About the Museum

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum has been preserving railroad history in northwest Indiana since 1988 and has slowly evolved into the premier tourist destination in Starke County. HVRM started with little more than a single stub of track, an old steam locomotive and the dream of creating a working railroad museum that everyone can enjoy. Driven by that dream, HVRM was literally built from the ground up through the hard work and dedication of its volunteer members.

Chesapeake & Ohio No. 2789 and a Start

Chesapeake & Ohio no. 2789 is a 2-8-4 Kanawha-type steam locomotive. The locomotive was taken out of service by the C&O in 1955. In 1961, through the efforts of the Miami County Steam Locomotive Association, engine no. 2789 was placed on static display in the city park at Peru, Indiana. In 1988, the steam locomotive was relocated to North Judson, Indiana, and resides today at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum where efforts are slowly progressing preserve the superpower steam locomotive.

Since the spring of 1988, and with just no. 2789 on the end of a stub track, the concept of building a working railroad museum has become a reality. Track and switches have been re-laid on the abandoned right-of-way of the Erie Railroad through North Judson. Several railroad buildings have been moved to the museum site over the years, including Grasselli Tower. A 60' x 100' donated building was relocated and reassembled in 1994-95 and now serves as the museum's backshop, where repair and restoration work continues. The shop has since been expanded twice with the east annex addition in 2004 and the west annex addition in 2008.

The museum has over 50 pieces of rolling stock in its collection. Freight cars of various types, passenger cars, several designs of cabooses, operable diesel engines and an Orton locomotive crane comprise the bulk of the museum collection. The railroad museum also has a disassembled 100' turntable in it collection. Museum volunteers hope to reinstall the turntable in the future.

All the work of building the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum has been and is being done through the efforts of the museum's own membership. The land, track materials, buildings, freight cars and locomotives have all been made possible through the generosity of many local and non-local individuals, companies, and corporations.

Non-Profit Railroad Museum

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The museum has more than 200 members across all walks of life and is managed by a seven-member Board of Directors who oversee every aspect of the organization. If you would like to support the museum, please consider becoming a member or making a donation.