Tourism Grant Dollars Earmarked for Rail Line Updates

Posted on Author WKVI

Hoosier Valley Railroad MuseumThe Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is the beneficiary of an Indiana Office of Tourism Development matching grant. The agency awarded the Town of North Judson a $31,897 Destination Development Grant.

That money will be used to increase awareness of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum among leisure travelers and enhance marketing efforts of both the attraction and state tourism. Officials say the Destination Development grant program is intended to help local economies grow by promoting the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. Continue reading →

Easter Train Rides Set for April 4

Posted on Author WKVI

Easter press release 2015 (1)The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is ready to gear up for the spring and summer season by offering Easter trains on April 4.

Passengers who take part in these round-trip excursions to English Lake get to ride in vintage cabooses, a passenger coach, or open-air sightseeing cars. When at English Lake, children will get to go on an Easter egg hunt at a park and meet with the Easter Bunny. Every child will receive a bag of Easter items, toys and candy from the Easter Bunny.

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Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Contributes Matching Funds for North Judson Railroad Project

Posted on Author WKVI

North Judson Water TowerThe Town of North Judson has more than half of the matching funds needed for an INDOT Transportation Enhancement Project Grant. They’ve applied for $512,066 from the state to replace railroad ties along the town’s rail line. A 20-percent local match of 102,413.20 is required.

During this week’s town council meeting, Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Secretary and Railroad Committee Advisory Member Mark Knebel presented a check to the town from HVRM for $51,015 toward the match and some supplemental work. The town of North Judson has also received $15,000 from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation towards the local match. Continue reading →

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Offers Mint Festival Train Rides

Posted on Author WKVI

Hoosier Valley Railroad MuseumThis weekend during the North Judson Mint Festival, patrons will have the opportunity to ride the rails at the Hoosier Valley Rail Road Museum. Passengers have their choice of riding in a vintage caboose, an open-air car or a vintage commuter coach. The train will leave the depot for the 10-mile round-trip excursions to English Lake/Kankakee River at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The longer, 20-mile round-trip excursion to LaCrosse, lasts approximately two hours and leaves the depot at 2 p.m. Continue reading →

Starke County Community Foundation Gives Generously to Local Organizations

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A number of charitable organizations are on the receiving end of more than $40,000 in grants from the Starke County Community Foundation. The gifts are made possible through the foundation’s endowment fund, which is supported by gifts to the SCCF. The money is invested. Each year some of the interest goes back into the fund to help it grow, while some is given locally in the form of scholarships and grants. Continue reading →

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Offers Easter Trains This Weekend

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
HVRM Tourist Train
HVRM Tourist Train

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson will be giving Easter Train Rides beginning on April 19th.

The excursion is a round-trip from the depot and crosses the Kankakee River and English Lake in a trip that goes over five miles. The trip also travels to a park along the tracks where passengers disembark to take part in an Easter Egg Hunt.

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HVRM Hosts Santa Trains on Dec. 7, 14

Posted on Author WKVI

HVRM Tourist Train
HVRM Tourist Train
The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is ringing in the holidays with their third annual Santa Trains, featuring Santa Claus himself aboard as passengers take a round-trip train ride from North Judson to the Kankakee River and back. Marketing Specialist Loretta Kosloske said Santa Claus also has a gift bag for the passengers as well.

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HVRM to Celebrate 25th Anniversary Saturday

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

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.

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Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum to Host Civil War Encampment

Posted on Author WKVI

A Civil War encampment will make an appearance at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum next weekend.
A Civil War encampment will make an appearance at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum next weekend.
The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum will be making a trip back in time on Saturday, Aug. 17 as Civil War encampments are established in the area. Railroading played a huge part in the Civil War, and the HVRM will allow visitors to wander through the encampment and experience the life of early soldiers as reenactors from the Indiana 20th Volunteers and the 4th Battery Light Artillery play the part.

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Railroad Crossing Work Planned at the End of July

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Work will be done on some railroad crossings in Starke County at the end of the month.

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

Posted on Author WKVI

HVRM Tourist Train
HVRM Tourist Train
It’s been 25 years since the arrival of a locomotive at the Mint Festival prompted the Miami County Steam Locomotive Association to reform under the name “The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum.” In 1988, the Chesapeake & Ohio 2789 steam locomotive was put on display for Mint Festival patrons after its recent arrival in North Judson from Peru, and the association decided to move to the end of what was once the Erie-Lackawanna railroad tracks. The new location, near three other former railroads – the New York Central, Pennsylvania, and Chesapeake & Ohio – featured no buildings, very little track, and a lone phone sitting on a cinder block next to the telephone pole.

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Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Posted on Author WKVI
HVRM Tourist Train
HVRM Tourist Train

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.

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North Judson to Soon Repair U.S. 30 Railroad Crossing Near Hanna

Posted on Author WKVI
 

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.

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Easter Train Rides at HVRM on March 30

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year!

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.

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Civil War Reenactment To Take Place Near Hoosier Valley RR Museum

Posted on Author WKVI

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.

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