Lowell Map

Newspaper Accounts

Local Newspapers

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 Gary Post
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Interesting Things

The Only Eyewitness
Evidence Still There?
Current Lowell Depot
The Monon Historical Society
Bygone Places Along The Monon
Updated 02-24-06
Lowell Wrecks Main Page
New Link 07-07-06

Accounts And Photo Collections

Jim Baker Photos
Baker Interview
Bardens/ Cripe
Beier Photos
Eberhard Photos
Karlson Pictures
Kepshire (Hepp)Photos
New Tribute added 02-09-03
Lowell Sesquicentennial Photos
New material added 09-02-02
Regnier Photos
Richard C. Schmal Interview
Schmal Photos
Other Accounts

Home Movies

Hunley Movie
Charles Van Nada Movie

Police, Fire And Rescue

Lake County Sheriff's Department
Added 09-13-02
Fire Departments
New material added 09-01-02

Historic South Bend, Indiana
Updated 12-24-04
Tom's Railroad Page
Updated 02-24-06
New photos added.

Logo

Disclaimer: "The Monon mark is used by permission of TranSolutions, Inc., and the Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society, Inc. This site has no affiliation with either organization and the views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of TransSolutions, Inc., or the Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Historical Society."

Lowell, Indiana...Milepost 44.8 on the mainline from Chicago, Illinois. The morning of May 22, 1952 this quiet little town of 1600 was rocked by a train derailment and fire.

May 22, 2002 marked the 50th anniversary of the derailment. 2002 is also the Sesquicentennial (150 years) of Lowell, Indiana. My sole purpose was to document the events of that morning through newspaper and personal accounts as well as photographic collections. To people who visit, or were not around when this accident occurred, the accident may seem trivial or insignificant. Nobody was killed or injured. To those living in Lowell, it was a potential catastrophe.


Commerical Avenue crossing, circa 1964. The site of the accident fourteen years earlier.

This site is on going. I am constantly in search of additional pictures, movies or eyewitness accounts. They are part of the history of Lowell, Indiana.

As for your author, Lowell, Indiana will always be considered my hometown. Since childhood, railroads and the Monon in particular, have figured prominently in my life. Besides May 22, 1952, another red letter day in Lowell's, and Monon, history was September 30, 1967. Train Number 6, paid it's final visit to Lowell and thus ended passenger service on the Monon. My father and little sister were captured by photographer James Boyd and are now a part of the George Hilton book, "Monon Route" , on page 277 (Dad is the one with the young child on his shoulders). I hope that my efforts will insure the 1952 wreck will always remain a part of the history of Lowell, Indiana.

Special Announcement!


June 9, 2003, 1952 Lowell Wreck was added to
RailroadData.com
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