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For those who may not have heard, PM #1225 was put back on its wheels on Friday (Aug 11). It took a LOT of work from a number of dedicated people to achieve this major step in the running gear rebuild process. Much additional work needs to be done, but the plan is to have it in operation for North P...

All of the rolling stock (passenger cars and cabooses) into which we put passengers get TLC. Our work priorities have always been #1 - Safety (couplers, brakes, trucks, pretty much everything from the frame down); #2 - Passenger comfort (HVAC, restrooms, windows, etc.); #3 - Cosmetic. The FRA motive...

I started a new discussion on SRI coach #5447.

I'll post the status here of SRI's coach #5447 to keep from cluttering up the discussion of C&NW #175. Like many passenger cars, #5447 experienced leaking window gaskets for many years prior to its purchase by SRI in 2019. This leakage allowed water to enter the space between the inner and outer sid...

Overall, the frame and the rest of the #175 running gear is in fairly decent shape for an engine that hasn't run since 1957. Early on, the boiler was cleaned up and mapped to start the process of determining how much of it has to be replaced to comply with Part 230. When the Revive 175 project was a...

Please bear in mind that the vast majority of SRI personnel are volunteers. On North Pole Express, they go on duty about 8:00 am and off duty about 11:00 pm. That's every Saturday and Sunday for five weekends, plus the one trip on the day after Thanksgiving. Also, Great Lakes Central is a busy freig...

As those who follow the news are aware, there has long been an overall shortage of skilled tradesmen and shop capacity, often leading to delays. Those overhauling steam locomotives are not immune. So, PM #1225 may be reassembled by “Arsenal of Freedom” but likely not fired up. It will be on display,...

The Steam Railroading Institute, in partnership with the Military Vehicle Collectors Club of Michigan, is presenting "Arsenal of Freedom" on its Owosso facility June 23 & 24, 2023. This event will celebrate the support railroads have provided to America's military for over 150 years. Over thirty res...

The Steam Railroading Institute is offering former Northern Pacific 8-6-4 (8 Duplex Roomettes, 6 Roomettes and 4 Bedrooms) sleeping car #372 (Pullman-Standard 1954) for sale. The car was used on Northern Pacific's famous North Coast Limited. It was sold to Amtrak in 1971 who later sold it to the Rin...

Planning ahead for safe chasing is always a good idea. Google maps can be very useful in planning a chase route and stops. Those planning to shoot photos or video need to remind themselves that it is no longer 1941, when steam was part of the everyday landscape and it was easy to get a shot of just ...

In response to a number of posts from people who heard something from somebody who heard something from somebody who heard something... Here is the current status of PM #1225... In the early hours of July 24th, #1225 suffered a boiler tube failure. On later inspection, four other tubes were cracked ...

Does anybody know the primary road frequency Mid-Michigan RR uses on its Saginaw-Alma line? The frequency list compiled here a couple of years ago shows both 161.145 (AAR 69) and 161.235 (AAR 75) as "General Operations."

John, I have written an article for an NRHS publication about the "Trooper on the Train" operations I have arranged with the Michigan State Police for Bluewater excursions the past few years. One of your photos in the Photo Gallery shows troopers observing the PM #1225 as it rolled by on the "Timber...

...Please e-mail me at atha0123@comcast.net

Thanks,

After reading some earlier posts concerning Greyhound's recent ending of service to Royal Oak, I will offer some clarifications... The current bus station in Royal Oak replaced an earlier facility on the same site. It never serviced Amtrak, SEMTA or GTW trains directly. Greyhound had served Royal Oa...

If anybody has good digital photos of the diesel-operated side trip out of Grayling during the 2005 "Grayling Steam Special," we would appreciate them sharing the photos with us. We may use one or more on our flyers or other publicity (photographer credit will be noted). Photos of the side trip head...

Patrick, Thanks for the compliments. Bill had a tough time getting up Sterling hill due to wet leaves on the rail, but he made it with careful application of the throttle and sanders. The engineer on the return leg had another tough go about two miles south of Grayling while lugging the train upgrad...