Click on the thumbnail for the photo. Anderson Street Railway circa 1900 (Postcards) 1930s Union Traction - Muncie Union Traction - Anderson 1930s - Union Traction Company's publicity department posed motor car 402 and parlor car "Indiana" on Meridian (Broadway) street north of Anderson shops. George Krambles Collection   1931 saw the introduction of the new Air Conditioned coaches with leather seats and comfortable lounge seating in the rear. Wide vision windows let the riders get a clear view of the countryside. Union Traction was now a part of the Indiana Railroad UTC #439 (just becoming IRR #439 has a Sleeping car) ca. 1931 UTC #432, now IRR #432 has Parlor Cars "Purdue" and "Indiana" in 1933 Marvin sent over this scan of the UTC/IRR Parlor Car, Purdue. Marvin Crim Collection Power House and generators at Anderson

It's 1935 and you can travel to Indy for $0.76 one way. In fact, from 5 AM to Midnight, there was a car in each direction every hour. (Click on the Price list at left for the Travel by Ingterurban Ad.)

IRR CAR 377 at Anderson Shops Anderson was the proud home of the Union Traction Company before it became a part of the Indiana Railroad. The facilities here were excellent with the car barns and power plant. The power plant drew it's water from the Kilbuck Creek behind it. A Mill Race had been cut directing water flow from the creek for use by the power plant and shops.

Union Traction Company station located in Mounds Park - c 1930

Wm. 'Walt' Fadely. Retired in 1951 from the Indiana RR offices Treasurer Union Traction Co. Anderson IN, Indiana Railroad - Weston Co with 47 years service

U.S. Mail - IRR 375 loads mail under Car Shed

1933 City Street Car cruises through Anderson.

It's 1932 or 1934 and the gentleman is taking the traction line North out of Anderson while running for a county office.

After the parlor cars were taken out of regular service, the Purdue and Indiana remained available for special trips. At the Anderson Shops, the 438 and Purdue prepare for a charter trip. M.D. McCarter collection.

In 1935 you can travel to Indy for $0.76 one way. In fact, from 5 AM to Midnight, there was a car in each direction every hour.

A High Speed car at the Shops in Anderson.

With its pole reaching for a high trolley wire across a Big Four branch line, the 57 is running along 23rd Street on Anderson's South Meridian line to the Delco-Remy plant and to a terminal loop at 34th and Lynn. James F. Cook photo.

The Anderson passenger station received a painted advertising sign. Even though the tracks were in the street, canopies provided shelter near the northbound (at left) and southbound (at right) loading points. These niceties were not available after the passenger terminal was moved to the nearby freight house. George K. Bradley collection.

A billboard in front of the freight house at 5th & Main reinforced the message. Later the passenger facillities were moved to space in this building. George K. Bradley collection.

212 runs along the double track in the unpaved center of Meridian Street (Broadway). The Nirth Anderson line was abandoned before 1936 was over. James F. Cook photo.

1937 Roy E. Shultz said: Here is a picture of the Interurban repair crew taken inside the old Interurban building on Broadway in Anderson. My great grandfather, Cosby Scott Louderback, is the middle row, forth from the left with the sweater on. On the bottom of the picture it reads; "Car Dept, Indiana Railroad, Repair Shop, Feb. 22, 1937, Anderson, Indiana.

A misunderstood work order to "paint car 53" made this view possible. Instead of highspeed 53, the shop painted soon-to-be-retired Anderson birney 53. On September 6, 1937 it is southbound on Meridian Street by the courthhouse. Willian C. Janssen photo.

After the 58 passes on Nichol Avenue, the eastbound car will beack out of the John Street spur. It's the last day for city cars, but the Interurbans to Indianapolis will continue. James F. Cook photo.

The South Meridian birney has just crossed the Big Four's main line. Gasoline is selling for 17 cents per gallon on November 13, 1937, the last day for the Anderson Streetcars. James F. Cook photo.

1937 - 1965 Kennard IN - 1965 The traction depot at Kennard after conversion to a home when the traction line closed in 1937. Maurice Lewman Collection.

1938 January 1938 Passengers board car 67

ca 1938 Highspeed 63 crosses the Anderson Belt coming in from Indy.

Anderson's courthouse square at 9th and Main with a snow covered #52 running as the Hoosierland. James F. Cook photo, M.D. McCarter collection.

On January 15, 1939 highspeed 57 makes the station stop at Anderson before a long, cold, snowy run to Muncie and Fort Wayne. James F. Cook photo.

Interurban car turning on 11th Street from Main Street in Anderson, Indiana in 1939.

Indiana Railroad Interurban car stops for passengers at the Anderson depot. Date: ca. 1939.

