History of the Nickel Plate Road | Vintage Promotional Film Series

The New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, commonly known as The Nickel Plate Road, was known for its "High Speed Service" and was the last major railroad to reach Fort Wayne, connecting it to Chicago and countless small towns along the way. Built largely on top of the Wabash & Erie Canal, Fort Wayne was a major terminal and a city which the railroad served with "quiet pride." Its railroad elevation project also dramatically changed the landscape of city development and later merged with the Wabash and Norfolk & Western Railway in 1964. Today, the Nickel Plate's former line is owned and operated by Norfolk Southern. The Nickel Plate Story, a vintage promotional film produced by the company, showcases the railroad at its height in the post-war era.
As the film states, "From Buffalo to Chicago, from Cleveland to St. Louis and Peoria, and such cities as Ashtabula, Erie, Massillon, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Zanesville, Kokomo, place names that spell America. As dyed in the wool Yankee as corn on the cob. the world cities and the hoe-down square dance on Saturday Night...Today the Nickel Plate Road is inseparably a part of the territory it serves, integrated into the pattern of its industry, its agriculture, its way of life."
#NickelPlateRoad #NKP #Vintage

[@fortwaynerailroad]

The Nickel Plate Road lives on in our steam locomotive no. 765! Subscribe and follow us as we share more videos on our regional railroad history.

[@WalterKiefer]

That's the locomotive you guys loan out to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad for their "Steam in the Valley" rides?

[@danielboone3770]

The Nickel Plate Road is lovable! The Berkshires are a true sight to behold.

[@JamesKain]

Wow, this type of video takes me back, and they were old when I was a kid.

[@TheTrainMasster]

Back when times were slower and simpler.

[@PABackyardRevivals]

I love it it's a good video and explained the history of the nkp. Also your historical society is one of the best and take good care of the 765 I think it's greatest mainline steam locomotive and greatest Berk on the nickel plate.

[@WalterKiefer]

I grew up in Rocky River, OH, a stone's throw from the NKP tracks. Thanks for this documentary, I love the corny yet upbeat "Ozzie & Harriet" 1950's tone of these old films!

[@mitchdakelman4470]

a fine film

[@6777Productions]

Very comprehensive, loved it!

[@scottsmith4612]

What a great film!

[@garykerr4012]

The map has Kokomo in the wrong place in Indiana

[@JOEMAMA_534]

7:35 is the frosty the snowman whistle

[@blairterry9435]

Quick question is the NKP's mainline to Buffalo still in use? I know it's NS only way into New York State while CSX has the New York Central's Water Level Route to Buffalo as well.

[@animal16365]

Yes

[@blairterry9435]

@@animal16365 Oh ok.

[@marvwatkins7029]

Mighty fine but it could never last.

[@gleanerk]

The AMERICA I love and enjoy living in 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 ! FATHER GOD forgive us and make US strong again! In the NAME of the MOST HIGH SON of GOD ,amen.

[@ednorton47]

Except for foodstuffs and bulk commodities, most all that stuff is manufactured in China or other Pacific locations..

[@fortwaynerailroad]

In 1945? 🤔

[@redbarnz]

About 4 minutes in, "In convenient service...." My ear hears "Inconvenient service..."

[@sireldemar6004]

Same! This made me laugh!

[@T128Productions]

Okay, now that one made me laugh a bit. XD

[@SuperFoxyRailwayProduction6702]

7:35 that sounds like ATSF 6 Chime

[@T128Productions]

But why dub it on a NKP locomotive? I know it’s a very old film, but that doesn’t make any sense.

[@daniko4447]

​@@T128ProductionsMany of the videos didn't have audio or it was recorded and put together, they put other audios to it so it won't just be silent

[@T128Productions]

@@daniko4447 Well yeah, but I was just saying, that’s all.

[@pvthach]

7:35 cookie monster,s train whistle taken to the seasame street

[@ryanrainey1254]

I own this video!

[@IndianaNorthWestern]

You literally don't but go off

[@T128Productions]

@@IndianaNorthWestern On a VHS? On a DVD? You got a problem with being so repulsive?

[@richardlee1092]

Great video! I love NKP!

[@GoodbyeKamala2024]

Another great railroad that got swallowed up by supposed progress. Love these nostalgic videos, miss the NPR.

[@daniko4447]

It's NKP, not NPR

[@estebangonzalez7197]

First!

[@estebangonzalez7197]

@Max'z Rails, Retro & More well you had the time to write a comment so clearly somone does

[@aidanmorris1414]

@@estebangonzalez7197nobody cares new

[@tobygoodguy4032]

I think the country ran better on coal.