CLASSIC TRACK DIAGRAMS

NICKEL PLATE ROAD

Peoria Division

Portion of Norfolk & Western former Nickel Plate line through Lafayette IN, as it existed between 1950's and 1970's. Most of the line was an unsignaled single track line, but this double track segment was also used by New York Central as part of its route from Cincinnati to Kankakee and Chicago. Layout is largely based on notes and observations during 1970's. At the time, Lafayette Jct. was still a mechanical interlocking, and semaphore signals existed between Lafayette and Templeton. Those semaphore signals had been installed in 1912, while color light signals east of Lafayette Jct. had been installed in 1930. Some time during the mid 1970's, a derailment or accident occurred near Purdue University Airport (around milepost 261), tearing up a portion of the eastward track. For a long time, the track was not repaired, and eastward trains were routinely issued train orders at Templeton to operate against current of traffic on the westward track to Lafayette.