Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum receives Significant Achievement Award

Several pieces of equipment have been painted into authentic railroad colors by the museum in recent years. Shown is Penn Central boxcar no. 153177, which was built in 1935 for the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was donated to the museum in 1994. Photo courtesy: Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum

NORTH JUDSON, Ind. – The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum has been presented with the 2021 Significant Achievement Award – Freight Car by the HeritageRail Alliance.

The museum was selected for its program that repairs and paints freight cars. The museum was presented with the award during the HRA Spring Conference Virtual Symposium.

A number of freight cars have been fixed by museum volunteers in recent years, and since the majority of the museum’s equipment stays outside, painting the cars is important for their long-term presentation.

Authentic lettering is even painted on the cars for historic accuracy. The museum has over 30 pieces in its collection.

Mark Knebel, a long-time member of the organization, spearheaded recent efforts and painted a number of the museum’s freight cars, cabooses, and passenger equipment.

“I’m really proud of the work that has been accomplished around the museum over the last year or so,” said Todd Flanigan, president of the organization. “Even though we were in the middle of a pandemic, we were able to get so much done,” he said. “This award demonstrates what our membership is capable of accomplishing.”

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1988. For more information on the museum, click here or follow the museum on Facebook.

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