Tag: park

Miller Park, Bloomington, Illinois

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

Cities big and small throughout the United States have their landmarks and city parks.  Among these city parks is Miller Park in the city of Bloomington in the U.S. state of Illinois.  The park has trees, a playground, a small zoo, a manmade lake, a miniature golf course, a memorial to firemen and a war veterans memorial.  Located in the southwestern area of the city on the Historic U.S. Route 66, it is a park within the city that is an oasis from the urbanization.

Some of you are saying, “It is nice that these cities have parks.  These parks are great.  However, there is a problem.  Since this park has no railroad history, I will not be taking a walk in this park.”

Oh, you will want to take a walk in this park.  Why?  One of the big features of this park is Nickel Plate Road Steam Locomotive Number 639 and its tender.  Another feature is Caboose Number 4770 from the Southern Pacific Railroad.  Other feature include a whistle that was on top of the shops of the Chicago and Alton Railroad and pays tribute to the workers of those shops.  (The shops are now gone.)  Another feature is an old semaphore.  (Semaphores have been replaced by the railroad signals today.)

The locomotive was built by the Lima Locomotive Works and was used by the Nickel Plate Road.  When the Nickel Plate Road decommissioned the locomotive, they donated it to the park.  Today, it is on display with the Southern Pacific Railroad Caboose.

Miller Park is located at 1020 S. Morris Avenue in Bloomington, Illinois along the Historic U.S. Route 66.  (It is west of U.S. Route 51 by way of Wood Street.)  Parking is on side.  The park is open sunrise to sunset, and the park is wheelchair accessible.

When in Bloomington, Illinois, visit Miller Park.  See a locomotive that once ran on the rails of the United States of America.

The Falls Park, Pendleton, Indiana

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

Oh the U.S. state of Indiana is a state famous for the Indianapolis 500 in the capital city of Indianapolis, The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, and for basketball which inspired the movie ‘Hoosiers’ starring Gene Hackman.  Like other states in the United States of America, Indiana has great hidden treasures.  One of these treasures is the town of Pendleton, a suburb of Indianapolis.  What is the town of Pendleton, Indiana famous for?  Well, unlike Indianapolis, South Bend, Fort Wayne, and Elkhart, there is not much fame in the town of Pendleton.

Some of you are saying, “Well, it looks like I am not going to visit this town.”

Well, this town has a great treasure.  What is this great treasure?  Welcome to Falls Park in Pendleton, Indiana.  What is great about Falls Park?  Well, it does have a waterfall.  It may not be as grand as Niagara Falls or Iguazu Falls or Victoria Falls, but just like most waterfalls, it is a beauty to see.  Now you have a great reason to visit Falls Park in Pendleton, Indiana.

Some of you are saying, “Oh, I love waterfalls.  They are such a beautiful thing to see.  I also enjoy parks.  There is a big problem.  This park is not a railroad park.  Therefore, I will not ‘fall’ in love with the town of Pendleton, Indiana.”

So why visit Falls Park in Pendleton, Indiana?

The park itself has a deep history that goes deep.  As you enter the park, you will notice what appears to be railroad bridge abutments.  Why are they there?  Pendleton is not a railroad town nor was it ever a railroad town even though a railroad line does pass through the town.  The old abutments are from a railroad line that did cross over the falls.  The ‘Bee Line’ passed through the park.  Originally part of the ‘Big 4 Railway’ which came through the park in 1851.  One of the trails follows the old railroad bed.  Like many unused railroad lines, they were abandoned, and the rails were taken up leaving the remnants of the railroad today.

Falls Park is located at 460 Falls Park Drive in Pendleton, Indiana just north of Indiana Route 38 and minutes from Interstate 69 and U.S. Route 36.  The park also has a museum and a veterans memorial.  The park is open sunrise to sunset, and access to see the waterfalls is available for wheelchairs.

You now have a reason to visit Falls Park in Pendleton, Indiana.  Be warned.  You will fall in love with this place.