Monon Train going south, crossing the Ohio River

Monon Railroad Layout from Chicago to Louisville

This railroad layout represents the Monon Railroad in September of 1966, travelling from the Chicago Rail Yard to the Louisville, KY Rail Yard. Towns represented are: Monon, Battleground Monument, Lafayette Shops and Lafayette Downtown, Crawfordsville, Bloomington, Bedford Stone Works, Salem Brewery and then the Louisville Yard. You can click on 2008 to see previous blogs. Clicking on a picture allows you to view an enlargement. This layout represents thousands of hours over more than 20 years. Please feel free to comment on what you see. The reason I chose this railroad is that my grandfather started working for the railroad in 1884. I have his first paystub that was for $16. He eventually became the head car accountant in Chicago from the mid 1890s until 1903 when he moved to Lafayette, IN to become a banker with First Merchants Bank. That bank later became Purdue National Bank and then Bank One and now Chase.

Monon Train Running on Fifth Street in Lafayette

Monon Shops in Lafayette, IN

Monon, Indiana Station and Freight Office

"Beautiful" Downtown Bloomington, Indiana

Downtown Crawfordsville, Indiana