Pres.& Gen. Mgr., 5087 Cherry Valley Road, Route 1,
Middleville, Michigan
Residents along the New York Central Railroad’s Grand Rapids
– to – Jackson line in Michigan may rub their eyes in disbelief
when they see a real steam locomotive puffing down the tracks with
a passenger train on July 29. Regular passenger service on this
operated a steam locomotive anywhere on its lines since May 1956,
when the last steam switcher was retired from yard service at
Cincinnati.
To keep old memories alive and give youngsters along the line
their first glimpse of a steam locomotive in action the NYC and
National Museum of Steam Propulsion have arranged a special
excursion from Grand Rapids to Jackson Saturday, July 29th. Plans
are to lease a steam locomotive from the more recently dieselized
Grand Trunk Western Railroad – the latter road’s 6323, a
Northern type engine built in 1942 by American Locomotive Company
at Schenectady, has been selected for the honors. 6323 has already
pulled four rail fan excursion specials over the GTW from Detroit
this year, two of which were sponsored by the Museum.
NYC’s speedy Hudsons, long admired by rail fans as the
handsomest locomotives ever built, no longer exists and the
road’s one remaining Mohawk-type steam locomotive is not in
condition for the Jackson trip.
The July 29th Steam Giant Ramble, as it’s called, will leave
Grand Rapids from NYC’s freight yard at Hall St. at 8:15 a.m.,
stopping to pick up additional passengers in Caledonia at 8:40 a.m.
and Middleville at 9:30 a.m., arriving in Hastings at 10:00 a.m.
Between Caledonia and Middleville there’ll be an opportunity
for photographers to try out their skill on a steam locomotive in
action when the train stops for them to unload, backs up about a
mile and comes forward at speed with smokestack belching black
smoke and whistle blowing. A similar picture stop will be made at
Hastings.
The Ramble will then proceed to Charlton Park, just outside
Hastings, where a three-hour lay-over will permit passengers to
witness the annual Steam Rodeo of the Michigan Steam Engine and
Threshers Ass’n, featuring 25 to 30 steam traction engines in
operation, steam boat rides on the Thornapple River and a Stanley
Steamer automobile.
Leaving Charlton Park at 2:35 p.m., the train will ramble on to
Charlotte (3:10 p.m.) where the locomotive will take another big
drink of water that will carry her on to a 4:25 p.m. arrival in
Jackson.
Return trip will leave Jackson at 6:25 p.m., stopping in
Charlotte for more water at 7:25 p.m. and arriving in Hastings at
8:20 p.m., Middleville at 9:10 p.m., Caledonia at 9:30 p.m. and
Grand Rapids at 10:00 p.m.
Included in the train’s consist will be air-conditioned
coaches, refreshment car with complete catering service and a
baggage car directly behind the locomotive, with safety slats
nailed across the open doors and suitable electric current for
audio enthusiasts to plug in their tape recorders.
Round trip fares for adults are $11.50 from Grand Rapids, $11.25
from Caledonia, $11.00 from Middleville and $10.75 from Hastings.
Fares for children ages 5 through 11 are $5.00 less. Ticket prices
include admission to the Michigan Steam Engine and Threshers
Ass’n Annual Steam Rodeo at Charlton Park. Proceeds from the
trip will go into the Museum’s fund to purchase one or more
steam locomotives and establish an operating museum in the State of
Michigan.
