January News

January 20th, 2011 Bloomingdale Neighborhood Association Meeting Kelly Lynch will be at the Bloomingdale Neighborhood Association meeting on Saturday, January 22 at 1PM at the Little Turtle Library. He will be updating the neighborhood that would be mostly directly impacted by Headwaters Junction on its progress and asking for more input from the community. Legacy … Continue reading →

Foreward

Headwaters Junction represents two years of research and imagination emboldened by a year of amazing perspective gathering throughout the community. All of 2010 was spent speaking with civic, political, business, and neighborhood leaders to get their feedback, reaction, and thoughts on the idea. This work has resulted in the Headwaters Junction Conceptual Plan, which illustrates … Continue reading →

Vision

Headwaters Junction is a strategic endeavor to enrich the Fort Wayne experience by harnessing untapped potential north of 4th Street and its surrounding neighborhoods. It will: establish a new, dramatic gateway to downtown Fort Wayne create a romantic entertainment and education driven regional attraction define a new historic and cultural corridor create a walkable mixed … Continue reading →

History

At the turn of the 20th century Fort Wayne, Indiana was a vibrant railroad town, hosting six railroads including the New York Central, Wabash, Nickel Plate Road, Pennsylvania Railroad, Grand Rapids & Indiana, and Fort Wayne Union Railway. The city also had an enviable interurban network that linked it to the rest of the state. … Continue reading →

4th Street

Constructed in the 1860s, the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw Railroad joined its namesake cities and later reorganized as the Fort Wayne & Jackson. It was leased to the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern before being absorbed by the New York Central Railroad System. The railroad terminated just south of its yard between Clinton, Calhoun, … Continue reading →

Background

On October 4th, 1955 the Nickel Plate Road opened a two-track overpass that elevated its busy rails above city streets and unleashed city development northward. Breaking the ribbon on that day was a Berkshire-type steam locomotive, no. 767. The 80 fast freight Berkshire-type steam locomotives constructed for the Nickel Plate Road earned the company a … Continue reading →

Inception

Steam locomotive 765 already represents a remarkable national tourist attraction with a proven 30 year track record. Far from marginalization in a textbook, the 765 is not just living history, but our history, existing in operation, immersion, atmosphere, and experience. That experience happens with every sense: from the sounding of a steam whistle echoing gently … Continue reading →

The Junction

Recreated historic settings in a colorful, accessible park with multiple educational, performance, venue and public gathering spaces. These renderings are conceptual and offer a suggested layout. 4th Street – a walkable, mixed use urban center accessible 24/7. 1. Nickel Plate Club/Banquet Center – The Nickel Plate Club will recreate the dining experience of the 1940s. … Continue reading →

The Railroad

A new rail line on a historic right of way will expand passenger train service, encourage new businesses and economic development, and enhance the infrastructure of adjacent neighborhoods. As part of the recreated of railroad yard at 4th street, several miles of historic New York Central Railroad and Toledo & Chicago Electric Railway right of … Continue reading →

The Collection

Locomotives Two rare, local steam engines find a home among a growing stable of revenue generating locomotives that include steam, diesel, and streetcars. Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive no. 765 – the centerpiece to Headwaters Junction is landmark steam locomotive no. 765, a world-famous passenger excursion locomotive restored to operating condition in 1979 and completely … Continue reading →