A Visit to the National New York Central Railroad Museum
September 11, 2026 | Elkhart, Indiana
On Friday, September 11, 2026, I visited the National New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart, Indiana. One of the main reasons I planned the trip when I did was to see and photograph New York Central Mohawk No. 3001 before it was moved from Elkhart to Fort Wayne.
The museum has much more than No. 3001, however, and the visit gave me an opportunity to photograph a variety of historic locomotives, rolling stock, railroad equipment, and exhibits while adding another location to the growing Northeast Indiana Railfan project.
Seeing NYC Mohawk No. 3001 Before the Move
New York Central Mohawk No. 3001 was a major reason for making this trip. With its move to Fort Wayne approaching, I wanted the opportunity to photograph the locomotive while it was still at the National New York Central Railroad Museum.
I was able to spend some time photographing No. 3001 from several different angles, including head-on and three-quarter views that show both the massive front of the locomotive and much of its running gear.
Just a few days after my visit, Norfolk Southern assisted the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society with moving No. 3001 from Elkhart to Fort Wayne.
That makes these photographs more than simply pictures from a museum visit. They document No. 3001 in Elkhart during the final days before its move — exactly what I had hoped to capture when I planned the trip.
Then we can continue with the “More Than Steam Locomotives” section from the version above.
That tells the story much more accurately: you knew the move was coming, and that was part of the reason you went to Elkhart on September 11.
Address
National New York Central Railroad Museum
721 S Main Street
Elkhart, Indiana 46516
Current Hours (2026)
Wednesday-Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM EST
Discover more from Northeast Indiana Railfan
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.