Almost Abandoned: Madison Railroad of Indiana

The original version of this film was published in September of 2018. The current version has been remastered and updated.

If you mention the City of Madison to residents of "The Hoosier State", they’ll tell you of its stunning beauty and rich history. Located in Jefferson County, Indiana - Madison is known for its presence on the mighty Ohio River. Founded in 1809 while Indiana was still just a territory, the easy access from the Ohio River and the Michigan Road allowed the city to grow and flourish. Madison would eventually become the busiest river town along the Ohio, surpassing even Cincinnati and Louisville in riverboat traffic prior to the 1850s.

In addition to the river’s influence in Madison’s early growth, the state’s first railroad arrived in 1836, further stimulating the local economy. Today, that very same railroad line, now owned and operated by the City of Madison Port Authority, continues to impact the local economy with first-class freight service between Madison and North Vernon, Indiana. It has been a long road of twists and turns for the Madison Railroad since her first day of operation in 1978, but 40 years later she’s a survivor and this — is her story.

Subscribers: help support us by crowdfunding through Patreon, PayPal, or CashApp. With your support, we can continue to produce high-quality railroad media for you to enjoy. Even just $1 per month is a huge help. Plus, contributing patrons receive exclusive content and early access to Delay In Block™ videos.

Thanks for watching! Please comment, rate, and subscribe!

Copyright 2022 Delay In Block Productions™. Any illegal reproduction of this video and its content is strictly prohibited. Full legal action will take place if necessary if reproduced or published without expressed written permission from Delay In Block Productions.

Delay In Block™ is a Trademark of Delay In Block Productions

[paulschedler]

What a great story this video tells us of Hoosier persistence and tenacity to succeed! I have a few memories of Madison, and the one I'll never forget is when my rock band from Terre Haute played there in a club, quite long ago now. What I remember is the awesome welcome we received! You treated us like true Rock stars! I consider myself a Hoosier since I grew up in Indiana, having moved in to Terre Haute on my 4th b'day. The trains were a constant thing there, and I love trains to this day. The many years I lived in our great state gives me pride, and this video makes me more proud! Thanks for giving me a great history lesson of Madison, it's a wonderful one!

[wadepenley]

If I had to watch delay in block production without this young man's Yankee voice I wouldn't be able to watch it again. For almost three years I've watched this channel and I don't do well with change. I love DIB! God bless you and your channel.

[patricknoveski]

Survivors are the best stories for our nation.
True grit, and a cashed check helped save not only a R.R., but a community.
Great story. 👍

[eugenetswong]

Hello from Canada!

Wow! This is so encouraging. I'm so happy for you all. I wish you the best of success.

I hope that we can do this up here.

[pmxproductions]

You keep outdoing yourself at Delay in Block! I really admire how this is a PBS/History Channel worthy documentary of not only the railroad but the county and town itself. Your research is so thorough. Excellent interviews. Superb editing with great B-roll footage. Great collection of period photos and video. And of course your videography is superb. A+

[cadenmcmexican]

It’s amazing seeing an underdog story, especially when it comes to a railroad that fought to get where it’s at. Another amazing video Drayton. I just want to let you know that You, Danny, Rowan, and all the other railfans of YouTube are all inspirations to me and have pushed me to try and have Land of Tomorrow Productions pumping videos out for this year. In fact I’m writing a script for one of the videos with this video playing in the background. Thank you all so much at Delay in Block for everything you all do.

[jp-umfr]

It is very difficult to understand why so many lines in the UK are now run by volantary fanatics - it's the only word that fits. We are even building new steam engines. My mate has a small shunting engine he is slowly bringing back to life in his front garden. He's mad of course. Beeching in 1963 closed many lines, many of which have been saved. Very few are used commercially but nevertheless fully booked for day excursions. We must be mad, but in a nice way. Superb video of faith in the iron rail, well done all of you. A credit to America in difficult times.

[wavesnbikes]

Kathy and her team are true short line defenders. Kudos to them! 👏

[davidpulaski]

What an excellent, professionally videoed and narrated story, unequivocally a feel good feature of "the little RR that could." Exceptional interviews stand out also. I had to subscribe ! Nothing is as efficient as steel wheels on steel rails. Keep safe and keep those rails shiny. 👋👌👍🚂🚃🚃🚃

[bannapolishugh]

A very well done story about folks in the heart of America! Thanks for sharing their great history and vision.

[jenniferbutcher]

Congrats to Madison!! Way to fight to keep your dream alive!! The story of the acquisition from the previous railroad had me on the edge of my seat. The good guys definitely won!!

[TheCheffydave]

WOW! What a History lesson, that has a happy ending, VERY WELL DONE! You’ve found your niche! So proud of you!!

[charlesnelson]

DIB, one of your best productions ever!!! A true underdog story!!!! I love these. Keep em coming!!!

[lukebell]

I live in seymour and am there often I have walked down all those tracks it’s so cool to see a video on it i love your vids keep in up

[TomYoureDoingItWrong]

My Uncle, Bob Frederick, Sr., was a fireman on a train that ran away coming down the hill during his early years on the Pennsylvania Railroad. My recollection is that after that wreck, they had to pick up empty cars at the top of the hill to equal the number of loads descending in order to maintain a low number of tons per operating brake on the train. I think the crew riding the caboose perished in the wreck.

[bradfordthompson]

Nice Video this is my 10th time watching this Shortlines are exciting 😀😄

[frederickwillis]

A great report. So good to see a rail operation that was not abandoned.

[MartinMiller]

A delightful and very uplifting story. Every good wish to the Madison Railroad from across the pond!

[garykuipers]

The short line operations are the viable way to go for the smaller consignees. The mega merger carriers aren't interested in old time thinking in terms of it takes a lot of small potatoes to make a large pot of mashed potatoes. I was employed by class 1 carriers and boomed with 3 short line carriers when things were slow with ConRail. I enjoyed the short line ops much more since service was the goal to retaining continued business. I finished my career with a commuter rail operation, put in 43 years of railroad service. I certainly enjoyed the history of the Madison Railroad and enjoy your other videos as well.

[billdavis]

In the early 1980's I was working with Kentucky newspapers at the University of Kentucky and I sent Madison Courier columnist George Miller an article from a local Kentucky newspaper (Somerset, maybe?) . The article mentioned a RR engine that had been acquired that formerly had worked the incline at Madison, Indiana.