Historical Images of Porter County

Valparaiso & Northern Railway, Construction Train, Looking North
Chesterton, Indiana

Date: January 28, 1911
Source Type: Photograph
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Air Line News
Postmark: Not applicable
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: The Valparaiso & Northern Railway construction train seen here is traveling southbound on Valparaiso Street, now South Calumet Road, on January 28, 1911. In order to meet the franchise deadline for operating trains on the Chesterton spur, the Valparaiso & Northern Railway ran a construction train down the line rather than an interurban. Electric interurban cars began traveling the line one week after this photograph was taken. William H. Clinton, a director of the Valparaiso & Northern Railway was at the throttle of this train. Incorporated in August 1908, the Valparaiso & Northern Railway construction was financed by citizens of Valparaiso and outside investors; the railway was to become one of the feeder lines the the Chicago-New York Electric Air Line Railroad.

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Image and related text prepared by Steven R. Shook