survived longer in part because five
railroads, including The Lake Shore
on Wednesday morning, September 20, – Michigan Southern Railroad, had
merged in December of 1914 to form
1905.
the New York Central Railroad CompaThe advent of the automobile
ny. By 1928 mail service to Shipshewaalong with state and local highway
projects spelled trouble for many small na by rail was terminated but freight
service was enough to sustain the line.
railroads and the end of a passenger
The New York Central began to decline
service era. Small lines had to focus
after World War II and in 1968 merged
more on freight service because passenger service was no longer profitable with their chief competitor, Pennsylvaunless it was cross country. Gone were nia Railroad Co. to form Penn Central.
The section of track between Shipthe days of boarding a train in Shipshewana and Sturgis was abandoned
shewana in the morning, spending the
day in Goshen and returning home the in August of 1960, prior to the merger.
Operations on the Pumpkin Vine came
same evening.
to a halt in 1975, due to deteriorating
The Valley Line was one of those
facilities and low profitability. Howcasualties, only operating from 1905
ever, Governor Otis Bowen’s “Rail
to about 1917. The Pumpkin Vine
Task Force” determined that if
the Pumpkin Vine hauled 459
freight car loads a year the line
would still be profitable. The
Indiana Railway Commission
allocated $434,000 in federal
railway funds to upgrade the
track. The Indiana Interstate
Railway Co acquired a 30
All Aboard ... cont. from prev. pg
pg 22 · The Hometown Treasure · Apr. ‘12
Diamondback • Jamis and Sun Bicycles
Spring Sale
April 27 & 28
15% Off Some Older Bikes
10% Off Store Wide
2011 & 12 Model Road Racing Bikes In stock
Sale Hours: Fri: 8-6 • Sat. 8-4
Refreshments
Door Prizes
Drawing for a free bike
Regular Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 4:30 pm • Sat. 8 am - 12 noon • 574-825-9160 x3 • 10104 CR 16 • Middlebury Indiana 46540
Lighters • Torch• es Butane Fuel • High & Low Pressure Lights • Headlamps • Flashlights • Touch Lights • Table Lamps • Floor Lamps • Batteries • Lanterns •
enerators • LED & Fluorescent Bulbs • Kitchenware • Coppa • Nuts & Bolts • Bike Lights & Accessories
High & Low Pressure Lights • Headlamps • Flashlights • Touch Lights • Table Lamps • Floor Lamps • Batteries • Lanterns • Generators • LED & Fluorescent Bu
lbs • Kitchenware • Coppa • Nuts & Bolts • Bike Lights & Accessories • Bike Carts • Games • Mantles •
•
ton locomotive to pull trains on the
Pumpkin Vine. In July of 1980, the
Lakeshore Historical Railroad Foundation began offering Sunday excursions
between Middlebury and Shipshewana.
Hoosier Lt. Governor Robert Orr was
a special guest on one of those excursions that summer. In November of
that same year the Indiana Interstate
Railway, who had a lease with Penn
Central, stopped operations on the
Pumpkin Vine for financial reasons.
In fact the group was never able to
pay the $8,000 a month lease to Penn
Central. The final excursion train ran
on October 17th, 1982, with local historian Ezra Miller as conductor. Penn
Central abandoned the line and the
rails were removed.
While Shipshewana’s railroad days
are gone, the memories remain for
people like Shipshewana High School
graduate DeWayne Bontrager. Bontrager remembers letting air out of
the car tires and driving the rails from
Shipshewana to Scott. DeWayne says,
“It was the older boys who taught us
how to do that!”
G
pg 22 · The Hometown Treasure · Apr. ‘12