# National New York Central Railroad Museum

The National New York Central Railroad Museum (reporting mark NNYX) is a railroad museum located in Elkhart, Indiana dedicated to the preservation of the New York Central Railroad (NYC).
The museum includes several outdoor equipment displays, indoor model railroads, artifacts from the NYC and other railroad related exhibits including educational displays pertaining to the history of railroading. The museum is currently expanding its dedication to the preservation of both local and national railroad heritage. The museum consists of a modified NYC 20th Century Limited train set and freight house built by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway (LS&MS) in 1907.

## History

Elkhart was a vital link between East and West during the growth of railroading in the U.S. In 1833 the LS&MS built a line through town; it was later acquired by the NYC in 1914.
The museum is situated opposite the Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) east–west main line; NS freight trains pass approximately every 15 minutes. Amtrak's Elkhart Station is also within walking distance; daily service is provided by the Lake Shore Limited (Chicago-Boston/New York) and Capitol Limited (Chicago-Washington, D.C.).
The bulk of the museum's collection & the museum site was originally owned by the Lakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation (LRHF), A non-profit rail preservation group based in Elkhart. The group subsequently donated their collection & sold the property to the city in early 1987. The museum was founded in 1987. After several years of planning and prep, the museum opened to the public on May 1, 1989.
On October 9, 2024, the museum announced a partnership with the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society to revitalize the museum. Plans call for an assessment of the collection and select pieces being de-accessed. Following the de-accession, a new master plan will be developed for the outdoor equipment displays with the goal of positioning the museum as an anchor for neighborhood redevelopment.

## Equipment
### Locomotives
#### Steam

* New York Central 3001 (Alco #69338 of 1940): The largest surviving example of the NYC's modern steam power technology; only surviving L-3a class Mohawk; one of two surviving NYC 4-8-2 engines; one of the fastest locomotives of its time; primarily designed for mountain grades, it hauled passengers at speeds up to 80 mph (130 km/h) along the NYC's "Water Level Route" in the state of New York. Acquired by the Lake Shore Railroad Historical Foundation (LRHF) in 1984 & moved to Elkhart. In 1986 or 1987, the LRHF leased the locomotive to the City of Elkhart for a term of 100 years. In September 2023, the locomotive was acquired by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, who intends to move the locomotive to New Haven, Indiana to undergo restoration to operating condition.

#### Diesel

* 1953 EMD E8 (NYC #4085): lead locomotive of the eastbound 20th Century Limited when it left Chicago, Illinois for final run on December 2, 1967. Purchased by the National New York Central Railroad Museum from New Jersey Rail Operations in 1987.

#### Electric

* Penn Central (PC) 4882 (Altoona Works, 1939): Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) GG1 painted in PC livery; one of the fastest locomotives of its day, reaching speeds up to 100 mph (160 km/h); designed with the assistance of Raymond Loewy. Purchased by the National New York Central Railroad Museum from New Jersey Rail Operations in 1987.
* Electric Interurban Car 15 of the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad, built 1926.

### Cabooses

* 1910 New York Central wooden cupola caboose #19211: Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Al Nakon in 1989.
* 1963 New York Central bay window caboose #21084
* 1967 New York Central transfer caboose #18136
* 1974 Conrail bay window caboose #21230: Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Conrail in 1997.
* Indiana Harbor Belt end cupola caboose #75: Purchased by the Lakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation in 1983 or 1984. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1986 or 1987.
* Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern caboose #10: Purchased by the Lakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation in 1983 or 1984. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1986 or 1987.

### Passenger cars

* 1914 New York Central RPO - Baggage car #5104: Purchased by the Lakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation in 1996 & moved to the museum.
* 1914 Illinois Central Heavyweight coach #2691: purchased by Bob Spaugh. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1987. Painted in NYC paint, Named Elkhart River. Used as exhibit car.
* 1914 Illinois Central Heavyweight coach #2694: purchased by Bob Spaugh. Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1987. Painted in NYC paint, Named St. Joseph River. Used to house the museum's archives.
* 1937 Rock Island Observation car #454 Minnesota: Purchased by Bob Spaugh, Sold to the City of Elkhart in 1987. Painted in NYC paint & named City Of Elkhart.
* 1949 New Haven Dining car #953: Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Conrail in 1997.
* Pennsylvania Railroad BM70K RPO - baggage car #710: Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Conrail in 1997.

### Freight cars

* 1952 New York Central tank car #16039: Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Sturgis Iron and Metal in 2006.
* 1957 Baltimore & Ohio boxcar #288121
* 1957 Baltimore & Ohio boxcar #288257
* New York Central covered hopper car #902
* Milwaukee Road refrigerated boxcar #38662
* Milwaukee Road refrigerated boxcar #38794
* Pennsylvania Railroad X26 boxcar #499656
* Pennsylvania Railroad X26 boxcar: Converted into Idler car following fire for NYC X-28 Crane, Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1991.
* Merchants Despatch flat car #725220: Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Norfolk Southern in 2007.
* Merchants Despatch flat car #725023: Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Norfolk Southern in 2007.

### Special Use

* 1946 New York Central 250-ton capacity Industrial Brownhoist crane X-13: Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Conrail in 1997.
* New York Central 150-ton capacity crane X-28: Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1991.
* New York Central idler car #504472: Idler car for NYC X-13 Crane, Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Conrail in 1997.
* New York Central idler car #45507: Donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum by Conrail in 1997.
* New York Central water tender #3042: Built by ALCO in December 1940 for NYC L-3b "Mohawk" 3042. Retired by the NYC in September 1953, locomotive scrapped in October 1953. Tender saved by NYC for non-revenue service, converted into diesel fuel tank car. Purchased by Ross Rowland for the American Freedom Train in 1975. Used as water tender for Reading 2101 for the American Freedom Train and the Chessie Steam Special from 1975 to 1979. Damaged in a Roundhouse fire in Silver Grove, Kentucky along with 2101 on March 6, 1979. Sold to Bob Spaugh in the 1980s. Donated by Spaugh to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 1986 or 1987, Displayed behind New York Central 3001. Sold to the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in September 2023. Currently on static display at the National New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart, Indiana, to be moved to New Haven, Indiana along with 3001.

## Interior displays

* Model railroads
* NYC memorabilia