Garrett's railroad history began in 1871 when the Baltimore and Ohio railroad expanded its rail line through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Fifty acres of land was purchased for the town of Garrett, which was named after John W. Garrett, president of the B&O railroad company. Garrett was incorporated as a town in 1875, and reclassified as a city in 1898.
Garrett became the center for maintenance and building of steam locomotives. The complex of shops and yards grew until it covered almost 90 acres including 38 company buildings and 16 miles of yard trackage.
The town continued to thrive into the nineteenth century, until the early 1950's when diesel engines became the method of moving tonnage across the country. And so it was, time had run out for steam, and in a way for Garrett.
Along with the passing of the steam locomotive, the roundhouse and the service facilities became relics. An attempt to preserve this railroad history failed and it was demolished.
Garrett remained division headquarters until the early 1960's. Today, it marks the divide between the Chicago East & Chicago West Subdivisions. As part of the CSX System, the former B&O is a lean and strong railroad and still an active part of Garrett Indiana.
In order to preserve history, the Garrett Historical Society renovated the original 1901 B&O freight house for a railroad museum. The museum houses a collection of railroad and historical memorabilia, a gift shop, and a model railroad layout.
For a more detailed history of Garrett, click on this link:
http://www.ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/garrett.html
Garrett became the center for maintenance and building of steam locomotives. The complex of shops and yards grew until it covered almost 90 acres including 38 company buildings and 16 miles of yard trackage.
The town continued to thrive into the nineteenth century, until the early 1950's when diesel engines became the method of moving tonnage across the country. And so it was, time had run out for steam, and in a way for Garrett.
Along with the passing of the steam locomotive, the roundhouse and the service facilities became relics. An attempt to preserve this railroad history failed and it was demolished.
Garrett remained division headquarters until the early 1960's. Today, it marks the divide between the Chicago East & Chicago West Subdivisions. As part of the CSX System, the former B&O is a lean and strong railroad and still an active part of Garrett Indiana.
In order to preserve history, the Garrett Historical Society renovated the original 1901 B&O freight house for a railroad museum. The museum houses a collection of railroad and historical memorabilia, a gift shop, and a model railroad layout.
For a more detailed history of Garrett, click on this link:
http://www.ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/garrett.html