After leaving Coopersville, Chris drove the two of us to Saranac.
The Grand Trunk Western station in its unique 'witch's hat' style, which is now the Boston-Saranac Historical Society Museum.
Detroit, Toledo and Shore Line caboose 101, painted as Grand Trunk, was beside the museum.
Former Grand Trunk Western right-of-way in Saranac. We made our way to Ionia.
The Grand Trunk Western station in Ionia built 1910. It was then on to St. Johns.
The Grand Trunk Western station built 1911 and operated until 1960. We looked around at the equipment displayed outside first.
The Clinton Northern Railway sign outside the St. Johns station.
Ann Arbor boxcar 1130 (nee Wabash).
Detroit and Mackinac railway post office/baggage car built in 1903 by Barney and Smith. It was stored in Tawas City roundhouse from 1964 to 2006.
The interior of the baggage car undergoing restoration by the volunteers of the Clinton Northern Railway.
Grand Trunk Western caboose 77961.
Inside the former station is a model railway layout.
Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic sleeper "Sault Ste Marie" built in 1902. Retired in 1936, it was sold to a private owner in Mackinac City then later acquired by the Clinton Northern Railway in November 2005. One of the volunteers wanted to show us inside and we eagerly accepted.
Interior views of the restoration work being done on this sleeping car.
I had not realized that sleeping cars can have clerestory windows as well as coaches.
Woodworking and signage in the midst of being restored to its former glory.
One of the port hole windows. We thanked the fellow for the informational tour and made our way to Owosso and the Steam Railroading Institute. Unfortunately, the person with whom we were going to meet had a family emergency so could not be there but we took a few pictures of the grounds.
This left-over from Train Festival 2009 when the Milwaukee Road 261 group assisted the Steam Railroading Institute (owners of Pere Marquette 1225) made us both smile.
The tender of Pere Marquette 2-8-4 1225.
BOMX coach 147 (ex. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum {long-term lease since 2005}, exx. MARC 147, exxx. SEMTA 107, exxxx. PC 1513, nee Pennsylvania Railroad streamlined sleeper "Norristown Inn" 8275 1949). It was built into a coach in the 1960s.
Former Chesapeake and Oho coach showing its Canadian National/VIA heritage, number unknown.
Wabash wood-sheathed boxcar 82583, nee Wabash 23583, which was re-built during World War II.
The tender from Gettysburg Railroad 76.
GE 25 ton switcher "Mighty Mouse". It was built in 1940s, purchased at auction in August 2008 and is the Steam Railroading Institute's yard switcher.
On the turntable was the yard switcher and Great Lakes Central coach 5447 (ex. VIA 5447 1978, exx. CN 5447 1968, exxx. CN 32352, nee CN 5447).
Great Lakes Central coach 5447 (ex. VIA 5447 1978, exx. CN 5447 1968, exxx. CN 32352, nee CN 5447).
Mississipian Railways 2-8-0 76 (ex. Ohio Central 76 1999, exx. Gettysburg Railroad 76, exxx. Blairsville and Indiana 76, exxxx. Penn-View Mountain 76 1967, exxxxx. St. Louis-San Francisco 76, nee Jonesboro, Lake City and Eastern 40 1920) near the turntable. It was acquired by the SRI in 2005. At some point, it moved to the Oakland, Maryland Baltimore and Ohio station but I do not know the details.
Two of the six former Metra (originally Chicago, Burlington and Quincy) bi-level cars in the Great Lakes CEntral yard for the proposed Detroit to Ann Arbor service.
Sign for the miniature railroad at the Steam Railroading Institute.
The roundhouse cat (name unknown) made an appearance, much to my satisfaction. We left here and drove to Durand.
The unmistakeable Durand Union Station.
A light engine move of Canadian National C40-8M 4603 and BC Rail C40-8M 2701 came through while we were there. Afterward, we drove to Lansing.
The Michigan Central station in Lansing houses Clara's Restaurant where we had dinner. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed a couple of years later.
A Chesapeake and Ohio Railway bulletin board inside the station.
Interior view of part of the restaurant.
Historical plaque about Union Depot in Lansing. From here we drove to the Super 8 hotel, checked in and called it a night.
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