10 Reasons to ride the Little River
Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 7:53 pm
This past Sunday, June 13, the Little River Railroad ran their first Hillsdale Flyer excursion for the year. The Little River is based out of Coldwater, MI, on the tracks of the Indiana Northeastern. The trackage the Hillsdale Flyer runs over is part of the Old Road, the first LS&MS mainline from Elkhart to Toledo, before the Lake Shore Water Level Route became the primary route.
The ride lasts about 4 1/2 hours including a locomotive run around at Hillsdale and 45 minute lunch stop at the historic Jonesville depot, today a bed and breakfast. The train departs from the historic depot at Coldwater and operates over the Old Road to Hillsdale and return, on some of the oldest railbed in the state of Michigan. Our train consisted of Little River 4-6-2 #110, and Private Observation car #1414, formerly MSO's "The Solomon," in new Pullman green paint. A single car was more than adequate to handle the small crowd. The route covers nearly 30 miles of trackage in each direction, and passes through a couple small towns intermixed with rural farmland. While the small number of passengers made it feel like we really had the place to ourselves, I doubt they can make a go of this many more times with such small attendance. In addition to the photos, here are 10 reasons to make the trek down I-69 or US-12 to Coldwater to ride one of their Hillsdale Flyers later this year (see schedule below). Enjoy the photos!
1. A historic consist including vintage open-platform business car #1414
2. Ride behind the largest standard gauge steam locomotive currently operating in Michigan.
3. Get up close to the Pacific #110 and watch first hand the crew perform maintenance en route.
4. A delicious lunch and tour of the historic Jonesville depot.
5. Check out active on-line industries, sidings, and Hillsdale Yard, all served by the Indiana Northeastern.
6. The Old Road is one of the oldest railbeds in the state.
7. Keep an eye out for concrete whistle and mile posts.
8. 4-6-2 #110 is the world's smallest Pacific class locomotive ever built.
9. Enjoy the views and sounds of small towns and rural southern Michigan.
10. Support this family run operation working hard to make these trips a "go!"
Getting ready to depart the historic Coldwater depot.
One of the many concrete LS&MS or NYC era whistle posts along the line. All are very far from their respective crossings from the days when trains operated over the line approaching 60mph!
For you AARR types, you get to look in on three active on-line customers, and several other spurs, plus Hillsdale Yard. This shows the recently rebuilt siding at Star of the West Milling in Quincy. Two hoppers were spotted next to the elevator, while 6 (in the distance) are waiting to be spotted. All were AEX reporting marks.
Scenic rural southern Michigan.
Engine #110 runs around the car to run in reverse back west. This is in Hillsdale Yard across M-99 from the local Kroger.
Getting set up to make the joint.
Spur at Jackson Iron and Metal (Omnisource) just south of Jonesville. 4 cars on the spur. 2 additional ones on a stub track near Moore Road to the north.
The lunch stop at Jonesville at the depot allowed everyone to step off the train. Excellent opportunity for roster shots! And the pulled pork was yummy too!!
Recently repainted in Pullman green.
The setup for returning to Coldwater. Going eastbound, with the #110 leading on the correct end, the 4-6-2 locomotive and single open-deck observation made our train look rather like a stately inspection train from the Roaring 20s!
A bit o' history showing through.
Plenty of time for some locomotive close-ups:
Sun-Gro east of Quincy is the 3rd active shipper on this segment of line. They always get hoppers from BNSF, or classic predecessor cars from the BN or Santa Fe (as seen here).
Only 381 to Buffalo! (and 156 to Chicago as inscribed on the other side!) The history of this line is fantastic!
As I said above, the event was a lot of fun but rather poorly attended. It would be great to see more support for this operation and their excursions, particularly these longer-haul ones that actually rack up some mileage and allow the #110 to stretch her legs a little on the well-maintained sections of the mainline!
The dates of the other Hillsdale Flyer excursions and some additional information is listed below. The Little River also offers shorter trips to Quincy on weekends, fall steam doubleheaders, plus occasional dinner train opportunities. Full schedule here: http://www.littleriverrailroad.com/schedule.htm
Consider riding a Hillsdale Flyer later this year:
August 15:
HILLSDALE FLYER - 10AM
ROUND TRIP FROM COLDWATER TO HILLSDALE
*RESERVATIONS REQUIRED CALL: 574-215-0751
TICKETS: $65.00/ADULTS $45.00/CHILDREN
LUNCH INCLUDED AT JONESVILLE STATION
APPROXIMATELY A 4 1/2HOUR TRAIN RIDE
September 26:
HILLSDALE FLYER -10AM
ROUND TRIP FROM COLDWATER TO HILLSDALE
*RESERVATIONS REQUIRED CALL: 574-215-0751
TICKETS: $65.00/ADULTS $45.00/CHILDREN
LUNCH INCLUDED AT JONESVILLE STATION
APPROXIMATELY A 4 1/2HOUR TRAIN RIDE
November 7:
HILLSDALE FLYER -10AM
ROUND TRIP FROM COLDWATER TO HILLSDALE
*RESERVATIONS REQUIRED CALL: 574-215-0751
TICKETS: $65.00/ADULTS $45.00/CHILDREN
LUNCH INCLUDED AT JONESVILLE STATION
APPROXIMATELY A 4 1/2HOUR TRAIN RIDE
Thanks for reading....hope you enjoyed the photos. Maybe see you on the next Hillsdale Flyer!!
