This tourist-only railroad is operated by the Southern Michigan Railroad Society. A former working railway, it was originally constructed in 1836 and decommissioned in 1985. The society operates tours on Saturdays between the towns of Clinton and Tecumseh, Michigan. Fall colors tours are available most weekends in Octobers, and trips are occasionally run on holidays such as Mother's and Father's days, Veterans Day and a decorated holiday train trip in December.
Southern Michigan Railroad
320 South Division St.
Clinton, MI 49236
517-456-7677
southernmichiganrailroad.org
These tours travel past the Soo Locks, near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, which are the largest ship locks in the United States. The Soo Locks can lift oceangoing ships more than 20 feet between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes and, according to the visitors' center website, they are the busiest locks in the world. The train tour passes over the International Bridge giving tourists an elevated view of the locks in action. The tour continues into Canada where visitors can see a large steel mill and numerous paper mills.
Soo Locks Train Tours
317 West Portage Ave.
P.O. Box 1285
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
866-766-5625
soolockstraintours.com
The Coopersville & Marne Railway Co. runs tours on antique railway cars on a railroad that was originally built in 1848. The tour runs between two towns and includes local sightseeing. An unusual feature of this tour is the decoupling of the engine from the train to turn it around. Many passengers disembark to watch this process. Theme train tours run during major holidays and in the fall season, foliage-viewing tours are available. Rides are also available in the cab of the engine; however, only two spots per tour are available, so reserve your space ahead of time.
Coopersville & Marne Railway Co.
P.O. Box 55
Coopersville, MI 49404
616-997-7000
coopersvilleandmarne.org
