Ind. Code § 8-4-5-2
It shall be the duty of said companies, upon the adoption of such common name, to cause a copy of the resolution of such boards to be recorded in the recorder's offices of the different counties through which the road of said companies may run or be located; and thereafter, during the term of such association, such companies may have and use a common seal, contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued by such adopted name, in any and all matters relating to such union road; and shall have full power, by such association, to locate, construct, keep up, change, repair, and operate such union road as, by their respective charters and amendments to such charters, they are allowed to do; provided, however, that nothing in this chapter contained shall be construed to abridge such companies of any of the powers and franchises belonging to them by their respective incorporation statutes and amendments to such statutes; and, provided, further, that nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prevent said companies from suing and being sued in their original corporate names, for all rights accrued and for all liabilities incurred before the adoption of such common name.
IC 8-4-5-2