We arose and met in the lobby where I picked up some Coca-Cola for the trip before we went across the street to McDonald's for hot cakes and sausage. From here we drove into Fort Wayne and found the parking area for the trip today to Lafayette. Now we had time to get pictures of NKP 765 steaming away in the pre-dawn hours.
The first two views of NKP 2-8-4 765.
Three more views of NKP 765.
Two more rear views.
Next a reflection picture in a window which caught my eye. We returned to the warmth of the rental car on a cold and very windy Indiana morning. About 7:30 AM we joined the line and met Dave and Kathy Smetko and several of my other rare mileage friends who were also riding today.
The train a consist of Nickel Plate 2-8-4 765, FWRR tool car 701 "Glenn E Brendel", Norfolk Southern coach/power car 42 "Tennessee", Norfolk Southern coach 46 "New Jersey", Norfolk Southern coach 47 "Louisiana", Norfolk Southern coach 28 "Powhatan Arrow" 800780, Norfolk Southern 29 "Powhatan Arrow" 800781, MRLX coach 4013 "Golden Surf", MRLX coach 4001 "Golden Sea", MRLX concession car 8701, MRLX coach "Bryce Canyon" 800880, MRLX coach "Silver Larch" 800728, MRLX coach "Golden Sands" 800748, San Luis and Rio Grande full dome 511 "Scenic View", San Luis and Rio Grande full dome 551 "Sky View" 800966, New York Central lounge 43 800411 and observation car "Hickory Creek" 800733. At 8:07 AM boarding commenced.
Bob and Chris Parker aboard "Tennessee", the second car behind Nickel Plate 765.
James Harris from Raleigh, North Carolina, a friend from the NRHS, joined us at our seats for the trip.
The Trip
We left our cars in Fort Wayne at 8:42 AM and were on our way to Lafayette.
The train ran by the old General Electric plant in Fort Wayne.
Passing a lake as we left Fort Wayne behind.
These trees had already lost their leaves.
The crops have all been picked.
The ticket for my trip today.
Fall colors could at times be seen.
A reflection of Bob enjoying the trip.
The court house in Huntington, Indiana.
A very small Wabash River at this point.
A barn from the train.
The Wabash River.
More trees.
Down at the end of the road.
Views on the way to Peru.
We pulled into Peru for a pilot engineer change and I walked back to the concession car.
Dave and Kathy Smetko.
We left Peru, next stop Lafayette.
Out across the Indiana countryside our train went.
The train ran through Logansport.
Crossing the Wabash River in Logansport.
Passing Logansport State Hospital on the way out of town.
We passed the ADM (Archer Daniels Midland) plant west of Logansport.
Then ran by this ethanol plant along the railroad.
Three views of the train chasers today.
More of that Indiana countryside.
Two musicians encouraged us to sing "Wabash Cannonball" and "Rolling Down the Railroad".
More Indiana countryside.
A switcher working a grain plant.
Another view of those train chasers.
Crossing another stream.
A small lake as we arrived into Lafayette.
A former Monon Railroad shop building that CSX once used. The train then reversed into the unloading area and almost all the passengers detrained to be bussed into town to get lunch. I stayed aboard to write this story and call Let's Talk Trains. After that I would relax and do that the whole way back to Fort Wayne. After all the passengers returned, we wyed the train and headed back to Fort Wayne with a pilot engineer change stop in Peru.
The sunset on this great day. We returned to Fort Wayne at 7:17 PM and it had been a great trip behind Nickel Plate 765, and a special thank you to the entire Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society crew and staff.
Once we escaped the parking lot, we all went to the Liberty Diner for dinner then returned to Motel 6 for the night.
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