All Aboard Nickel Plate Express!

The Nonprofit Nickel Plate Express

Locals will recognize those 1956 Santa Fe El Capitan rail cars. They run on a 12-mile stretch of the former Nickel Plate Road and offer passengers a fresh perspective of northern Hamilton County. Hop aboard for a wine, beer, or dinner ride—or take advantage of their family-friendly holiday programs!

Why ride the Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad? You and your family will be introduced to rail travel and its impact on Indiana’s economic development. It’s a hands-on experience you won’t find in any textbook, and it gives you a chance to stimulate growth in the local economy, too.

The Nickel Plate Express aims to draw tourism traffic to the area to boost local businesses—and you’re helping just by coming along for the ride.

Nickel Plate Locomotive & Rail Cars

Powering the Nickel Plate Express is a 1956 F9 diesel locomotive originally built for the Erie Mining Company. You can see the silver, black, and yellow coming from a long way away!

Meanwhile, the Santa Fe Railway Hi-Level passenger cars promise exceptional comfort. They were built for the El Capitan luxury train that ran from the Midwest to the West Coast. Unlike most rail cars at the time, these ones were two stories high with an upper and lower floor.

Embark and disembark at the historic Arcadia train depot, once a hot spot for both passenger and freight traffic. Today, it’s a museum open to the public that offers a window into the region’s past.