Railroad locomotives; Floods; Inclined railroads; Railroads; Engines; Madison
This is a view of the incline looking north from the Main Street bridge taken during the 1937 flood. The train is stopped at the foot of the incline unable to proceed because of flood waters.
W.F. Guthrie reported, "In 1862 they had a cog track laid between the rails on the inclined place and a wheel fitting in the cogs to draw the cars up and let them down again. Sometimes they would break loose and come flying down the hill and...
The bell was cast in 1849 at the Garrett Foundry in Cincinnati and placed in the cupola of the freight depot in the same year. The bell tolled upon the arrival and departure of trains. In the early 1900s the bell was diverted to Richmond, Indiana...
The 'hill engine' was built in 1895 at the PCC & StL. Railway at Columbus, Ohio. One advantage of the "8434" was its use of coal instead of wood. Coal burned longer and hotter. In 1896 this locomotive replaced the "M. G. Bright". It was given...
Railroad cuts; Inclined railroads; Railroads; Madison
This view of the incline was taken in about 1900. Notice the young boy sitting on a log alongside the tracks. Perhaps he is waiting to see the train go by or just resting before going on his way.
Maps; Horse railroads; Steamboats; Lanier, J.F.D.; Hanging Rock Hill, Indiana; Rowboats; Madison, Indiana; Ohio River
This is an inset from an old map (no date given); in it you can see steamboats on the Ohio River along with three men in a row boat. On the shore horses pull the quaint little train along the track. The house to the far left that is partially cut...
The engine, and what appears to be the engineer leaning against the front of the train, both seem to be taking a well-earned break. A dapper gentleman passes them both, intent on reaching some unknown destination.
Horses; W. H. Rogers; John Louis Spicer; Railroad freight cars
A horse and dray are used to pick up a load of paint for W. H. Rogers of Madison, Indiana. You can see the name on the side of the box car. There was no middleman here. The paint was loaded at the paint factory and delivered directly to Madison...
The caption on the picture reads, "Pennsylvania Depot and Hill Climber, Madison, Indiana." Notice the engineer and people waiting to board the train. The old omnibus stands nearby.
The old Marine Ways is to the right of the picture. On the left is the old race track. Horse racing and sulky racing were once popular sports in Madison.
We know little about this picture. Were the name "Wirt" not clearly defined over the door, we would not be able to identify it at all. There is a rail cart behind the gentleman and he seems to have what may be the mailbag. He may be ready to...
