Nick's Powder Keg Museum of Treasures, Utica, Indiana

Located in Utica, Indiana, we found this neat private collection on a recent trip through the area.  Join us as we look at the interesting artifacts and architecture on display at this hidden local treasure.  We must point out that this is a private collection, and that it is not always open.  Check their Facebook page for various public events, and do not trespass to see anything on your own. 

Louisville & Nashville Railroad Depot, Shelbyville, Kentucky

This is the former Louisville and Nashville Railroad Depot in Shelbyville, Kentucky.  Closed as a station in 1971, it was moved to its current location shortly afterwards.  It is now privately owned and well preserved.  We made this photo set on a recent trip through the area. 

Abandoned and Demolished Railroad Bridge, Paoli, Orange County, Indiana

While it may look like an Aztec pyramid, this is actually the remains of a bridge.  Demolished in 1982, this is all the remains of a railroad bridge in Paoli Indiana.

Glenview Post Office, Former Trainstation - Louisville, Kentucky

Glenview, Kentucky, is located just east of downtown Louisville.  What serves today as a post office was actually once the town's interurban trainstation.  It has been carefully preserved, keeping its unique character and old-style charm

Restored Train Depot with museum, La Grange, Kentucky

La Grange, Kentucky, is an interesting small town.  Like many small towns in the region, the town square is built around the railroad tracks that run through the town.  Somewhat uniquely, the tracks in La Grange actually run right down the middle of Main Street.  Building on this heritage, the town features the motto "We're on track" in several places.  Join us today as we look at their restored railroad depot and museum.

Restored Train Depot, Jeffersonville, Indiana

 

Located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, this orphaned building is all that remains of a once bustling depot area.  Recently restored, it is in lovely shape and shows off what can be done when conservation and preservation are a community's objectives.

Amtrak Train Car, converted into office, Louisville, Kentucky

Located in downtown Louisville, this Amtrak car is hidden amongst vines and industrial buildings.  Little known, it has been preserved and converted into office space, invisible to those who don't know where to look.

Abandoned Silver Creek Railroad Bridges - New Albany, Indiana

Over the stream of Silver Creek near Floyd County's Loop Island a pair of abandoned railroad bridges sit vacant and until recently were mostly forgotten.  The two bridges were one of my favorite areas to explore in Floyd County, but are now set to be turned into "rails-to-trails" incorporated into the Ohio River Greenway Project.  The bridges were dangerous to cross, and still are, but were close enough to each other to make a nice afternoon adventure.

Ruins of the Whitewater Canal - Brookville, Indiana

The Whitewater Canal was a long term project in the state of Indiana, requiring eleven years of construction after the groundbreaking, being completed in 1847.  Spanning 76 miles, the canal required a lock and dam system to raise and lower boat traffic a total of 491 feet.  Many sections of the canal were wiped out later that year after a major flood in the Whitewater Valley.  Today sections of the canal do remain and some of the 56 limestone locks are still standing.  There is also a restored section of the canal with a functioning lock.  A gallery of this restored lock can be found at the end of the post.

The Crooked Creek Rail Bridge - Madison, Indiana

Another bridge directly on Madison's Heritage Trail is the Crooked Creek Rail Bridge.  The rails are not seen in these pictures here, because they are located at the top of the ridge that the bridge supports.  While it certainly is not as in as bad of shape as its neighbor down stream, it's still worth taking a look.  According to the discussion on Bridge Hunter there is some documentation that shows this bridge opened in 1841, making it one of the earliest bridges built in the entire state!