Huckleberry Railroad facts for kids
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Crossroads Village, a county park in Genesee Township, Michigan |
| Reporting mark | HRR |
| Locale | Genesee Township, Michigan |
| Dates of operation | 1976–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 3 ft (914 mm) |
The Huckleberry Railroad is a special train ride in Genesee Township, Michigan, near Flint. It's a "narrow gauge" railway, which means its tracks are closer together than regular train tracks. This fun railroad runs next to Crossroads Village. Both are owned and cared for by the Genesee County Parks and Recreation team.
The railroad got its unique name because people used to say it moved so slowly. You could supposedly hop off, pick some wild huckleberries, and then easily get back on the train!
Contents
The Huckleberry Railroad's Story
The Huckleberry Railroad started a long time ago, in 1872. It was first part of the Flint River Railroad. Later, the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad made the line longer. It went from Flint all the way to Otter Lake. This part of the track became known as the Otter Lake Branch.
Eventually, the track was extended even further. It went another 4.5 miles (7.2 km) to Fostoria. This made the total length of the line 19.5 miles (31.4 km) from Flint to Fostoria.
How the Railroad Changed Over Time
The Pere Marquette Railway stopped using the line from Otter Lake to Fostoria in 1932. A year later, they also stopped using the line from Otisville to Otter Lake.
The Huckleberry Railroad began its current operations in 1976. This happened when the Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission opened Crossroads Village. The railroad uses the remaining part of the old line.
The train station at Crossroads Village is also historic. It used to be the Grand Trunk Western Railroad station from nearby Davison.
Impact of the 2020 Pandemic
On April 23, 2020, the Genesee County Parks Director announced something unusual. The railroad and Crossroads Village would not open for the summer season. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
They planned a late opening in October 2020 instead. This was the very first time the attraction had to delay its opening. It had been running every year since 1976.
Meet the Huckleberry Railroad's Locomotives
The Huckleberry Railroad has many different trains. These include several powerful steam locomotives and other train cars. Two of the steam locomotives, #152 and #464, have been fixed up. They are now ready to pull old-fashioned wooden passenger cars. These cars travel along the beautiful shores of Mott Lake.
Locomotives Ready to Ride
These locomotives are currently working and pulling trains:
- Number 7: This is a General-Electric 50-ton locomotive. It used to work for National Tube Works.
- Number 11: This is a Plymouth HSG #585. It used to work at Badger Army Ammunition.
- Number 571: This is another Plymouth HSG #571. It also came from Badger Army Ammunition.
- Number 152: This is a Baldwin 4-6-0 steam locomotive from 1920. It used to be part of the Alaska Railroad. Number 152 was restored starting in 2016. It returned to service in July 2018.
Locomotives Taking a Break
These locomotives are not currently running, but they are still part of the railroad's collection:
- Number 464: This is a Baldwin K-27 "Mudhen" steam locomotive from 1903. It used to belong to the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Number 464 is currently undergoing a special check-up. This is called a 1472-day boiler inspection.
- Number 3: This is a Brooks 2-6-0 steam locomotive from 1894. It used to work for the Quincy & Torch Lake. This locomotive is on a long-term loan from the Quincy Mine Hoist Association.
- Number 4: This is a Baldwin 2-8-0 steam locomotive from 1904. It used to work for Potosi & Rio Verde. You can see Number 4 on display near the main train line.
- Number 5: This was a Plymouth JCD #5. It used to work for American Smelting and Refining Co. This locomotive was sold in 2019.
Huckleberry Railroad in Movies
In 2009, Crossroads Village was used as a filming location. It was the set for a movie called Alleged. This film was based on the famous 1925 Scopes Trial. A Huckleberry train is even shown in the movie! The film starred famous actors like Brian Dennehy and Fred Thompson.
