Steam Railroading Institute

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Steam Railroading Institute
LocaleMichigan
TerminusOwosso
Commercial operations
Original gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Preserved operations
Reporting markSRI
Length38 miles (61 km)
Preserved gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Preservation history
1969Open
HeadquartersOwosso
Website
https://www.michigansteamtrain.com

The Steam Railroading Institute is located at 405 South Washington Street, Owosso, Michigan.[1] It was founded in 1969 as the Michigan State University (MSU) Railroad Club.[2] It became the Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation, and later adopted its present name.[3][4][5]

The Steam Railroading Institute is an organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and operation of historical railroad equipment and items.[6] It operates a heritage railroad which offers occasional passenger excursion trains using steam locomotives: ex-Pere Marquette Railway Steam Locomotive No. 1225 and Chicago & Northwestern Railway 175.[7][8]

History[]

The Steam Railroading Institute, dedicated to educating the public about steam-era railroad technology, is the product of the Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation Inc. For many years, the MSTRP centered on a single steam locomotive, former Pere Marquette Railway No. 1225. After 1225's retirement, the locomotive was donated to Michigan State University. Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Chairman Cyrus Eaton thought that the University College of Engineering ought to have a piece of real equipment to work on and convinced the MSU University Trustee Forest Akers that this was a good idea. Eaton didn't like seeing these relatively new locomotives cut up for scrap. The Dean of the College of Engineering was not convinced, so then University President John Hannah, accepted the engine as a contribution to the MSU Museum. It arrived on campus in 1957.[9] There it sat, getting an occasional coat of paint and was opened to the public on football weekends until 1969 when a group of students took an interest in the locomotive. The Michigan State University Railroad Club was formed by student rail fans who were interested in Trains and Locomotives in general. In 1970 at the suggestion of Randy Paquette, they adopted the ambitious goal of restoring 1225 and using it to power excursion trains that would bring passengers to football games at the university. After toiling away at the locomotive for many years, the Michigan State University Railroad Club evolved as the Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation after then MSURRC President Chuck Julian discussed the subject of how this engine would run when finished, with then University President Edgar Harden. Harden proposed that they form a 501(c)(3) that would allow the university to give the Trust the locomotive. MSU had no interest in running a steam locomotive. The MSTRP started its corporate run in July 1979. Harden kept his promise and had the university donate the locomotive to this new organization.[9]

In the past thirty-five years the Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation and its Steam Railroading Institute have grown tremendously, now housing two steam locomotives, a fleet of passenger cars, and numerous pieces of rolling stock.[9]

Situated on the site of the old Ann Arbor Railroad's steam backshop and roundhouse, the Steam Railroading Institute exhibits the intricacies of working steam locomotives.[9]

Equipment[]

Locomotives[]

Main units:

Number Builder Images Type Build date Status Notes
1225 Lima Locomotive Works PM1225.jpg Steam 1941 Operational Built in October 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works. It worked most of its career on the Pere Marquette Railway hauling freight trains, the engine was retired from service in 1951 and was placed on static display near Spartan Stadium on the Michigan State campus in East Lansing, Michigan.[7] After years of display, it was restored to operating condition on 1985.[7] Today, the engine runs excursion trains for the railway.[7]
175 American Locomotive Company Quincy Smelter tour 3.jpg Steam 1908 Under restoration Built by the American Locomotive Company in 1908. The engine originally worked hauling passenger trains throughout Wisconsin on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway until the early 1950s. It retired from service in 1957 and was sold to several private owners, it sat in Calumet, Michigan for many year untouched. In 2017, it was purchased by the Steam Railroading Institute were it is currently undergoing restoration to operating condition.[8]
75 Vulcan Iron Works Flagg Coal 0-4-0T No75.jpg Steam 1930 Operational Built by the Vulcan Iron Works in December 1930. Retired from service in 1954 and returned to service in early 2002. On lease from John and Barney Gramling.
No Number General Electric 25-ton switcher 1940s Operational Built by General Electric in the 1940s. Used for switching and moving equipment the yard and moving 1225 around as well.
4428 Unknown Diesel 1954 Operational A EMD GP9 engine built in August 1954. Originally built as an Ex Grand Trunk Western locomotive, temporarily leased from Great Lakes Locomotive.

