The era of town railroad ownership in North Judson has officially come to an end. Officials celebrated the closing of the sale of the 33-mile railroad to Midwest & Bluegrass Rail during Monday’s town council meeting. “This is a very special day, absolutely,” said Council President John Rowe.
Town Attorney Justin Schramm congratulated the council and the redevelopment commission. “After two years’ worth of work on this project and actually going back further than that, our railroad is sold,” Schramm said. “[Clerk-Treasurer] Andrew [Rowe] for two-and-a-half million dollars for the town to use, which represents about three years’ worth of your guys’ budget that you got from the sale of this railroad.”
North Judson purchased the railroad 17 years ago, with funding help from INDOT. It was part of an effort to preserve the last remaining service in what was once a busy railroad town at the intersection of four major lines. Schramm felt the town’s accomplished that and more.
“The railroad’s not going anywhere,” Schramm said, “and I think we found an owner that really has the knowledge, know-how, and expertise, unlike a town who’s not in that business, to really do well by the railroad.”
He specifically touted the fact that the sale guarantees that the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum will continue to be able to run excursions, gives an easement to the Prairie Trails Club to extend the Erie Trail, and helps the Town of LaCrosse with its efforts to build a new water plant and develop retail. That’s in addition to giving North Judson money it can use for redevelopment and improvements.
Hoosier Valley President Todd Flanigan told council members that he continues to have a good relationship with the new owners, and he’s confident that the museum will be able to run trains to LaCrosse at some point this year. That hasn’t happened since a 2016 dispute with the previous operator, which Schramm pointed out ended up costing the town $300,000 in legal fees.
The town council and the redevelopment commission Monday both approved the creation of a new Redevelopment Commission Fund to handle the money generated by the sale.
