Lafayette, IN: CSX/Monon Coaling Tower, Roundhouse and Backshop

(Satellite)

I saw a slide show by Bill Gustason, and it included the Monon coaling tower in Lafayette, IN. A check of a satellite map indicates that it is still standing.

3D Satellite

Jeffrey Bossaer commented on Jim's share

Ken Bryan posted
John Barringer photo. Shop yard with yard office on the Monon, Lafayette IN. Shop buildings, roundhouse, water and coal towers in the distance.

Gary Miller posted
Monon shops and roundhouse in Lafayette, IN.

Ernie Julian posted

Michael Dye posted
A 1915 fire insurance map of Lafayette, IN, showing the portion of the Monon yard area, which contained the the locomotive and car shops.

Michael Dye commented on his post
A 1923 photo of the roundhouse and Shops area.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Michael's post

Photo via monon.org
This site also has a photo of a wheel lathe.

It does look like they plan on tearing down the one remaining backshop building in the yard.

3D Satellite
This was the car shop. [monon.org] Google Maps labels it as Lafayette Terminal.

Center for Railroad Photography & Art posted
In this J. Parker Lamb image, Monon Railroad shop workers replace a Fairbanks-Morse engine with an EMD model at the railroad's Lafayette, Indiana, shops on May 31, 1960. Lamb-01-044-08.

Christina M Coon posted five photos with the comment:

The Monon Railroad in Lafayette In. My Grandfather was a mechanic for this railroad for many years. As early as 1882 there was talk of building a new shops complex because the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago was outgrowing their modest New Albany shops. Lafayette became a popular site because of land that was might be granted for the privilege of becoming the new home to the railroad's shops. There was competition between Lafayette and Monon and many railroad trade publications of the day had all but confirmed that either Lafayette or Monon would get the complex. In 1892 the voters of Tippecanoe County's Fairfield Township voted to donate $100,000.00 and 45 acres of land to the railroad if they moved the shops complex to their township. Lafayette had won. Construction of the new complex began in 1894 and in October of 1895 the railroad began use of its new complex.The Shops, August 10, 1958. Freight units 63A and 64B wait in front of the shops for their assignment. The Shops were capable of handling almost any task needed. Right: Business Car # 2, The Lynne was built by Pullman. The Shops rebuilt the car and it became a favorite then President Warren Brown, who named the car after his granddaughter, Lynne Chambers.

The shops stood on a hill, perched above the mainline. It's buildings, red brick capped with stone trimmings stood tall and proud north of Lafayette. There were two main structures. One building held a 210 foot long machine shop and 90 foot boiler shop, with adjoining blacksmith shop, engine and dyno room, and boiler room. The second building was a car shop, 90 x 300 feet in size. The shops, over the years, changed with the times and needs of the railroad. Quality work was their hallmark and they met every challenge or need with the same level of workmanship. Time and time again the shops proved that they could perform unconventional tasks and succeed. Some of the more cherished feats accomplished at the shops: the rebuilding ex-Army streamlined passenger cars of 1947-1948. The unique "bay window cupola" cabooses built new in 1956-1957. Repowering the Fairbanks Morse diesels of 1960-1961 and the rebuilding of the Alco RS-2s in 1965-1966. Of course there was also many less notable examples of the skill of the shops. The hundreds of freight cars rebuilt, from hopper cars rebuilt to flatcars turned into piggyback service cars. In short the shops did the job of keeping the Monon running. The year is 1967. The last Monon football special is assembled at the Shops Yard prior to heading south to 5th Street for picking up passengers. The train would then head south to Bloomington for the IU - Purdue Oaken Bucket Game. The Hoosiers won 19-14 and represented the Big 10 in the 1968 Rose Bowl. May 5, 1948. Monon Lafayette Roundhouse being torn down.

Tom Walters shared

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Warren Calloway posted
Lafayette, IN Warren Calloway photo
Allen Garvey shared

John Troxler posted two photos with the comment: "The Monon F units photographed in Monon's Lafayette shops on 08/02/59 using Kodachrome. The slide is a little fuzzy in focus, probably due to the low light levels in the shop in combination with the 10 ASA (ISO) film speed. Photographer unknown, John E. Troxler collection. The 2nd slide was taken in the mid-60s at the Lafayette shops. Photographer unknown, John E. Troxler collection."

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