Train no. 407

NG501035

Train no. 407

Steam M&E Train

Little more than a brake release is needed to affect the departure of westbound passenger trains from the depot at Bellefontaine, and westbound freights leaving BN yard are checked tightly until the rear end is eased down near Sandusky Street. Here, the engineer on no. 407 snaps his twelve-car train quickly out of town, aiding gravity with a touch on the throttle of the 5266. He can ramble at the maximum 79 MPH, barring stops, except on two 70-MPH curves three and seven miles west of Bellefontaine and while passing through Lawrence, Indiana, where there has been a 45-MPH limit over street, crossings since a disastrous crossing accident occurred in 1955. (There are speed restrictions through Muncie and Anderson, the two cities along the route, where of course the schedule calls for stops.) Most of the 137-mile run to Eastwood, the eastern limits of the Indianapolis Terminal, is gently downgrade through rich farmlands. More about this line on the next two pages.

Jeremy Taylor

Jeremy Taylor

2-1/4x3-1/4 neg

Apr-53

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306

J-1c

#5266

Alco-Schen

Bellefontaine, OH

See NG501035a