Huckleberry Railroad and Other Tourist Railroads of Michigan!

Try the steam railroading institute in owosso Michigan. It's home to the Pere Marquette 1225. This Saturday there will be small "wild Wild West" trips with Flagg coal 75. An 0-4-0 saddle tank.

Neither the Huckleberry RR nor SRI would be considered as being in the "Detroit Area".  I believe the Huckleberry RR is a little over an hour north, and as I recall, Owosso (SRI) is further than that.  The Henry Ford Museum (with our operating railroad out in Greenfield Village) is right near Detroit.  I know there are a couple smaller operations south and west of the area as well, but I don't know exactly where off the top of my head.

 

If you do visit The Henry Ford Museum, and especially the Greenfield Village part, our recently restored 1897 Baldwin 4-4-0, D&LN #7 is currently pulling trains.  Obviously due to the nature of steam locomotives, that might change during the week if needed.

The hour trip up north to the Huckleberry Railroad would not be a big deal especially as a day trip. 

 

Somebody on here directed me to a tourist road in SW Michigan, maybe near

Sturgis (nothing on the map looks familiar), where the unusual logging Pacific

(4-6-4) from Tennessee's Little River RR (which logged off the Smokies) operates.

There is an interesting station and old freight house there, this engine's house,

and, when I was there, a long string of WWII troop cars (like Weaver offered) on a siding.  I don't know if there are any Kilwin's (ice cream) in the Detroit area, there are a lot in Mich., or in the SW corner, but check them out, too, if you haven't gotten to the one in Gettysburg.

The Huckleberry Railroad is fun. We prefer to visit in late Fall when they have the train and village decorated for Christmas.

LOL, I couldn't help but think of Huckleberry Hound.

I got curious, and found their web site: Huckleberry Railroad.

Looks like an interesting place to visit.

County owned.

Thanks for the replies everyone!

 

I have researched the Little River RR but it is too far away to be a possibility for my family while visiting in the Detroit area. 

 

I will continue to look into the Huckleberry RR. Apparently they have the only other operational K27 Rio Grande #464. The other K27 is at the Cumbres and Toltec apparently. Pretty cool if you ask me! 

I think so too. It is a beautiful engine with a great whistle. Who'd of thought you could visit Michigan for authentic Colorado NG steam?

I know right! Rio Grande in Michigan?!?!?! 

The Hucklebery website above shows it still lettered for the Grande...is that true?

If so, better than the Great Western one on the Strasburg.  Wish I had known it was

there when I visited the Little River's 4-6-2 in SS Mich.

Greenfield Village is a must. Has operating steam train, paddle boat, all kinds of historical items, Edison's Laboratory, Wright Bros. Bicycle shop, Lincoln's chair. C&O Allegheny, antique cars and aircraft. Way too much for a day, but you'll want to return!

Huckleberry RR is north of Flint 80+ mi. N. of Detroit. Little River RR is in Coldwater,Mi,  west of Detroit about 140 miles  

All videos I have seen of the Huckleberry up to this year still have it painted in the Rio Grande livery. 

If worse comes to worse the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village is my backup plan!

464 is still painted in the Rio Grande scheme.

 

And just a correction to a post above about Greenfield Village, the railroad and other items are still there, but the steam paddle boat was removed years ago due to the operating/maintenance expense.