Train no. 414

NG502049

Train no. 414

Steam Locomotive

Lafayette, a flourishing city of some 35,000 persons located in the upper middle section of the Wabash River valley, is about halfway between Indianapolis and Kankakee on the Indiana Division main line. It is the operational midpoint of the line, with local freights out of the opposing terminals laying up overnight and returning next day. It is also an important contributor to passenger train revenues and, in that connection, here is eastbound local no. 414 leaving town after a lengthy stop, during which a car of head-end traffic was added to the train. The high polish on engine 5451, unusual in the dog-days of steam, was due to the fact that she had just come out of a major inspection at Riverside. She was a great favorite during her brief stay on the Big Four (this may have been responsible, in part at least, for the polish), and her regular assignment was on no’s. 3 and 4, the 'James Whitcomb Riley'. The white plume rising from behind the 5451's PT tender comes from the pops of an H-5, which was serving as the Lafayette yard engine.

Jeremy Taylor

Jeremy Taylor

2-1/4x3-1/4 neg

Fall, 1955

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4-6-4

486

J-3a

#5451

Alco-Schen

Lafayette, IN