Former units:

Number Builder Type Build date Notes
10 Detroit and Mackinac Railway GE 44-ton switcher Unknown This engine was sold to Southern Michigan Railway Society.
76 Mississippian Railway Cooperative Steam 1920 Built by the Mississippian Railway Cooperative in December 1920. It was sold to the Oakland B&O Museum in Oakland, Maryland were it went under a cosmetic restoration and renumbered as B&O No. 476.[10]

Rolling stock[]

Passenger cars:

  • VIA Rail coaches #5576, 5581, and 5646
  • VIA Rail diner/lounge car (now owned by the Great Lakes Central Railroad) #762
  • Chesapeake & Ohio coach #1615
  • Chesapeake & Ohio Pullman Sleeper "City of Ashland" #2624
  • Chesapeake & Ohio/Chicago Great Western/Chicago & Northwestern Baggage/Combination Car #462. Occasionally used as a crew car for 1225's excursions.
  • PRR #8275 "Norristown Inn"/ SEMTA/ MARC #147 coach. Purchased in 2005 from B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD.
  • US Army #89639/ Amtrak #1363/ MSTX #1363 baggage. Used as a concession car on excursions.

Freight cars:

Maintenance of Way:

  • Rock Island #5000-series tender/ Auxiliary Tender #5000. Former Rock Island 4-8-4 5000 series locomotive tender now used for longer excursions behind PM 1225.
  • Pere Marquette #361. Former Troop Sleeper. Now 1225's tool car.
  • Grand Trunk Western Track Foreman's/ Bunk Car #58332.
  • Detroit, Toledo & Ironton/ Grand Truck Burro crane #15027. A self-propelled burro crane used for light duties.
  • Ex. US Navy Speeder/Gasoline Motor Car.
  • Ann Arbor Caboose's #2838 & 2839.
  • Pere Marquette Caboose #A909.
  • Detroit & Mackinac power car #7. Former troop sleeper.

Structures[]

The SRI has a few new and historic structures including an original PM turntable and an old Ann Arbor Freight house.

New Buffalo Turntable[]

The turntable is an original 90 ft (27 m) PM turntable built in 1919 to serve the Pere Marquette railyard in New Buffalo, Michigan. It operated and served a 16 stall roundhouse for many years until Chessie System took over in 1984 and ceased operations at the New Buffalo yard. The SRI acquired the turntable and had it relocated to the site. Upon purchasing, the SRI added an additional 10 ft (3.0 m) to the turntable to better accommodate larger rolling stock like the PM 1225. Still functioning like it did during the steam era, the turntable was used by the 1225 during its service years on the PM many times despite its short length.

SRI Visitor Center[]

The SRI Visitor Center is located inside a renovated freight warehouse used by the Ann Arbor road. Its construction date is unclear but the foundation dates back to the 1880s. It is speculated that the original one burned down in the 1920s and the existing structure was built. Originally a creamery, the Ann Arbor used for freight storage for things like grain. Bruckman's Moving and Storage then leased the building from the railroad for storage use. The SRI purchased the building in 2004 and renovated it as their Visitor's Center containing exhibits, a model train layout, and the museum's artifact and archives collection.

References[]

  1. ^ "2020 Steam Railroading Institute | Michigan Life". michiganlife.com.
  2. ^ Elford, Karen (November 9, 2016). "The Historic Pere Marquette 1225 Turns 75".
  3. ^ Walker, Micah (August 11, 2019). "All aboard: Experience fall colors on these historic trains in Michigan". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Railroad Club Records UA.12.3.10". archive.lib.msu.edu.
  5. ^ Lustig, D. (January 2005). "HOLLYWOOD'S STEAM LOCOMOTIVE : WHEN THE PRODUCERS OF THE ANIMATED THE POLAR EXPRESS WENT LOOKING FOR A LOCOMOTIVE, THEY FOUND PERE MARQUETTE 1225". Trainsportation Research Board. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  6. ^ Magazine, Trains (May 4, 2009). Tourist Trains Guidebook. Kalmbach Publishing, Co. ISBN 9780871162731 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ a b c d Keefe, Kevin P. (2016). "Twelve Twenty-Five: The Life and Times of a Steam Locomotive". Michigan State University Press. doi:10.14321/j.ctt1dnncc6.1. JSTOR 10.14321/j.ctt1dnncc6.1. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ a b Rath, Tim (June 7, 2018). "A chance to steam again". The Argus-Press. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  9. ^ a b c d "Steam Railroading Institute to Celebrate 50th Anniversary". www.owossonow.com.
  10. ^ "The Frisco Survivors" (PDF). All Aboard, The Frisco Railroad Museum, November, 1987 (accessed on CondrenRails.com). Retrieved January 20, 2021.

External links[]

Coordinates: 42°59′40″N 84°10′13″W / 42.99438°N 84.17028°W / 42.99438; -84.17028

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