Indiana State Fair Train a one-of-a-kind experience
FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) – For 33 years, many people have been taking a unique ride to the Indiana State Fair. This year is no different.
Hundreds of people have been going to Municipal Drive to get a train ride to Indianapolis to enjoy the fair, including first-time fairgoer Pam Hallock and her granddaughter Clair.
“It was suggested to us by a friend of mine that we take the train and it was an old fashion train and we thought, ‘let’s take advantage of that,’” Hallock said. “I just think the experience is going to be really valuable for the both of us and enjoyable, and we don’t have to worry about parking and then finding our car when we are ready to go home.”
The passengers get to enjoy a ride on the tracks on a restored engine that now has air conditioning.
Michelle Yerkeson, a board member for the Indiana Transportation Museum, said, “Our passenger coaches were built in 1937 by the Bud Corporation and our engines are all 1950’s vintage.”
Yerkeson said the Fair Train is one the the ITM’s biggest events that allows them to raise money for their restoration projects. Currently, the ITM is restoring a dining car and a steam engine. ITM is planning to use the steam engine for passenger transportation to the state fair in two years.
New this year is that people can buy train tickets at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum Box Office for the 90 minute round trip ride. Tickets are also available at the Fishers Train Depot and on the train.
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, tickets cost $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 2 to 12. On Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, tickets cost $13 for adults and $9 for children ages 2 to 12. Children under two years old ride for free.
Here’s a schedule of the Fair Train’s departures:
Fishers:
8:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 9:15 p.m.
Fairgrounds:
9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 6:45 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 10:15 p.m.
Parking may be reached by following the signs on 116th Street or 126th Street to Lantern Road, south to Municipal Drive.