The Train

Miller Park is a public park on the west side of Bloomington. It is located in the southwest part of the city, on a large block south of Wood Street and east of Morris Avenue. The east border of the park is Summit Street. Miller Park features a pavilion, an artificial lake, a zoo, softball fields, and two war memorials, the park also includes a mini golf course, sand volleyball courts and a playground. During the hot and humid summer months an outdoor theater presents productions for the public. Each July 4 the park is host to thousands of citizens for a fireworks display which is launched over the lake.

In the center of the park is a preserved steam locomotive, coal car and caboose from the Nickel Plate Railroad which formerly served the area. On November 1, 1959, Myron B. Phipps, executive vice president of the Nickel Plate Road, presented a retired steam locomotive (pictured above) to the City of Bloomington. The locomotive will serve as a public tribute to the iron horse, which played a major role in the growth and development of the United States.

Engine No. 639 was built in 1923 by the Lima Locomotive Works at Lima, Ohio, and is a freight locomotive of the Mikado type. During her 36-year-long career, she was a regular visitor to Bloomington as the engine frequently operated on Nickel Plate's Peoria Division between Frankfort, Indiana, and Peoria, Illinois.

The locomotive was retired early in 1958, shortly before the Nickel Plate became completely dieselized. When in active service she traveled about 65,000 miles a year. In total the locomotive operated about 2,250,000 miles equal to 800 trips from coast to coast.

Nickel Plate Engine No. 639 was accepted by Mayor Bob McGraw and will be displayed permanently at Miller Park.