Welcome to the website for ‘Rails Around Michigan’, the new all-color book on Michigan railroading. On this site you can download the free 13-page PDF prevew, check out the Youtube video containing 30 of the book’s 260 all-color photos, plus see some of the great shots from the “cutting room floor” in the Parting Shots series. Updates will be provided on book signings, reviews, etc. You can also check out the page for my previous work, ‘Wabash In Color, Vol.2′, released by Morning Sun in 2007, plus the latest Michigan railfan news. Enjoy!
Cover photo by Robert Karczweski
Tags: book, Leelanau Scenic Railroad, michigan, photo preview
I will be speaking @ the Ann Arbor RR Technical & Historical Association’s 2010 meeting in Durand on September 11. To mark that occasion, here’s pretty much the only AA shot I have remaining in the “left behind” folder. DT&I GP38 #203 leads an Ann Arbor freight through Alma in July of 1971. The AA was leasing GP38s from AA-parent DT&I at this time.
Photo by Dennis Schmidt
Tags: AARRH&TA, Alma, ann arbor, book, DT&I, michigan, photo preview
Next in the Left Behind series is this shot by Neil Plagens of the Boyne Valley Railroad @ Boyne City, 7-27-79. The operation folded later that year.
Tags: book, michigan, photo preview
“Out of the blue, without warning, my bro sent ‘Rails Around Michigan’, for my birthday.
Even tho there many MI or MI RR specific books out there, this is the only one that blew my socks off!
Why? It is from my serious fanning era, 1968 to 1991, and I’ve been to 90% of the locations.
I do not know how long it took, but it was worth every minute.
There are many of us with 1000’s of pix that would be willing to donate to a ‘Son of Rails Around Michigan”.
If any of you fans are ‘are the fence’ about buying it. Buy it!!!
Thanks Mr Kelly for a fantastic photo/history rail book.” Fred Buike, Utica, MI
“this book is put together like a railfanning trip across the state, capturing images and eras that we may have experienced ourselves, or wish we had. While the content speaks volumes for itself, it is put into a context that made me feel I was in the middle of a railfan adventure across Michigan, wondering where the next stop would be. In my most humble opinion, this is an excellent book!” – Mick Enright
“Received my signed copy today (5-6-10), I thumbed through it at the office and I must say, this is a great book!” – Jim Lowman, San Bernardino, CA
“as the younger generation would say . . . you done good!” – Bill Clynes, Saginaw, MI
“ I received my copy yesterday and have really enjoyed looking it over. If I can be of any assistance to you in future endeavors, don’t hesitate let me know.” – Charlie Whipp, Lapeer, MI
“Fans with Michigan roots or interest will want this book.” — J. David Ingles, Waukesha, WI
LS&I purchased these 2 Alco RSD15s second-hand from the Santa Fe in 1975. Here are May 2nd, they are working the dock @ Presque Isle, still in Santa Fe paint. This is an alternate view to the one on pages 118-119, where they are seen on the dock itself. They can be seen in new LS&I paint on page 119. Photo above and on pages 118-119 by Barry Carlson.
Tags: Alco, book, LS&I, Marquette, michigan, photo preview, Presque Isle, Santa Fe
This week’s parting shot is of KBEC Alco #6 (ex-Ann Arbor) rolling south @ Dutton on 11-17-79. The Kent, Barry & Eaton Connecting Railway operated an ex-NYC branch from Grand Rapids to Vermontville, a line that once ran all the way to Jackson. The KBEC was the first all-minority managed railroad in the US. The operation lasted until June 1983. Photo by JP Baukus.
Tags: book, michigan, Michigan Central, photo preview
Squeezed out of “Rails” at the last minute was this shot of PC GP35# 2345 with GP38 #7979 and an unidentified geep leading a westbound freight out of Jackson. The units now belong to Conrail on this Tax Day, April 15, 1977. Photo by Dennis Schmidt.
Tags: book, Jackson, michigan, Penn Central, photo preview
More from the cutting room floor: Here’s the alternate view of the spread on pages 36-37, of GT train 159, the Maple Leaf, stopped @ the Lansing depot on 4-20-69. Photo by Barry Carlson.
Tags: book, Grand Trunk, Lansing, michigan, photo preview
The Steam Railroading Institute (Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation) has announced a pair of steam excurions for October.
Nickel Plate Road 765 will be powering the Steam Railroading Institute’s fall excursion to Cadillac, Michigan on October 16th. Thw train will depart from Alma, Michigan at 9 a.m., with a planned arrival into Cadillac at 12:30 p.m. Following a 2 ½ hour visit of downtown Cadillac, the passengers will board at 3 p.m. for a scheduled 7:00 p.m. return to Alma. Coach tickets start at $125 each.
On October 23rd, NKP 765 will be hauling the “Autumn in Alma” special from the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso to Alma and return. Board at 9 AM at the Steam Railroading Institute, where it will travel to Alma, Michigan, home of Alma College. Explore and stroll through Alma’s quaint downtown, and then board for any early afternoon return to SRI, where you will be able to explore the Steam Railroading Institute’s Owosso Site and PM #1225, currently undergoing repair and restoration for its mandatory FRA inspection, or stroll through downtown Owosso. Coach seats are $99 for this event.
For more info, visit http://www.mstrp.com/
The Michigan Railroad Club published its review of “Rails Around Michigan” in the July-August issue of their “Michigan Railfan” newsletter. It’s summed up with: “This book is a fun look back at the Michigan railroad scene that many of us grew up with and is one well worth checking out.”
Click here to download the entire review.
Tags: book, book review, michigan, Michigan Railroad Club
From the cutting room floor is this shot of Soo Line Geep # 557@ Gladstone on 9-8-79. This is an alternate view to the one found on page 115 of the book. Both photos are by Dave Mrozek. The roundhouse was built in the late 1880s and still stands today.
Tags: book, michigan, photo preview, Soo Line, Upper Peninsula
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