Our train entered Cadillac but still had a way to go to get to our deboarding location.
We arrived and I made my way to the front of the train.
Nickel Plate 2-8-4 765 on the point.
Pere Marquette 2-8-4 1225, after which I walked over to the lake.
Lake Cadillac. Historically, this lake was referred to as Little Clam Lake. In 1873, local businessman George A. Mitchell founded the village of Clam Lake (renamed Cadillac, Michigan in 1882) and constructed the Clam Lake Canal, connecting Little Clam Lake to Big Clam Lake. At the time, the canal enabled logging on the west side of Big Clam Lake; logs floated through the canal entered Little Clam Lake, on the east shore of which stood lumber mills, the railroad and the Village of Clam Lake.
The names of the two lakes were changed in 1903, with Little Clam Lake renamed as Lake Cadillac (for the renamed community) and Big Clam Lake as Lake Mitchell, in honor of William W. Mitchell, the nephew and business partner of George A. Mitchell. Following the passing of the lumber era, the lake became a regional tourist destination. William Mitchell State Park, popular with campers, now occupies the west shore of the lake, adjacent to the canal.
I returned to the train, finding Pere Marquette 1225 by itself as Nickel Plate 765 ran to the Cadillac yard. After that, Bob, Elizabeth and I went to the Blue Heron for lunch.
The Ann Arbor Railroad freight house, where I joined a photo line and we waited for well over an hour after hearing whistles and seeing steam clouds off in the distance.
The train finally returned from wying the engines and rearranging them so now Pere Marquette 1225 would be on the point for the trip back to Alma. All passengers reboarded and waited for the return trip to start.
We departed Cadillac late with all passengers aboard happy and ready for the journey.
Passing the former Ann Arbor Railroad station. I bought a Nickel Plate 765 Hooded sweatshirt and was finally warmed up, as well as a couple of Coca-Colas. Later, the train crew announced there would be some photo runbys at Lucas in about twenty minutes.
Reverse move one.
Photo runby one.
The open window car in which I rode.
Reverse move two.
Photo runby two. We all reboarded and the train continued on its way back to Alma, passing through several rain showers. We became a night train and I rode the vestibule for part of the trip and enjoyed my open window when it was not raining. Our return to Alma was about two hours late but all passengers were happy after an excellent double-headed steam excursion behind Nickel Plate 765 and Pere Marquette 1225.
My final picture was at Alma before we drove back to Mount Pleasant for a good steak dinner at the Lone Star Steakhouse then called it a night at the Baymont Inn.
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