Michigan’s Huckleberry Railroad

Engine 464 crosses a trestle on the Huckleberry Railroad

Photos courtesy Village Crossroads and Huckleberry Railroad

Engine 152 is carrying the load in 2022.

Crossroads Village & the Huckleberry Railroad is an authentic Great Lakes town from the turn of the last century, with over 34 historic structures and a thriving community to welcome you. Ride the Huckleberry Railroad, catch a show at the Colwell Opera House or learn a trade from one of the craftspeople. It’s a place out of history where you can make a little history of your own. Step back into a time when life moved at a much slower pace. Stroll into town where more than 30 historic buildings and numerous costumed interpreters await your arrival at this re-created 1800s Michigan village. Visit the barber or see the latest show in the Opera House. Stop in to see the blacksmith or the printer hard at work. Discover some of Flint’s early auto history at the Wisner barn or at the Durant Toy Shop. Join other passengers aboard the magnificent Huckleberry Railroad for a 40-minute train ride around the village. Take a whirl on the 1910 Ferris wheel or 1912 Carousel. Enjoy a Sunday evening or special lunch cruise around Mott Lake aboard a paddlewheel riverboat known as the Genesee Belle. Come and savor life for a day!

Narrow Gauge Railroad

The Huckleberry Railroad is a 3 foot narrow gauge heritage railroad located in Genesee Township, Michigan, near Flint. The railroad operates alongside Crossroads Village, both of which are owned and maintained by the Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission. The railroad received its name due to the story that a person could jump off the train, pick wild huckleberries, and re-board the train without difficulty, as it traveled so slowly. The railroad is a 4-mile portion of the former Pere Marquette branch from McGrew, north of Flint, to Fostoria. After the 1975 abandonment the county took over the portion of the line within its parkland along the Mott Lake reservoir. The railroad and Crossroads Village started operations in 1976. Turn loops were added to both ends of the line.

Crossroads Village

Vintage cars on display in Crossroads Village

A shop building and adjacent storage building were constructed. The Grand Trunk Western Depot from Davison, Michigan became the entrance to the village. The Huckleberry Railroad’s typical operating schedule runs between late May and early September each year. There’s nothing like a train to carry you back to a simpler time. Imagine what a ride on the Huckleberry Railroad can do. Each 40-minute journey behind the authentic Baldwin steam locomotive takes you along the shores of Mott Lake, down a stretch of the historic Pere Marquette roadbed and back into the heart of Crossroads Village. They also host special runs during the holidays as well as playing host to the very popular “Day Out With Thomas” the tank engine during the summer months. The Huckleberry Railroad currently operates a short

Loading the holiday train at Christmas

section of the former Pere Marquette Railway (which became part of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway system in the 1940s) and departs from Flint, Michigan. While the railroad’s star attractions are two steam locomotives, the Huckleberry actually owns seven locomotives in total. The railroad owns a small yard and shop facility and is able to keep maintenance and restoration projects mostly in-house instead of having to contract out such work. This year the railroad added Engine #12, a 1957 GE 50-ton diesel electric locomotive, replacing Engine #7 which has served the railroad for 31 years. Engine #12 is a 3-foot Narrow Gauge and boasts two Detroit Diesel 671 engines. Currently, the Huckleberry Railroad operates three locomotives. #152 and #464 are the primary locomotives that serve the Huckleberry Railroad. At this time, the #464 locomotive is out of service as it is undergoing renovations. The Huckleberry Railroad #152, formerly known as #2 locomotive, is a 4-6-0 built in 1920 by Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, for the Alaska Engineering Commission. After restoration was completed on #152 locomotive in 1976, it was put into service at the Huckleberry

Crossroads Village

Railroad. Of the locomotives operating since the beginning of the Huckleberry Railroad, #152 is the only locomotive still in active service. Locomotive service #464 was built in 1903 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. The #464 spent most of its life under the ownership of the Rio Grande. In 2009, Crossroads Village was the set for the feature film Alleged, which is based on the 1925 Scopes Trial. The Huckleberry Railroad is shown in the film. It starred Brian Dennehy as Clarence Darrow and Fred Thompson as William Jennings Bryan. Each year Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad is open for the summer season from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Labor Day is the last open day of the summer season. After Labor Day Crossroads Village closes to prepare for the Halloween Ghosts & Goodies program. Groups of 20 or more can receive a discounted rate with an advance reservation made through the reservations office. Call 810.736.7100 ext. 6 for more information. For additional information on visiting Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad, go to:

https://geneseecountyparks.org/crossroads-village

Huckleberry Railroad Caboose

Thomas arrives at Huckleberry Railroad