Fort Wayne in Allen County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Earliest Railroad
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 30, 2008
1. Earliest Railroad Marker
Inscription.
Earliest Railroad. . The Wabash and Erie Canal was instrumental in the construction of the first railways in Fort Wayne, which quickly became a railroading center in the Midwest. In 1852, along the canal at the present-day railroad elevation that borders the south edge of Headwaters Park at Lafayette Street, the first locomotive was unloaded from a canal boat. The locomotive was placed on tracks that were laid on Lafayette Street and led to the south side of town where the main line of the new Ohio and Indiana Railroad was due to be built. Later, this became the Pennsylvania Railroad system for which Fort Wayne was a major hub. When railroad competition reduced the effectiveness of the canal, surveys for a rail line extended north of Fort Wayne. However, in 1881, officials of the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, known commonly as “The Nickel Plate Road”, purchased the Wabash and Erie Canal right-of-way through central Fort Wayne. It became possible for the company to build a railroad through a Midwestern city, passing less than two blocks from the courthouse, without having to raze one building. The railroad elevation, completed in 1955, allowed the north side of the city to develop and grow rapidly. Today, the railroad elevation is a landmark structure between the downtown portion of Fort Wayne and Headwaters Park.
The Wabash & Erie Canal was instrumental in the construction of the first railways in Fort Wayne, which quickly became a railroading center in the Midwest. In 1852, along the canal at the present-day railroad elevation that borders the south edge of Headwaters Park at Lafayette Street, the first locomotive was unloaded from a canal boat. The locomotive was placed on tracks that were laid on Lafayette Street and led to the south side of town where the main line of the new Ohio and Indiana Railroad was due to be built. Later, this became the Pennsylvania Railroad system for which Fort Wayne was a major hub. When railroad competition reduced the effectiveness of the canal, surveys for a rail line extended north of Fort Wayne. However, in 1881, officials of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, known commonly as “The Nickel Plate Road”, purchased the Wabash & Erie Canal right-of-way through central Fort Wayne. It became possible for the company to build a railroad through a Midwestern city, passing less than two blocks from the courthouse, without having to raze one building. The railroad elevation, completed in 1955, allowed the north side of the city to develop and grow rapidly. Today, the railroad elevation is a landmark structure between the downtown portion of Fort Wayne and Headwaters Park.
Erected by
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City of Fort Wayne and Glenbrook Square and Commons.
Location. 41° 5.163′ N, 85° 8.284′ W. Marker is in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Allen County. Marker is one of a series that ring the Great Meadow in Headwaters Park. This marker is about 200 feet SE of the Hamilton Women Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 333 S Clinton Street, Fort Wayne IN 46802, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 30, 2008
3. Great Meadow in Headwaters Park
Several markers along path circling the Great Meadow, looking south with downtown Fort Wayne in background. Earliest Railroad marker is visible south of lamp post.
Photographed By Craig Doda, May 1, 2022
4. Earliest Railroad Marker
Photographed By Tom Bosse, July 7, 2018
5. Elevated Railroad - Fort Wayne, IN
Photographed By Tom Bosse, July 7, 2018
6. Elevated Railroad - Fort Wayne, IN
Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 13, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,430 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on March 13, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on August 21, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 3. submitted on March 13, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on May 3, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 5, 6. submitted on July 9, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.