My wife was watching some house-hunting show, when something caught my attention. The home that some goobers were looking at in Indianapolis was located right next door to, what they called "The Monon Trail". It appeared to be rails>trails type thing. The thing that caught my attention, was the way they pronounced Monon. I've heard it on train videos pronounced *ma-nun*. These folks called it *MOE-non*, with such emphasis on the first sylable that I immediately thought of Larry and Curly. Which is it? Is there a rai>trail made out of a Monon line in Indianapolis?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
MOE-non, accented on the first syllable, is the correct pronunciation.
My dad was a graduate of Depauw University in Greencastle, IN (he left school in 1941 to join the Marines after Pearl Harbor, then returned to school after his hitch was up). He played football for Depauw and they played another school every year for a trophy called, "The Monon Bell", which was a bell off a Monon steam engine. Both schools were along/near the Monon. I've never heard it pronounced any other way than, "MOE-non".
Murphy SidingMy wife was watching some house-hunting show, when something caught my attention. The home that some goobers were looking at in Indianapolis was located right next door to, what they called "The Monon Trail". It appeared to be rails>trails type thing. The thing that caught my attention, was the way they pronounced Monon. I've heard it on train videos pronounced *ma-nun*. These folks called it *MOE-non*, with such emphasis on the first sylable that I immediately thought of Larry and Curly. Which is it? Is there a rail>trail made out of a Monon line in Indianapolis?
I'm not familiar with the rail-trail, but it wouldn't surprise me: the MOE-nahn used to serve Indianapolis, but CSX abandoned the line from Indy to Monticello. The railroad would have come into Indianapolis from due north.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Here is a link to a map of the Monon trail.
http://www.indygreenways.org/monon/mo_images/mo_map.pdf
An "expensive model collector"
It is MOE-NON.The Monon trail is row that was on the Monon to Indianapolis route. I don`t know the distance the trail runs but do know from Carmel it runs to I think to the fairgrounds. The fairgrounds being on 38th street and Carmel around 155st and I think a walking trail only. Also the Monon Bell was was played for by Wabash College and Depaw University.
I live very close to the MOE-non trail. It goes well south of the fair grounds--at least to 25th street or so. Lately, there has been a problem with crime on this south side (unfortunately, closer to where I live). It is a nice little trail, as there are some sincere efforts to preserve some of the rail aspects of it. I like to walk it often in the summer.
Incidentally, I only realized I was pronouncing it wrong after I moved to Indianapolis.
Also, never have I witnessed a state so in love with a railroad like Indiana loves the Monon. There are a lot of Joe-citizens here who know nothing about trains but refer to the Monon with affection.
Gabe
The Monon Trail in Indy is a rather nice path, particularly thru Broad Ripple area and the White River bridge.
The Monon was (is) the state railroad. There is a passion for it that is approached only by the Nickle Plate, in my opinion, but make no mistake the Monon is more popular.
Semaphore signals still provide protection in locations, but those are being replaced between Lafayette and Crawfordsville, perhaps as this is written. There are a few down by Orleans.
The town of Monon did quite well, with a creek, railroad, and trailer manufacturing company named after it. Not bad for a small town of about 3000.
ed
MP173 The Monon Trail in Indy is a rather nice path, particularly thru Broad Ripple area and the White River bridge. The Monon was (is) the state railroad. There is a passion for it that is approached only by the Nickle Plate, in my opinion, but make no mistake the Monon is more popular. Semaphore signals still provide protection in locations, but those are being replaced between Lafayette and Crawfordsville, perhaps as this is written. There are a few down by Orleans. The town of Monon did quite well, with a creek, railroad, and trailer manufacturing company named after it. Not bad for a small town of about 3000. ed
I go to the Casino in French Lick just so I can see the semiphore signals at Orleans . . . . I caught an Indiana Rail Road train stopped by one this summer. What a treat. It only could have been better had there been a meet with a CSX train (I think it was just there for a crew change). I think it was the first time I really noticed, if not saw, semiphore signals.
I agree that the Nickle Plate is a distant second for most beloved Hoosier line. However, you would think it would be the Wabash, as it was also named after a small Indiana town and had the second most popular train song named after a passenger train (in my opinion).
"Up and down the Monon everything is fine. Cause that rooting tooting Monon is a Hoosier line". I remember when this little ditty was played in Dearborn Station prior to the departure of the Hoosier, Tippecanoe or Thoroughbred.
Mark
There is a very good book by George W. Hilton titled "Monon Route". It covers "The Hoosier Line" from start to L&N.
Do any of you Hoosiers know what "Hoosier" means?
greyhounds Do any of you Hoosiers know what "Hoosier" means?
Now that question opens up a whole new discussion. Having been born and raised in the state of Indiana (graduated from Purdue University), I can tell you there is no single, universally accepted definition of exactly what the term Hoosier means or of its origin.