The ride lasts about 4 1/2 hours including a locomotive run around at Hillsdale and 45 minute lunch stop at the historic Jonesville depot, today a bed and breakfast. The train departs from the historic depot at Coldwater and operates over the Old Road to Hillsdale and return, on some of the oldest railbed in the state of Michigan. Our train consisted of Little River 4-6-2 #110, and Private Observation car #1414, formerly MSO's "The Solomon," in new Pullman green paint. A single car was more than adequate to handle the small crowd. The route covers nearly 30 miles of trackage in each direction, and passes through a couple small towns intermixed with rural farmland. While the small number of passengers made it feel like we really had the place to ourselves, I doubt they can make a go of this many more times with such small attendance. In addition to the photos, here are 10 reasons to make the trek down I-69 or US-12 to Coldwater to ride one of their Hillsdale Flyers later this year (see schedule below). Enjoy the photos!
1. A historic consist including vintage open-platform business car #1414
2. Ride behind the largest standard gauge steam locomotive currently operating in Michigan.
3. Get up close to the Pacific #110 and watch first hand the crew perform maintenance en route.
4. A delicious lunch and tour of the historic Jonesville depot.
5. Check out active on-line industries, sidings, and Hillsdale Yard, all served by the Indiana Northeastern.
6. The Old Road is one of the oldest railbeds in the state.
7. Keep an eye out for concrete whistle and mile posts.
8. 4-6-2 #110 is the world's smallest Pacific class locomotive ever built.
9. Enjoy the views and sounds of small towns and rural southern Michigan.
10. Support this family run operation working hard to make these trips a "go!"
Getting ready to depart the historic Coldwater depot.
One of the many concrete LS&MS or NYC era whistle posts along the line. All are very far from their respective crossings from the days when trains operated over the line approaching 60mph!
For you AARR types, you get to look in on three active on-line customers, and several other spurs, plus Hillsdale Yard. This shows the recently rebuilt siding at Star of the West Milling in Quincy. Two hoppers were spotted next to the elevator, while 6 (in the distance) are waiting to be spotted. All were AEX reporting marks.
Scenic rural southern Michigan.
Engine #110 runs around the car to run in reverse back west. This is in Hillsdale Yard across M-99 from the local Kroger.
Getting set up to make the joint.
Spur at Jackson Iron and Metal (Omnisource) just south of Jonesville. 4 cars on the spur. 2 additional ones on a stub track near Moore Road to the north.
The lunch stop at Jonesville at the depot allowed everyone to step off the train. Excellent opportunity for roster shots! And the pulled pork was yummy too!!
Recently repainted in Pullman green.
The setup for returning to Coldwater. Going eastbound, with the #110 leading on the correct end, the 4-6-2 locomotive and single open-deck observation made our train look rather like a stately inspection train from the Roaring 20s!
A bit o' history showing through.
Plenty of time for some locomotive close-ups:
Sun-Gro east of Quincy is the 3rd active shipper on this segment of line. They always get hoppers from BNSF, or classic predecessor cars from the BN or Santa Fe (as seen here).
Only 381 to Buffalo! (and 156 to Chicago as inscribed on the other side!) The history of this line is fantastic!
As I said above, the event was a lot of fun but rather poorly attended. It would be great to see more support for this operation and their excursions, particularly these longer-haul ones that actually rack up some mileage and allow the #110 to stretch her legs a little on the well-maintained sections of the mainline!
The dates of the other Hillsdale Flyer excursions and some additional information is listed below. The Little River also offers shorter trips to Quincy on weekends, fall steam doubleheaders, plus occasional dinner train opportunities. Full schedule here: http://www.littleriverrailroad.com/schedule.htm
Consider riding a Hillsdale Flyer later this year:
August 15:
HILLSDALE FLYER - 10AM
ROUND TRIP FROM COLDWATER TO HILLSDALE
*RESERVATIONS REQUIRED CALL: 574-215-0751
TICKETS: $65.00/ADULTS $45.00/CHILDREN
LUNCH INCLUDED AT JONESVILLE STATION
APPROXIMATELY A 4 1/2HOUR TRAIN RIDE
September 26:
HILLSDALE FLYER -10AM
ROUND TRIP FROM COLDWATER TO HILLSDALE
*RESERVATIONS REQUIRED CALL: 574-215-0751
TICKETS: $65.00/ADULTS $45.00/CHILDREN
LUNCH INCLUDED AT JONESVILLE STATION
APPROXIMATELY A 4 1/2HOUR TRAIN RIDE
November 7:
HILLSDALE FLYER -10AM
ROUND TRIP FROM COLDWATER TO HILLSDALE
*RESERVATIONS REQUIRED CALL: 574-215-0751
TICKETS: $65.00/ADULTS $45.00/CHILDREN
LUNCH INCLUDED AT JONESVILLE STATION
APPROXIMATELY A 4 1/2HOUR TRAIN RIDE
Thanks for reading....hope you enjoyed the photos. Maybe see you on the next Hillsdale Flyer!!
