Lounging on the platform outside the original wooden Michigan Southern depot around the turn of the century were (left to right): John Thompson, William A. Wood, and Willard Place. The two men on the right are thought to be L. Wicter and Albert...
History; County government; Pioneers; Families; Farm life; Farming;
Mr. McCormick describes his work as an "An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with an Extended Survey of Modern Developments in the Reclamation of Lands and the Progress of Town and Country".
John Brough; Railroad locomotives; Railroads; Mountain railroads; Cog railroads; Baldwin Works; Madison
The cog locomotive "John Brough" was designed in 1849 and delivered in 1850 by the Baldwin Works to climb the "hill" in Madison. It was owned by the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad and named after John Brough, president of the company. It was...
This boat was built in 1910 by Howard as the "J. H. Menge" and later the "M. A. Burke," a cotton packet. It was sold to the Louisville and Cincinnati Packet Company in 1919 and then was sent to Mount City for extensive alterations before being...
This is the "M. G. Bright", the original No. 634. She was companion to the "Reuben Wells" and worked the incline until 1895 when she was replaced by the new coal burner. The Bright was of the rack and pinion style locomotive and was built by...
The locomotive "M.G. Bright" is shown here on the Madison incline. In the lower right hand corner you can see a boy. He is standing at the stone mile marker.
This is the "M.G. Bright", the original no. "634". She was companion to the "Reuben Wells" and worked the incline until 1895 when she was replaced by the new coal burner. The "M.G. Bright" was equipped with two sets of cylinders. The first set was...
Reuben Wells, master mechanic, designed his namesake. It was built in the railroad shops at Jeffersonville, Indiana, under his supervision and placed in service in 1868. It was, at the time, the most powerful engine in the world. It was built to...
Railroad employees are posed with the "Reuben Wells." It was originally given the number 35, but was later changed to No. 365, and was specifically built for the JM and I Railroad for use on the incline at Madison, Indiana. It went into service...
Here is a view of a mixed railroad train with the locomotive "Reuben Wells" stopped on the Madison incline. This is just south of the first cut where the Crooked Creek viaduct passes underneath.
The newly built "Reuben Wells" sits at the Jeffersonville yards where she was built for the J M & I Railroad under the supervision and to the specifications of Master Mechanic, Reuben Wells, for whom she was named. Her boiler was tilted forward to...
The train on the railroad incline is being pushed by the "Reuben Wells" locomotive as it approaches North Madison at the top of the hill. Visible in the photograph is the roundhouse and the Godman and Phillips slaughterhouse.
The Madison incline seemed to be a favored spot for hiking. Folks knew the train schedule and usually took advantage of periods when there would be no rail traffic. There was no scheduled run on Sunday, so perhaps this is a social event on a...
