The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society has been given more than $1.4 million from former society president Art Lindblom, the largest single donation in its history, to fund an expansion of the restoration and maintenance complex in New Haven, Ind.
In honor of Art Lindblom, who oversaw the construction of the original shop, the expanded complex will be named the Art Lindblom Locomotive Shop. The money will cover construction and site work, expanding the society’s capacity to preserve historic railroad equipment. To outfit the new space, the group has started a campaign seeking $20,000.
The Edgerton Road shop opened in 1991 and has since hosted a major rebuild of Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 “Berkshire” 765, the restoration of Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 “Kanawha” 2716 and restorations of more than six passenger cars. The addition will make room for more preservation projects, including New York Central 4-8-2 “Mohawk” 3001, Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 “Mikado” 624, vintage freight cars, Nickel Plate Road Pullman 1 and the Great Steel Fleet of New York Central passenger cars. It will also support annual and seasonal maintenance for NKP 765.
Crews will also get upgraded quarters, including a break room, a shower and the society’s first indoor restrooms. The new spaces will make work easier and more comfortable for the crews who handle restorations and seasonal maintenance.
“Art helped build the facility that has supported decades of railroad preservation. Now, the largest single gift in our history will help prepare it for the next generation of work,” said Kelly Lynch, executive director of the Fort Wayne Railroad, in a statement. “This expansion will give our crews more room to advance major restoration projects and better accommodations for the volunteers whose time and skill make that work possible.”
The project will also support the relocation of equipment saved through past partnerships, including several freight cars recovered in Noblesville and Logansport, both in Indiana; NKP 624 and a Milwaukee Road refrigerator car rescued in partnership with the City of Hammond, Indiana, in 2017; and a former Louisville & Nashville auxiliary water tender moved from Pittsburgh in 2019.
Work on the expansion is expected through the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027. Fort Wayne Railroad is also exploring opportunities for shop facilities and property along the Indiana Northeastern Railroad, where they currently operate excursions throughout the year as part of their Indiana Rail Experience.
To learn more, visit fortwaynerailroad.org.
— Nick Stewart
