Screaming steam through Bluffton
Paul Diller snapped this photo and then very quickly stepped aside as this giant Lima-built Berkshire steam locomotive barrelled toward him at about 65 miles per hour.
We can only guess what the engineer and fireman thought as they approached a photographer, standing in the middle of the rails.
Coming from Bellevue, it was westbound to Lima, and onto Muncie, Indiana, and headed perhaps as far west at St. Louis.
There's lots to see in this photo taken south of the railroad bridge over Riley Creek near Harmon Field. The photo was taken in the mid-1950s, as the Nickel Plate Road was the last major U.S. railroad to use steam locomotives.
Notice:
• Sidetrack on the left (west side), that led all the way cross College Avenue to the depot. The depot is now relocated to Buckeye park.
• Sidetrack on the right (east side), that became two sidetracks. One extended across College Avenue all the way to Cherry Street. A freight house is slightly visible. And, there are freight cars on that siding.
The second sidetrack led to a cement factory, now the location of Universal U Store It.
(Photo from the collection of Jim Diller)
Stories Posted This Week
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Monday, June 30, 2025
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Saturday, June 28, 2025
- Community Pool closed June 28
- Weekend Doctor: About Rotator Cuff Repair
- WOAL Swim Champs in Wapakoneta July 11-12
- '60s Survivors Band plays fifth annual free concert
- Bluffton Lions to bring all-abilities playground to new Legacy Park
- July 2025 programs and services at Bluffton Public Library
- Save the date: July 17 Garden Club is all about herbs
- Bluffton Vacation Bible School, July 13-17 at Bluffton Y