Monon Railroad collection
Collection
Identifier: L317
Scope and Contents
This collection includes autographed, signed letters; typed, signed letters; autographed documents; company information; maps; an incomplete dissertation; notes; and newspaper and magazine information from Leland S. Van Scoyoc in Indianapolis, Indiana and the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railway Company and Monon Railroad Company in Indianapolis, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; and Louisville, Kentucky, ranging from 1842 to 1957 and regarding the railroad's history.
Dates
- 1842-1957
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Administrative History
The New Albany-Salem Rail Road was founded in July 8, 1847, running from the Ohio River at New Albany, Indiana Salem, Indiana. By 1854 the railroad was complete, connecting the Ohio River at New Albany with Lake Michigan at Michigan City, Indiana.
The railroad went into receivership in 1858 and when it emerged,the name became the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago Railroad. Morgan's Raiders attacked the railroad lines during the Civil War. In April, 1865, a Monon engine pulled President Abraham Lincoln's funeral train over the 90 miles from Lafayette to Michigan City.
In 1897, the name was changed again to the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railroad. The nickname "Monon" came from the fact that the lines added to the system crossed in Monon, Indiana. Monon is an Indiana word, perhaps meaning "tote" or "swift running."
The Chicago,Indianapolis and Louisville Railway Company was reorganized as the Monon Railroad "The Hoosier Line" (headquartered in Chicago, Illinois), beginning in 1946 and effective in 1956. The Monon Railroad was the first class "A" railroad to become fully dieselized. It became an all-freight line in 1967, when the last of its passenger trains, the Thoroughbred, ceased running.
Indiana limestone was used to construct the Empire State building, the Pentagon, the National Cathedral, the Washington monument, and countless private buildings, museums, bridges, churches, walkways, monuments, statues, and gravestones. Each new slab of Indiana limestone rode a Monon flatcar first, wherever its destination.
The Monon Railroad then merged into Louisville and Nashville Railroad, effective July 31, 1971, with Louisville and Nashville Railroad (headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky) becoming the surviving corporation. Some of the former Monon right of way is operated today by CSX Transportation.
Sources:
Items within the collection.
"History Of The Monon." Monon Railroad Historical Technical Society. Accessed March 16, 2015. http://www.monon.org/history.php.
"The Monon Railroad.," The Depot - Railroad Museum. Retrieved 2015/03/16. http://salemdepot.com/monon-rr.html.
The railroad went into receivership in 1858 and when it emerged,the name became the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago Railroad. Morgan's Raiders attacked the railroad lines during the Civil War. In April, 1865, a Monon engine pulled President Abraham Lincoln's funeral train over the 90 miles from Lafayette to Michigan City.
In 1897, the name was changed again to the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railroad. The nickname "Monon" came from the fact that the lines added to the system crossed in Monon, Indiana. Monon is an Indiana word, perhaps meaning "tote" or "swift running."
The Chicago,Indianapolis and Louisville Railway Company was reorganized as the Monon Railroad "The Hoosier Line" (headquartered in Chicago, Illinois), beginning in 1946 and effective in 1956. The Monon Railroad was the first class "A" railroad to become fully dieselized. It became an all-freight line in 1967, when the last of its passenger trains, the Thoroughbred, ceased running.
Indiana limestone was used to construct the Empire State building, the Pentagon, the National Cathedral, the Washington monument, and countless private buildings, museums, bridges, churches, walkways, monuments, statues, and gravestones. Each new slab of Indiana limestone rode a Monon flatcar first, wherever its destination.
The Monon Railroad then merged into Louisville and Nashville Railroad, effective July 31, 1971, with Louisville and Nashville Railroad (headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky) becoming the surviving corporation. Some of the former Monon right of way is operated today by CSX Transportation.
Sources:
Items within the collection.
"History Of The Monon." Monon Railroad Historical Technical Society. Accessed March 16, 2015. http://www.monon.org/history.php.
"The Monon Railroad.," The Depot - Railroad Museum. Retrieved 2015/03/16. http://salemdepot.com/monon-rr.html.
Extent
2 Cubic Feet (6 manuscript boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2015/04/17 by Edythe Huffman. EAD finding aid created 2015/04/17 by Edythe Huffman.
- Title
- Monon Railroad collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671