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Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company
Historic rails from College Avenue reunited with last Indianapolis streetcar
Streetcar rail from Indianapolis awarded to nonprofit Hoosier Heartland Trolley Co. in cooperation with Midtown Indy, the Arts Council of Indianapolis and IndyGo
Historic streetcar rail from College Avenue in Indianapolis loaded for transport to a Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company facility.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - Thursday, November 21, 2019 - Historic rail from Indianapolis’ well-known streetcar system has been awarded to the nonprofit Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company through a collaborative effort amongst Midtown Indy, the Arts Council of Indianapolis and IndyGo. The rail from College Avenue once carried the company’s Indianapolis Railways streetcar No. 153, which is the last one known in existence.
“We are thrilled to work with Midtown Indy, the Arts Council of Indianapolis and IndyGo to accept the donation of original Indianapolis streetcar rail that was discovered last year under College Avenue, “ commented Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company president, Austin Mace.
Construction of IndyGo’s Red Line, a bus rapid transit system, necessitated the excavation of pavement and former streetcar trackage to construct new passenger stations. The Red Line follows much of the same route as HHTC’s streetcar once did, particularly along College Avenue from Downtown Indianapolis northward to Broad Ripple Village. This route was also shared by the Union Traction interurban line for intercity electric railway passengers, and was the route used by two of HHTC’s interurban cars to reach Carmel, Noblesville and beyond.
Casey Seaton, Program and Events Coordinator for nonprofit Midtown Indy, sees the Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company’s acquisition of the rail for educational and historical purposes as complementary to Midtown Indy’s mission. He explains, “Our work at Midtown Indy revolves around connectivity. We connect people to place by activating public spaces, revitalizing commercial nodes, and advocating for improved transit, often along the same corridor from which the streetcar rails were dug up. The rails are similarly steeped in connectivity. More than hunks of metal, these rails were once the literal connection for people to commercial, residential, and public spaces. They laid the foundation for creating a sense of place along the College Ave corridor. The Hoosier Heartland Trolley project, amongst others, pays homage to that history of connectivity by artistically extending the life of what appear at first glance to be simple metal tracks.”
Original street paving brick from College Avenue is pictured still attached to the original streetcar rail that once carried HHTC’s Union Traction interurbans and Indianapolis streetcar.
With the last Indianapolis streetcar receiving much public attention after its rescue from destruction by HHTC in 2018, Mace adds, “Being that Indianapolis Railways No. 153 in our collection once ran on these rails during its service provided a unique opportunity for our organizations to collaborate. We look forward to incorporating these artifacts into how the Hoosier Heartland Trolley Co. brings to life the story of Indianapolis’ rich transit history.''
The rail has been transported to a covered storage facility, where it will be stored for future use within technology-related exhibits pertaining to Indiana’s electric railways. One section of rail still has original street brick attached, which will be preserved as part of the artifact within the organization’s collection. Until such exhibit is established within the Company’s permanent home, a small piece of rail will function as a traveling artifact at various community events. The rail will serve as a tangible connection to Indianapolis’ streetcar legacy and the people’s lives the system changed through mobility and opportunity.
About Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company - The Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company was founded in 2018 to save the last remaining pieces of Indiana’s electric railway heritage. The organization exists to spark imagination in people across all walks of life regarding the art, science, culture, technology and economic empowerment of Indiana’s world-renowned electric railway industry from the 20th century. The company plans to develop an operating electric heritage railway to immerse Hoosiers in authentic transportation experiences as an educational, economic development tool. More information regarding preservation efforts, news and development can be found at hoosiertrolley.org.
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