured to at left. It looks like the bases were to a crossing protection device or tower. My Sanborn map shows a watchman's shanty at this location. Perhaps it was an elevated shanty?
Vandalia/ PRR yard. Left: Activity in the yard. Picture taken 10-7-1950 at Calvert Street in South Bend, Indiana. Sandy Goodrick photo, courtsey Jeff Strombeck. Right: Calvert Street area 2003. This photo is looking north along tracks that will connect with the NJI&I west of the old Studebaker Works. The area to the right of this picture is where at one time the yard was located. The tracks pictured veer off to the northwest, or left of the image. The old rounhouse and turntable would have been due north from where this picture was taken.
Vandalia/ PRR yard. Left: 7-10-1950, South Bend, Indiana. Northbound PRR football special passing through the yard at Calvert Street. Sandy Goodrick photo, courtsey of Jeff Strombeck. Right: Vandalia/ PRR yard circa 2003. What was once a railroad yard and locomotive facillity is now overgrown and used as a junk yard.
Left: 10-11-1952. PRR football special northbound at Eckman Street. Perhaps the train was full of Notre Dame fans heading back to town after another thrilling Fighting Irish victory, or fans of an Irish foe coming to town? Sandy Goodrick photo, courtsey of Jeff Strombeck. Right: Eckman Street 2003. The old right of way is now a service road. Sibley Foundry is to the right of both photos. Below: PRR steam on the head southbound at Eckman Street, date unknown.
Left: 10-11-1952. PRR local at Chippewa Street. The plant to the left of the photo was part of Studebaker Corporation, later AM General. Sandy Goodrick photo, courtsey of Jeff Strombeck. Right: Same location in 2003. The old right of way borders the Studebaker Complex which is a collection of smaller industries.
Two views of the auto rack loading facillity at Chippewa Street, near the Studebaker/ AM General Plant. These pictures are circa 1970's. They were originally posted on a Michiana Railroad group's page at Yahoo with no photographer listed. Left: Looking north. Mainline is to the right of the image. Right: Looking to the south.
Chippewa Street crossing area 2003. Left: Looking to the south from the former crossing. Right: Old tracks from a spur that once serviced the Studebaker Works and other businesses.
Football special south of town at Kern Road. This is the same train that was caught at Eckman Street. Sandy Goodrick photo, courtsey of Jeff Strombeck.