Explore Brownsburg's B&O Trail Outdoor Railroad Museum
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Most people know the B&O Trail in Hendricks County, Indiana, as a place to walk, run or ride a bike.
But long before the trail was built, trains traveled this same stretch of land, hauling freight and connecting communities across the Midwest. Now, you can get a closer look at that history thanks to the new B&O Trail Outdoor Railroad Museum.
Opened earlier this year, the museum along the trail in Brownsburg offers a chance to learn something new with real railroad artifacts and historical displays.
A New Stop Along the B&O Trail
You won’t have to go out of your way to find this little piece of history.
The outdoor museum sits right alongside the B&O Trail, just west of the Green Street crossing in Brownsburg. Anyone walking, running or biking through the area will pass right by it.
B&O Trail
Real Railroad Artifacts
You won’t find replicas here. The museum’s first three exhibits feature actual pieces of railroad history recovered during the development of the B&O Trail with an informational sign providing more information.
- Railroad Telephone Hut: Before trains had onboard radios, railroad workers used small telephone huts like this one to communicate along the tracks.
- Whistle Post: This original concrete marker features a large “W” that reminded engineers to sound their whistles as they approached a road crossing.
- Iron Bridge Plaque: This 1895 plaque from the Union Bridge Company of Athens, Pa., was discovered during work to replace an old railroad bridge over White Lick Creek. It’s a pretty remarkable piece of history that spent years buried in the mud.
Before the Trail, There Were Trains
It’s hard to imagine today, but the B&O Trail was once a railroad corridor connecting Indianapolis to other communities and states. The original line completed in 1880 became part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in 1927 and continued carrying trains until the route was abandoned between 1989 and 1993.
Rather than let the old railroad corridor go unused, local leaders began working to turn it into the walking and biking trail we enjoy today.
More Railroad History
The museum may be new, but organizers aren’t finished just yet.
The first phase was made possible through a $15,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, and the B&O Trail Association hopes to add more railroad artifacts and historical displays in the future.
Plan Your Visit
You don’t need to set aside an entire afternoon to enjoy the B&O Trail Outdoor Railroad Museum. It’s a quick stop that fits nicely into a family walk, bike ride or afternoon exploration.
- Location: B&O Trail, just west of the Green Street crossing in Brownsburg, Indiana.
- Parking: Green Street Trailhead, 3524 N. Green St., Brownsburg, IN 46112.
- Hours: Open year-round during regular B&O Trail hours.
- Admission: Free.
- Website
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