The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society used a recently acquired depot in Indiana for the first time last Sunday.
The society, which owns and operates Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765, used the 141-year-old former New York Central depot in Pleasant Lake, Indiana, as the departure point for a diesel-powered excursion that raised money for the Dekalb [County] Humane Society and Community Humane Shelter of Steuben County.
The Pleasant Lake station will serve as the departure point for many Indiana Rail Experience excursions on the Indiana Northeastern Railroad.
FtWRHS plans to spend $50,000 to renovate the depot. The work includes site engineering and surveying for a resurfaced parking lot, foundation work, painting, and a boarding platform.
In time the society plans to build a passenger car servicing facility near the depot.
Although the summer excursion schedule of the Indiana Rail Experience has concluded, plans are underway for fall and holiday excursions this year.
A FtWRHS spokesman told Trains magazine that a third weekend may be added to the fall color schedule with the new trips being of shorter duration.
Most of those trips will feature the 765, but not former NKP SD9 No. 358, which FtWRHS is in the process of restoring to operating condition.
The 358 still needs some truck and traction motor work and must undergo several weeks of testing.
Tags: Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Indiana Rail Experience, Nickel Plate 765, Nickel Plate Road 765, Nickel Plate Road No. 765, NKP SD9 No. 358, Pleasant Lake Indiana
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