Recent History

In the age of the iron horse, engines and cars lumbered into the Frankfort Roundhouse for ash removal, lubrication, coal and water replenishment, and repairs. The roundhouse sheltered radiating tracks and stalls, accessed via a rotating turntable. Frankfort’s role as a locomotive and rail car repair hub began in the 1870s. The Frankfort complex includes eight structures, the earliest of which dates from the 1890s, with the 1924 roundhouse dominating the site.

The threat: In spite of its role as a railroad nexus, Indiana has lost nearly all of its roundhouses. Norfolk Southern owns Frankfort’s abandoned Clover Leaf-Nickel Plate Railroad Roundhouse and associated structures.

The Nickel Plate Roundhouse has been standing vacant for over ten years as a proud but neglected monument to the glory years of an industry that propelled our country into the industrial age.

The Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana lists this building among the top most endangered treasures in our state. They have joined with us to undertake every effort to save this Landmark for the benefit of Frankfort and the Roundhouse are conveniently located amid several large population centers, a few minutes from I-65, it is an ideal candidate for an Indiana Union Station style restoration and economic developement project. This is to let you know that a serious effort is now underway to do just that.

Federal and state grant money is available for these restoration projects. In order to be a successful candidate for assistance, professional studies must be submitted citing specific costs of renovation and potential commercial uses for this Historic Treasure. Norfolk and Southern has allowed a 6-month "Right of Entry" for those purposes and the Historic Landmarks Foundation has offered a generous $3,500. toward the estimated $40,000. needed to finance these essential first steps. The timing is right as Frankfort continues to grow and Hwy. 28 expands to 4 lanes toward I-65.