The centerpiece of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum’s collection will make a rare public appearance tomorrow. Chesapeake & Ohio steam locomotive 2789 will be on display at the Erie Trail Rest Park on State Road 10, according to the museum’s website. It’s meant to coincide with the Erie Trail Travelers’ Chili Ride and Starke County Tourism’s Bloomers Run.
The museum says it’s the locomotive’s first major move in more than 30 years. It was built in 1947 and was only in service on the C&O until 1955. For 25 years, it was on display at a park in Peru, Indiana. It was eventually brought to North Judson, where museum officials say “it was the inspiration for the start of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in 1988.”
The museum invites railfans and the public to take pictures of tomorrow morning’s move, as the locomotive is towed down the former Erie mainline from the museum’s shop to the Rest Park. However, the museum says there’s no set departure time.
Those planning to attend tomorrow’s events should keep COVID-19 precautions in mind. Starke County is experiencing high community spread, according to the Indiana Department of Health, and the state’s encouraging additional local monitoring and social distancing.
