When steam ruled - Click on photo to enlarge

Here's a poor quality, but important photo of Bluffton in the late 1940s or early 1950s. The scene is from Cherry Street looking south toward Railroad Street.

The Bluffton depot, which is now located at the Buckeye park, was alive with activity, servicing as a stop on the Nickel Plate Railroad. The depot served passengers and freight stops. The freight train heading north toward Bellevue is pulled by Lima-built Berkshire 703.

Notice the side track with a boxcar. The car is in front of the former NKP freight house. The two four-wheel carts across the track were used to haul mail, which was dropped off at the depot.

Click here for more information about the NKP.