Towns and Nature: Lafayette, IN: Monon Street Running and Depot

Some of this content was moved from Extreme Team Tracks.

(Update: Monon also did street running in Bloomington, IN.)

Before I found reference material that indicated the Monon used 5th street in Lafayette, I looked at a 1970 aerial map to try to determine its old route. The resolution was not good enough. But you can see the old Wabash alignment through town. The new alignments along the river route the tracks under the Wabash River road bridges. Thus several grade crossings, as well as street running, is eliminated.

1970 Aerial Map

Photo by Doug Weitzman
L&N/Monon used to run in a street in Lafayette, IN, and the Amtrak "station" was a hotel. Here we see Amtrak 218 pulling #317, The Hoosier State, into town. These tracks have since been relocated along the Wabash River.

Steven J. Brown photo

Amtrak Hoosier State runs down the street in Lafayette, Indiana - June 23, 1992.

Richard Blunt posted
The former Monon station in Lafayette Indiana. They left a section of track in the street in front of it to remember the street running days through town.

This looks like the building on the right in Steven's photo. I wonder what the time frame was of using this building vs. the hotel in Doug's photo. Richard indicates the building is not used as a performing arts center.

John Sickel III posted

The last Monon (ALCO C420/ no502 up front) "Football Special" loads up on 5th street in Lafayette Indiana, prior to heading south to Bloomington Indiana for the IU/Purdue Game. 1968. Courtesy of Monon Railroad.

Steven J. Brown posted
Amtrak Hoosier State #317 is making a station stop in the street at Lafayette, Indiana - June 23, 1992. F40PHR 264 was built in 1977, became Canadian American 459 to SLRG 459.
Mark Egebrecht: July 22, 1994 was the final day.

Jim Sinclair shared
I think the group will enjoy seeing this classic scene from Lafayette!
Harold Pierce's posting
CIRCA 1957 .. NOTICE 5TH STREET CONEY ISLAND ON LEFT ..