Rather than trying to explain something here, I am including the following link written by Indiana University professor Jeffrey Graf to whom I'm more than happy to defer.
http://www.indiana.edu/~librcsd/internet/extra/hoosier.html
Mike
MJChittick greyhounds Do any of you Hoosiers know what "Hoosier" means? Now that question opens up a whole new discussion. Having been born and raised in the state of Indiana (graduated from Purdue University), I can tell you there is no single, universally accepted definition of exactly what the term Hoosier means or of its origin. Rather than trying to explain something here, I am including the following link written by Indiana University professor Jeffrey Graf to whom I'm more than happy to defer. http://www.indiana.edu/~librcsd/internet/extra/hoosier.html
I hope that your fellow Boilermakers don't find out that you made a positive reference to somebody from Indiana University
CSSHEGEWISCH MJChittick greyhounds Do any of you Hoosiers know what "Hoosier" means? Now that question opens up a whole new discussion. Having been born and raised in the state of Indiana (graduated from Purdue University), I can tell you there is no single, universally accepted definition of exactly what the term Hoosier means or of its origin. Rather than trying to explain something here, I am including the following link written by Indiana University professor Jeffrey Graf to whom I'm more than happy to defer. http://www.indiana.edu/~librcsd/internet/extra/hoosier.html I hope that your fellow Boilermakers don't find out that you made a positive reference to somebody from Indiana University
If the Monon had decided to paint all of its engines in IU school colors rather than Perdue, it would have been the acquiring railroad.
In Hoosier land there are other fine bike and walking trails and one of the better ones {Cardinal Greenway}, are right here {Trail Head location}, in Muncie....60 some miles north of Indy. 30 some miles of smooth paved walkway on ex C&O RR. It increases in length as money is available to do so.
For those who have not seen our converted depot...stop and take a look if passing thru....A renovated jewel. Located at Broadway / Wysor.
Quentin
Monon's passenger cars and power were originally painted in IU colors, although the gray made it look more like Ohio State than IU.
The love affair with the MONON was due in-part, to the fact that it was the only Class 1 railroad was completely inside the state of Indiana. (into Chicago and Louisville, it was trackage rights). The railroad made a rough "X" through the state with the intersection at Monon, IN.
Here's how Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross pronounce it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvSO6dbEvzo
Ahh yes, I wonder what happened to old Gabe? Always enjoyed his posts. Last I recall it was like right at the crux of the 2008 economic melt down, and he was asking about locations where he could take a 4 day hike, to "get away, and think about things".
Never heard from him how that turned out.
Just saw this thread and then found this PR video on the MONON TRAIL. Looks likr a first class trail. Neat mural @ 2:05 for fans.
Shock Controlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvSO6dbEvzo
This has nothng to do with the railroad or the town. Moe-NON is the way the word MONON is pronounced. Some steam whistles can Moan and ghosts may moan.
Electroliner 1935This has nothng to do with the railroad or the town.
As a Lambert, Hendricks & Ross fan, I agree with their pronunciation.
Shock Control Electroliner 1935 This has nothng to do with the railroad or the town.
Electroliner 1935 This has nothng to do with the railroad or the town.
All I hear them singing is a sluring of the word "Moaning" or "moan'un". When I lived in Indiana everybody that I heard say the name of the railroad pronounced it as Moe-non (1st "O" is a long vowel, 2nd is a short vowel) with the accent on the first syllable. If anyone pronounced it differently, no one would know what they were talking about.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
I also have always said MOE-non. Now (here's where I show my ignorance), is that a river? And did the RR vaguely follow the river?
The Monon crossed the state of Indiana in two directions in a rough "X", crossing itself in the town of Monon. I vaguely remember that the RR had a different name originally, but because of where the lines crossed, everybody referred to it as "Monon" and the name stuck so well it took the name officially.
Lithonia OperatorI also have always said MOE-non. Now (here's where I show my ignorance), is that a river?
Some references have it sounding like moe-nan. Personally, I think they should have stuck with something easier to pronounce like "New Bradford".
Overmod Lithonia Operator I also have always said MOE-non. Now (here's where I show my ignorance), is that a river? Two creeks, originally from the Potowatomi 'monong' -- and here's where it gets interesting: the word used is probably spelled using the Great Lakes Algonquian Syllabary following a French orthography. And Potawatomi is one of the languages known for vowel syncope, so it matters which syllable has the emphasis. (Incidentally, Skokie, Oconomowoc, and Kalamazoo are all Potawatomi names, if that helps anyone...) Some references have it sounding like moe-nan. Personally, I think they should have stuck with something easier to pronounce like "New Bradford".
Lithonia Operator I also have always said MOE-non. Now (here's where I show my ignorance), is that a river?
Two creeks, originally from the Potowatomi 'monong' -- and here's where it gets interesting: the word used is probably spelled using the Great Lakes Algonquian Syllabary following a French orthography. And Potawatomi is one of the languages known for vowel syncope, so it matters which syllable has the emphasis. (Incidentally, Skokie, Oconomowoc, and Kalamazoo are all Potawatomi names, if that helps anyone...)
But the bigger question is - are we in the 21st Century USA pronouncing those names as the original Potawatomi would have pronounced them.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACDBut the bigger question is - are we in the 21st Century USA pronouncing those names as the original Potawatomi would have pronounced them.
This is one of those things like Havre de Grace where the locals know what they call their home, and the rest of us, and French orthography and so on, can take a hike. A couple of people have already mentioned what the people who live in Monon call it; a couple of others have mentioned what the railroaders called it.
The question that was asked about 'how it was supposed to be pronounced originally' is what I was addressing, with specific interest in the idea that the stress might go on the second syllable.
OvermodThe question that was asked about 'how it was supposed to be pronounced originally' is what I was addressing, with specific interest in the idea that the stress might go on the second syllable.
We have that problem with a French name. James LeRay de Chaumont (from the Chaumont region of France) figured heavily in the development of this area. One village uses part of his name - Chaumont (LeRay is one of the townships, and most villages in the area have a "James Street).
The usual mis-pronounciation is "Chow' mont." Emphasis on the first syllable.
The correct pronounciation is "sha moe'", with the emphasis on the second syllable.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Also consider any number of place names in Illinois: Des Plaines, Cairo, San Jose, and a host of others.
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