Madison Railroad remembers, honors service to nation

Revealing artwork and quotes added to their locomotives

Madison Railroad dedicated its three locomotives to celebrate servicemen and servicewomen, past and present, with a ceremony Monday that included revealing artwork and quotes added to their locomotives. 

A large crowd overflowed around the tent set up near the train tracks inside the Indiana Veterans Cemetery for the ceremony.

Brig. Gen. David Vesper told the group why he feels the sacrifices every service person and their families makes is “worth it.” 

Locomotive 3, also known as “Little Lady,” was dedicated to NASA. Madison Railroad obtained the engine from NASA, according to Madison Railroad CEO Cathy Hale. Little Lady, a 1970 model, is the youngest in Madison’s fleet. 

John Thiers, NASA railroad manager, presented a quote by Gus Grissom that was added to the side of the engine already wearing a NASA emblem: “The conquest of space is worth the risk of human life.” 

The next oldest engine is a 1953 model. She was added to the fleet in 1992. Monday she was dedicated to the United States Navy. Clyde James and Scott Bennett presented the artwork featuring the U.S.S. Indianapolis that was added to the engine.

Allen Manning and Charlie Burton presented the artwork on Engine 5, which was dedicated to all branches of the military. The painting shows an assortment of images from each branch in action. Madison Railroad has had Engine 5, a 1954 model, since 1979. She was the railroad’s only engine until 1992.