May 1939 - The end of the IRR was near as this Fan Trip crossed the White River near Anderson. This posed photo was taken in May of 1939 crossing the White River on a fan trip near Anderson, IN. The name Union Traction can still be made out on the bridge, About 1930, the combine, from the former Indiana Public Service line, was converted to an RPO car and painted Orange for the IRR. The car is #376, which, at the end of IRR operations just before World War II, was sold to the South Shore where it was converted to 1500v. DC and made into the famous South Shore line car, #1100. This car's ultimate disposition may be to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL. Is this the "Railfans CERA Special" loading in Anderson? The timing is about right and the car is correct. IRR 376 on NRHS Fantrip in Pendleton Kirk Hise Collection. IRR 376 on NRHS Fantrip near prison - Pendleton Kirk Hise Collection. IRR 376 on NRHS Fantrip near Pendleton Kirk Hise Collection. IRR 376 at Anderson Kirk Hise Collection. Oct. 27, 1939 Highspeeds meet at Anderson #72 and #76 load packages, Oct. 27, 1939 Charles E. Williams photo Circa 1939 At Bubbling Springs, east of Chesterfield, the line crossed the highway at a poor angle for eastbound motorists. ABC Coach Lines bus 40 waits at the warning flashers for the 68 to pass. James F cook photo. 1940 Number 57 stops to phone the dispatcher before heading east. This stop was mandatory. IRR at Yorktown, Indiana Jack Grant Collection 1940 In Anderson, many passengers boarded trains in the business district rather than at the station. Westbound on 11th Street, car 68 crosses Meridian Street where a commission ticket agency was maintained in a drug store. At 5th & Man, on October 10, 1940, highspeed 68 passes one of the company's local delivery trucks. Both are slowing for the Pennsylvania RR crossing. The car will continue south on Main Street. 1) Dixie Flyer leaves the Indianapolis Terminal as an Interstate awaits passengers. mid '20s 2) IRR 375 loads mail under Car Shed (Indy?) 3) IRR Traction Car on Main between 8th and 9th (corner of 9th and Main) '37-'38 4) Traction Car stopped on main street in Yorktown - '39-'40 5) '39-'40? Work train on city street with flatcar and trailer. 6) IRR #38's time is short as she awaits her fate at the Anderson Power Plant - Shops. '40-'41 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Roger Hensley Collection 1940 Two colorized photos of locos near the end. 1941 is rapidly approaching. January 12, 1941 Car 52, southbound on Anderson's Main Street, is close to the abandoned city car track on Ninth Street. This is the last Sunday for the Indiana Railroad, January 12, 1941. January 18,1941 This is the last interurban out of New Castle, Jan. 18,1941. January 6, 1949   Fifth Annual Meeting of the Indiana Railroad 20 YEAR CLUB Chateau Room - Claypool Hotel Indianapolis 1953 IRR carbody used for office at Myers Gravel and Sand Co on Alexandria Pike near Cross Street in North Anderson Kirk Hise Collection. IRR Box Trailer used as a shed on Alexandria Pike near Cross Street North Anderson Kirk Hise Collection. IRR Box Motor used as a shed on Alexandria Pike near Cross Street North Anderson Kirk Hise Collection. IRR Box Motor used as a shed on Alexandria Pike near Cross Street North Anderson Kirk Hise Collection. January 2, 2002 On January 2, 2002, Bob Trueblood and I went to the Indiana Transportation Museum in search of Union Traction all steel car number 429. We found it.   Marvin Crim writes: You may have seen this photo from the Bill Volkmer Collection on Dave's Rail Pix web site (http://www.davesrailpix.com/). It's the interurban overpass over the PRR railroad just north of New Castle. On a closer look, this would appear to be the Elwood car on the overpass. It appears to be IRR 1150 and that was UTC 443 and IRR 443, both the "ELWOOD" car . Here's 2 views of the overpass from later years. 1) from the winter of 1962, PRR's Train 70 passes EB under the former UTC overpass. 2) from the mid '80s, the overpass was still standing. This view is from the same direction but a little closer. (Marvin Crim is in the photo - rph) 1) 2) Marvin Crim Photos. And now the demolition of concrete arch over PRR New Castle 1989 Henry County Historical Society, New Castle, Indiana Collection. Lastly, Marvin sent over this scan of the UTC/IRR Parlor Car, Purdue. Marvin Crim Collection. Steve Long was kind enough to lend me his traction collection for scanning. As the Indiana Railroad (IRR) was the successor to the UTC, I have included those photos from his collection here. Here is a scan of the freighthouses that sat behind the Indianapolis traction terminal. ...and a scan of THI&E interurban # 55 "Wabash" Picture of historical marker in downtown Alexandria. A rural shelter that the UTC used where the rail line crossed a road. One could flag down an interurban car with any thing available such as a lantern, burning newspaper or other light source. This shelter is preserved in Beulah Park in Alexandria. John Reehling Collection For more information on Traction in Madison County, see Let's Talk Traction Let's Talk Traction  -  Streets  -  Interchange  -  Dalevile UTC Traction Photo Page 1 Back to Photo Index Page