Museum founded 

The initial idea for the creation of a railroad museum began two years later, in the fall of 1986, as one element in a comprehensive revitalization program for the City of Elkhart’s downtown, known as the “Phoenix Plan,” later called “Rebuild Elkhart.”

In 1987, the LSHF joined with the City of Elkhart to create the National New York Central Railroad Museum.

Since its initial conception, it germinated into a major commitment and a joint venture of the City of Elkhart, the LSHF, and private citizens. Its primary objective was to preserve and exhibit the railroad heritage of Elkhart and the New York Central Railroad. A secondary, though immensely important purpose was the stimulation of economic rejuvenation in the south end of the City’s downtown.

By early 1987, the City had purchased two substantial parcels of property abutting the main line (operated by Conrail at the time) in downtown Elkhart, the 1900 passenger depot on the north side of the tracks, and a complex of freight houses on the south side, the latter of which now makes up the museum complex. Purchase of the Depot insured the survival of this historic downtown landmark, which now serves as an Amtrak station.

In September 1987, the Elkhart Common Council adopted Ordinance No. 3822, officially establishing the Museum and its governing commission as part of the City of Elkhart.

Today, the museum property includes:

• A freight house complex consisting of two sections; both freight houses were built in the 1900s and were once used by the Miles Medical Company. 
• Two converted 1914 Illinois Central heavyweight passenger coaches, which were painted in NYC colors and renamed the Elkhart River (#2691) and the St. Joseph River (#2694).
• A 1937 Rock Island stainless steel observation car (formerly #454 & named Minnesota) which was painted in NYC colors and renamed the City of Elkhart.
• A gift shop/lobby structure which connects the City of Elkhart observation car and the St. Joseph River passenger coach. (This structure was completed in 1995 and is now the museum entrance. Before, guests entered straight into the St. Joseph River passenger coach.)
• The rolling stock yard.

The observation and passenger coach cars were arranged and painted to look like NYC’s famous Twentieth Century Limited passenger train, with diesel locomotive #4085 (the NYC EMD E8 unit that led the Century’s final eastbound run, acquired by the Museum from New Jersey Rail Operations in 1987) at its head.

The Museum opened to the public in August 1989. At that time, most of the exhibits were housed in the two passenger cars. The observation car operated as a restaurant.

We look forward to the future in the next couple of years, as they will bring important landmarks in Elkhart rail history.

2026 marks the 175th anniversary of rail in Elkhart. It is also the year of America250! 

2027 will mark the museum's 40th year.