The first railroad in Michigan was the Erie & Kalamazoo completed in 1837. Part of the original route is used today by the Adrian & Blissfield RR. Owosso is home to the famous Pere Marquette No 1225, that was used for the movie "Polar Express". The states 3600 miles of track provide interstate service for the NS and CSX railroads between Ohio and Indiana.
Adrain & Blissfield Railroad offers a Murder Mystery Dinner Train running about 3 hours and includes a 5 course dinner while being entertained by a cast of actors performing a comical interactive murder mystery. Saturday afternoon family train rides run 1 1/2 hours in duration. Coaches are vintage passenger cars dating from 1937 & 1949. They are fully heated and air conditioned. Directions.
The Little River Railroad is home to one of the smallest 4-6-2 Pacific-type locomotives ever built for a standard-gauge railroad. Baldwin built it in 1911 for the original Little River Railroad in Townsend, Tenn., where it hauled logs. After being abandoned in the 1960's, #110 was restored in 1972 and in 1975 made its first run for the current Little River Railroad. Round trip train rides depart from Coldwater, MI and go to Quincy, MI. Train rides last approximately 1 ½ hours. Museum is located at the 1883 Lake Shore and Michigan Southern depot. Seasonal themed train rides include, but not limited to, the Easter Bunny Express, the Halloween Train and a Holiday Express.Directions.
The Adrian & Blissfield Railroad's Murder Mystery Train ride comes with a 5 course meals and actors that perform a comical interactive murder mystery. Train excursions run about 2 to 2 1/2 hours on selected Saturdays and Fridays.Directions
Themed train rides aboard the Coopersville & Marne Railway include a Bunny Train, the Great Train Robbery, a Pumpkin Train and a Santa Train. Caboose and locomotive rides also available. The train consists of antique passengers cars, which date from the early part of the last century, travel out into the countryside and through family owned farmlands. The 14 mile rail excursions cross over an open deck girder bridge, four creeks and one road bridge before you arrive at the Village of Marne.Directions.
Narrated 30 minute steam train ride around the Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Museum departs from the 1859 Smiths Creek depot. Museum includes one of only two remaining Allegheny types, C&O's 2-6-6-6 locomotive #1601. Built in 1941 and weighing in at 600 tons, this was one of the largest steam-powered locomotives ever built. Designed for pulling huge coal trains over the Allegheny mountains of West Virginia, this locomotive could reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. Also, a reconstructed 19th century roundhouse. Amtrak service also stops at the museum.Directions.
The Michigan AuSable Valley Railroad features a 1/4 scale passenger train ride through the beautiful scenic landscape of northern Michigan. Operates on weekends and holidays during the summer months.
The Huckleberry Railroad owns 7 locomotives, the #2 and #464 are the primary locomotives that serve the railroad. The Huckleberry Railroad #2, formally known as #152 locomotive, is a 4-6-0 built in June of 1920 by Baldwin Locomotive Works. Locomotive #464, a 2-8-2, was built in 1903 also by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Forty minute train rides take passengers through the scenic Genesee Recreation Area. Excursions run May through September.
The Steam Railroading Institute offers weekend train rides throughout the summer and several all-day train rides through out the year. The Pere Marquette Railway #1225 takes visitors on the North Pole Express train ride in December. This is the same engine that was used as a model for the movie Polar Express. Seven acre site includes a roundhouse and turntable. Visitors center includes exhibits, a model train layout, and the museum’s collection of archival materials and artifacts.
Michigan's Star Clipper Dinner Train made its last departure from Walled Lake on Dec. 31, 2008 from Waterford, Mich. The train formally operated over the ex-Grand Trunk route between West Bloomfield and Wixom, Mich.
As for the Clipper's new home, the train now operates as the Columbia Star Dinner Train out of Columbia, Mo.
