Elkhart Rail History
The First Train in Elkhart
The first train passed through what was then the village of Elkhart on Friday, October 3, 1851. The wood burning engine hauling a train of flat cars and a caboose rode over a wooden bridge across the Elkhart River before reaching the foot of Main St. What was then a forest south of the village would eventually become an important freight yard and is where the museum stands today.
Rail transportation allowed Elkhart’s existing industries to thrive and expand, sustaining and encouraging the growth of our community.
In 1870 the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway erected repair shops in Elkhart. By 1871, LS&MS employed 25% of Elkhart’s residents and railroads would remain Elkhart's single largest employer until at least the 1950s.
The early 20th century saw the golden age of rail in the US, and it was no different here in Elkhart!
In 1900, the Depot was constructed, which still serves Amtrak passengers today. In 1903, the Gravity Yard was constructed. It was the second-largest railyard in the US at the time, only after one in Chicago. LS&MS continued to expand their Elkhart shops until it was merged with the New York Central in 1914.
After the NYC gained full control of Elkhart's rails, they too continued to invest in LS&MS's infrastructure. By 1941, 34 passenger trains stopped in Elkhart per day, 17 each way. In 1956, construction began on a new hump classification yard west of the old Gravity Yard, at a cost of $679,000,000. The Robert R. Young Memorial Yard opened in March 1958 and still serves as one of the largest American freight yards for Norfolk Southern to this day.
Contact Us
National New York Central Railroad Museum
nnycrrm.info@cityofelkhartin.gov
Phone: (574) 294-3001
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10 AM - 5 PM EST