By Otto M. Vondrak
Originally published December 13, 2007.

Arcadia has been publishing a unique series of inexpensive books in their “Images of Rail” series that help bring many otherwise unseen and uncirculated images to light. One of their latest offerings in this series is “Railroad Depots of Northern Indiana” by David E. Longest. This book could be considered a companion volume to his earlier “Railroad Depots of Southern Indiana.” A retired school teacher and member of the Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society, the Floyd County Historical Society and the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, Longest is well-prepared to take us on a tour of Indiana’s interesting train depots.

The book is broken up into sections, some by geography, some by railroad. Starting with Northeastern Indiana, we move to North Central, then Northwestern. Following are chapters covering the Monon, the Chicago SouthShore & South Bend, Amtrak, and the little-known Central Indiana & Western. The book wraps up with a short survey of preservation efforts across the state.

The images within the book range from colorful hand-rendered postcard images, to sharp photos to grainy snapshots. Some photos are contemporary views that show an advanced state of decay, others date from the heyday of the railroad industry. The book is not restricted to only passenger stations. Quite a few freight houses, trolley terminals, bridges, and major landmark industries are also shown. Together, they weave a fabric that is unique to the Indiana experience. Short captions explain the subject matter and some update the reader as to its current condition. Many of the structures shown have succumbed to the wrecking ball years ago. When it comes to descriptions of trains, some of the captions are vague and some are downright obvious. However, the descriptions of the depots and the companies that served them appear concise and accurate. In the Central Indiana & Western chapter, we take an interesting side tour into a typical grain elevator, a common midwestern landmark.

Railroad Depots of Northern Indiana would interest anyone from the area, and would be a good starting point for someone doing research on the lines of this region. Consider giving this book as a gift to a relocated Hoosier railroader you may know living abroad!

Railroad Depots of Northern Indiana By Daniel E. Longest, published February 2007 9x6.3; paperback; 128 pages; $19.99, plus S&H ISBN-13: 978-0738541310 Arcadia Publishing 224 State Street Portsmouth, NH 03801 http://www.arcadiapublishing.com (888) 313-2665