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The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Indiana was given the opportunity by the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company to acquire a very unique piece of railroad history - Grasselli Tower in East Chicago. The IHB decommissioned the tower during the later part of 2007 and promptly offered the tower to the HVRM. Grasselli was one of the last remaining railroad towers in Northern Indiana.
The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum worked quickly to preserve this piece of American history and we couldn't have done it without the help of museum volunteers and many monetary donations! The total cost to move Grasselli Tower to North Judson and preserve this amazing example of early railroad technology was just over $55,000 (slightly above our original budget estimates of $50k).
Nickel Plate Road 765 rolls past Grasselli Tower with an members-only excursion train at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson on Friday, May 22, 2009. The tower is currently being refurbished by museum volunteers and will become the jewel of the HVRM Signal Department.
Photo by Fred Boyer |
Grasselli Tower once stood along Kennedy Avenue in East Chicago, Indiana - guarding the junction between the IHB, EJ&E, and B&OCT. Here a southbound freight led by Norfolk Southern GE B32-8 #3544 passes by Grasselli Tower on a bright summer day in 2007. The museum is in the process of refurbishing the tower inside and out so that everyone can enjoy this piece of history.
Photo by Nate Beal |
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The work to move Grasselli Tower to North Judson coudn't have been completed without the dedication of several museum volunteers. HVRM members Mark Stanek (left) and Les Beckman (right) examine some plans for the IHB's Grasselli Tower on a cold spring day.
Photo by Mark Stanek
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We're looking for your stories about railroad towers and cabins. If you have a tower story, please share your experiences with us! Your story may be published on our website and will help all of our visitors better understand how railroad towers worked. Some of our visitors have already submitted their stories, so read their stories.
If you provide a link to the Grasselli Tower website, we will return the favor by providing a reciprical link to your website. Your links will help us increase awareness of our preservation effort.
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Shortly after Indiana Harbor Belt donated Grasselli Tower to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, a group from the HVRM and IHB inspected the entire tower so that a plan could be formulated for the eventual move to North Judson.
Photo by Robert Barcus
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A northbound bottle train led by NS GP38-2 #5336 (in full Conrail paint) prepares to hit the diamonds at Grasselli on January 17, 2008.
Photo by Robert Barcus
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We Wish to Thank the
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad
for Their Generous Donation!
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