Monon Railroad diesel locomotives showed a variety of models from four builders.
Monon Alco RS-2 No. 23 was built in 1947. P.F. Johnson photo
John W. Barriger’s faith in passenger traffic, though later proven to be misplaced, resulted in a fleet of snappy new trains on the Monon, including the Tippecanoe, shown at Hammond in 1954, and the Hoosier. The railroad used the gray-and-red colors of Indiana University for its passenger trains. A. G. Chione photo
Five of the Monon’s nine Alco RS2s stand under the disused coal dock at Kentucky & Indiana Terminal’s Youngtown Yard, Louisville, in March 1963. In addition to its inherent advantages over steam, the diesel required far less support facilities. Tom Smart, J. David Ingles collection
Carrying “Monon” on their flanks, a EMD BL2 and an F3 switch the South Shore Line interchange at Michigan City, Ind., in November 1961. J. David Ingles photo
Ten miles out of New Albany, Ind., three Alco C420s, with one of the newer 1970 GE U23Bs tucked in as third unit, roll north at Bennettsville with piggyback-heavy train 70 on June 8, 1971. Tom Smart, J. David Ingles collection
Train 6 traverses a street in Lafayette, Ind., in August 1967 with high-nose C420 No. 502. It was one of the two Alcos, with dual controls and steam generators, that Monon bought in August 1966 (along with four low-nose freight versions) to replace F3s and RS2s on the passenger train. J. David Ingles photo
A Monon freight arrives north at Lafayette, Ind., behind seven Alcos of three models in August 1967. The leading Alco C628 model proved to be too much locomotive for the Monon and was traded to the Louisville & Nashville. J. David Ingles photo
Monon SW1 No. DS-50 was on display at the Indiana Transportation Museum in Noblesville for years. It now resides at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson. It was damaged during the move, but is expected to be restored to its prior condition. Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum photo
The Monon began dieselizing after World War II in 1946. It opted for EMD F3 units for mainline freight and passenger service and with EMD BL2s and Alco RS2s for locals. An A-B-A set of F3s started as EMD demonstrators. The road also had two Fairbanks-Morse H15-44s that were later re-engined with EMD prime movers. Switchers included EMD SW1 and NW2 models and a single FM H10-44. Thus, the last Monon steam locomotive operated in 1949.
Newer power came with 10 Alco Century 628s in 1964, but the diesels proved too big for the Monon and they were quickly returned to Alco for four-axle C420s. They were subsequently resold to Lehigh Valley. Other new power included eight General Electric U23B units and 18 C420s. Notably, in the 1960s, the Monon had two C420s with high noses to accommodate steam boilers for passenger service.
The Monon was merged into Louisville & Nashville in 1971.
