Detroit/ S.E. Michigan train Shops/ rail fan stuff

Your welcome to stop by my place, and run trains in the basement. I'm south of AnnArbor.

Member of Detroit Three Railers

Clem

The Glancy trains exhibit is worth it downtown:

https://detroithistorical.org/...itions/glancy-trains

Head down the block for some “Shields pizza” Detroit squares after!

https://www.pizzarestaurantdetroit.com/

I would suggest P&D Hobby shop, if you are not too far from there. Mostly 2 rail items, but always some 3 rail there too. Just a nice store to visit.

Peter,

There are a bunch of train related items I will list.  Feel free to drop me a note to my email and we can discuss as well.

Train shops in 3 rail - Great Lakes Train and Hobby in Utica and P & D Hobby.

Railroad Items

- Greenfield Village for a train ride if running (one of our Detroit 3 railers is an engineer on the steam loco that runs around the village).

- Huckleberry railroad and Crossroads village in  Genesee (outside of Flint), it is a smaller type of Greenfield village and they run steam locos (they are not running now due to COVID).  One of friends in my group at work is a steam engineer on the Huckleberry, they have both Rio Grande 2-8-2 and turn of the century steam and have railroad days in the beginning of August.

- Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso.  This is home to the 1225, and even if not running they may have tours of the roundhouse and grounds.

- Durand Station, in Durand Michigan (close to Owosso) that has a Diamond there and great for train watching.

- Detroit Model Railroad club in Holly Michigan with a huge 2 rail O scale layout in the old theatre on Saginaw Street.

- Chi-Town Union Station off Cooley Lake Road in Commerce.  Another large 2 rail O Scale layout that was started by Paul Gribble who use to be the President of Detroit Model Railroad club and they cross advertise each others layout.  This is where Paul and his team tried to set the Guinness world record for most hoppers pulled.

- There is a rail station in Mt Clemens that has a small museum on the CN line near where I live.  Michigan Transit Museum.

- Coopersville and Marne in Coopersville towards the west side of the state.

- The Gandy Dancer restaurant in the old Ann Arbor depot on the North side of Ann Arbor.

- Down by Clem in Blissfield is the Adrian and Blissfield railroad (may not be running now)

- Great Lakes Live Steamers.  2 parks one in Royal Oak and one in Southgate that has small ride on locos in the Jaycee parks.

- Southern Michigan Railroad in Clinton Mi (SE or Ann Arbor) that has excursions.

- Little River Railroad in Coldwater that does steam excursion on given dates (probably not running now).

I think that covers a lot of the stuff I can remember off the top of my head.

Greg

@Steam Loco Greg posted:

- Greenfield Village for a train ride if running (one of our Detroit 3 railers is an engineer on the steam loco that runs around the village).

- Huckleberry railroad and Crossroads village in  Genesee (outside of Flint), it is a smaller type of Greenfield village and they run steam locos (they are not running now due to COVID).  One of friends in my group at work is a steam engineer on the Huckleberry, they have both Rio Grande 2-8-2 and turn of the century steam and have railroad days in the beginning of August.

GFV is currently closed for the season until closer to Mid-April.

I've heard some rumors that the Huckleberry RR and Crossroads Village might actually open this season (sometime in May I believe is normal?), however the Rio Grande 2-8-2 #464 is currently not operable due to being in need of its 15 year inspection and has been out of service for I believe 2-3 years now.  Their 4-6-0 USA #152 is currently the operable steam locomotive, although I suppose that's a moot point since they won't be operating during your visit next week.

Slow’s BBQ is a good place to stop for a bite close to the Michigan Central Station and one of the initial investors in the renewal of that area.  I am glad to hear you are associated with the revitalization of this historic landmark.  It’s hard to express the significance of this investment by Ford to people who have lived all of their lives in metropolitan Detroit.  To live to see this iconic building go from a languishing relic of a bygone era to a beacon of hope in the city of Detroit in my lifetime is remarkable.  

@NeophyteMRR posted:

Slow’s BBQ is a good place to stop for a bite close to the Michigan Central Station and one of the initial investors in the renewal of that area.  I am glad to hear you are associated with the revitalization of this historic landmark.  It’s hard to express the significance of this investment by Ford to people who have lived all of their lives in metropolitan Detroit.  To live to see this iconic building go from a languishing relic of a bygone era to a beacon of hope in the city of Detroit in my lifetime is remarkable.  

I agree 100% as I never thought this building would ever be renovated to its former glory in any fashion.  Such a shame that it had to deteriorate to the extent that it did.  A lot of architectural  appointments were lost.

@peter allen 072518 posted:

I’m going to be in Ann Arbor and Detroit next week.

i have already seen the 2-6-6-6 at the Ford museum, any good recommendations on shops or historic train things to do?
And my company is part of the Michigan Central Station remodel, so I’v seen that as well.

Hello Peter,

Could you give us any kind of update on the progress of the station or what has been saved or lost?

Other highlights:

Whistle Stop Hobby Shop, St. Clair Shores -- Trains are in the back.  Nice display cabinets showing the older for stuff for sale, including nice Std. Gauge, Prewar, and Postwar.  The shop also has a huge selection of unique toys.

Delray Tower, Southwest area of the City of Detroit -- Back in the day this interlocking hosted a very busy confluence of multiple Class 1 Railroads entering Detroit from the south and southwest.  Still fairly busy today.  Trains has reported recently that this tower closed Nov 17, 2020 -- at least it still stands.

Ford Rouge Assembly Plant Tour -- Appears to have reopened after being closed for a long time due to the pandemic.  You enter on a tour bus which brings you past the massive rail yards (ex NYC, PRR, DT&I) on the west and north sides  of the complex.  Once inside you get off the bus and get a great look at the assembly lines in operation, from up above.  A great place to experience America's industrial might of the past.  Used to produce Mustangs by the hundreds of thousands a year.  Retooled and now kicks out massive numbers of F-150 pickups.

Mike