Enjoy the Fall Colors During a HVRM Train Ride
The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson is offering several special excursions in the month of October.
Not only will you enjoy a train ride to the English Lake area on the Pumpkin Train on Oct. 5 and Oct. 19, you will have the chance to choose and purchase a pumpkin for only $1.50 in the HVRM pumpkin patch.
HVRM to Celebrate 25th Anniversary Saturday
The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson will hold its 25th Anniversary Celebration and Open House on Saturday, Sept. 7.
The event-filled day begins at 9 a.m. with a flag ceremony by the American Legion Post #92 and music by the Knox High School Band. Magic shows, the Fair Oaks Mobile Dairy Classroom, buggy rides, storytelling, corn hole, horseshoes, motor car rides, Irish music by the Culver Pipe and Drum Corps, bluegrass music by the Peter Nye Band are just a few activities featured.
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum to Host Civil War Encampment
Railroad Crossing Work Planned at the End of July
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum volunteers, Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad Company and the Starke County Highway Department will start the work on Tuesday, July 30 with the closure of the Toto Road grade crossing. The closure of the 650 West grade crossing at English Lake will take place on Wednesday, July 31. Surface work will be done at both locations on Thursday, Aug. 1.
The railroad grade crossings are expected to reopen to traffic on Friday, Aug. 2.
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Celebrating 25th Anniversary
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Celebrates 25th Anniversary
The 25th anniversary of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum kicks off Saturday, May 4, with 25 percent off all train excursion fares for the entire day. Round-trip excursions start at the North Judson depot and travel across the Kankakee River through the Starke and LaPorte County countryside, providing passengers with beautiful sights and sounds as they travel in open-air cars, vintage cabooses, or a commuter coach.
North Judson to Soon Repair U.S. 30 Railroad Crossing Near Hanna
The town of North Judson received help from state representatives Douglas Gutwein and Tom Dermody, as well as Senator Ed Charbonneau and INDOT Representative Robert Alderman with the goal of obtaining funds to proceed with the repairs to the railroad crossing on U.S. 30 near Hanna. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said the town has been working on getting the project under way since last summer.
Easter Train Rides at HVRM on March 30
To kick off the year-long celebration, Easter train rides are being offered on Saturday, March 30. You will be able to ride in vintage cabooses, a passenger coach, or open-air sightseeing cars. The train ride is a round-trip five-mile excursion that will take you over the Kankakee River at English Lake and through some countryside before returning to North Judson. A stop will be made along the way where passengers can participate in an Easter Egg hunt and a visit with the Easter Bunny.
Civil War Reenactment To Take Place Near Hoosier Valley RR Museum
Go back in time at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson this weekend and experience the huge impact railroading had on the Civil War.
On Saturday, Aug. 18, residents are encouraged to wander through the Civil War encampment and experience the life of early soldiers. Among the reenactors will be the Indiana 20th Volunteers Division, including their leader, Col. John Wheeler – a soldier from Crown Point who was killed near Devil’s Den during the Battle of Gettysburg.
North Judson Approves Fire Protection Contract
The North Judson Town Board approved the fire protection contract with Wayne Township at a price of $23,000, which is the same price paid in 2011. Two installments of $11,500 are paid to the Township a year for the service.
Mark Knebel from the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum told the Board that 6,280 people rode the trains this year. Since 2006, 22,452 have traveled on the Museum’s tourist trains. He said they were sold out on all Santa trains this year and had riders from Michigan and from the western part of Chicago.
Train Derails during Ride from North Judson to LaCrosse
A train excursion from North Judson to LaCrosse almost turned deadly yesterday when five cars of the train derailed. The cars were being pulled by the historic 765 steam engine when the cars suddenly left the track.
Mark Knebel from the Hoosier Valley Railroad Organization talked about the mishap.
Historic Locomotive No. 765 to Visit Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum
The staff at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum are gearing up for another busy season with train rides and visits to the Museum on Mulberry Street in North Judson.
The Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive no. 765 will be making another trip to the Museum during the Memorial Day weekend, May 28th through the 30th. Recognized as a national historic landmark, locomotive no. 765 is the largest operating steam locomotive east of the Mississippi River. It was rebuilt and is operated by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. The locomotive will take passengers on a 2 hour, 20 mile round-trip journey in Starke County. Passengers will have the rare opportunity to enjoy “the steam experience” in an open-air sightseeing car.
Search Warrant Served at Scrap Yard May have Uncovered Stolen Items from Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum
North Judson Police Chief, Doug Vessely, told the North Judson Town Board this week that a recent search warrant conducted at the scrap yard in Knox by the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police Department and the North Judson Police Department may have uncovered stolen property from the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson. Museum staff had reported joint bars stolen plus other items worth thousands of dollars. The incident remains under investigation.
Two Knox Residents Arrested on Burglary, Theft
Several thousands of dollars worth of railroad metals were retrieved from the Starke County Recycling Company this morning after Knox City Police and the Norfolk Southern Railroad Police officers executed a search warrant at that location. This is part of an ongoing investigation of a theft report that was filed Saturday night and led to the arrest of Patrick Sobieck and Richard Selva.
North Judson Police Investigate Vandalism at Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum
The North Judson Police Department investigated vandalism and damage to property at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum.
On Wednesday, April 6th, officer Dennis Fornelli located three juvenile males on the grounds of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, in and around the train cars. After a short time, the three were picked up and transported to their respective parents. The following morning, the volunteers at the Museum reported to officer Joe Budner that several train cars, the building, and equipment had been vandalized and damaged. Many windows were broken out as well. Police returned and conducted interviews with the three juveniles and learned they had done the damage. A complete investigative report was furnished to the Starke County Probation Department and the Prosecutor’s Office requesting charges and restitution from the juveniles.
