In a post WWII bid to increase passenger train patronage to northern Michigan resort areas, the NYC (New York Central) started a new weekend only train in June 1947. Named the Michigan Timberliner, it operated only during the summmer and carried coaches plus a lunch counter car. The train departed Detooit at 5:15 p.m. on Friday, stopped at a number of towns including Grayling and arrived at Mackinaw City at 11:30 p.m. On Sunday, the train departed Mackinaw City at 2:55 p.m. and arrived in Detroit at 11:00 p.m.
By 1953, the name had been shortened to the Timberliner and the lunch counter car had been replaced by a tavern lounge car. The schedule and onboard amenities were particularily attractive to those with vacation cottages allowing weekend visits for the businessmen, while the rest of the family enjoyed an extended stay.
However, with the loss of passenger traffic to taxpayer financed highways, the Timberliner lost it's tavern lounge car by the late 1950's. The overall running time was also lengthened by about 45 minutes. In 1960, NYC made a final attempt to regain patronage on this train and restored the lunch counter car. This lasted for a couple of years, but the Timverliner went back to coach only for the 1962 season. On September 3, 1962, the Timberliner made its last run ever, a Labor Day return to Detroit.
Passenger trains in this neck of the woods are and have been nonexistant since. The Bluewater Chapter (Michigan) of the Natrional Railway Historical Society worked with the current railroad company and brought the first passenger train to arrive in Grayling since 1962, up last year. It starts in Standish, about 80 miles south and makes a 2 1/2 hour trip north. The passengers disembark to enjoy Graylings Harvest festival and the train then loads up passengers for a short ride north and back (about 20 miles round trip), then loads the Standish passengers for a return trip home. Does this on both Saturday and Sunday. I jumped aboard this year for old times sake. When I was a little girl I remember watching the Timberliner go by near my grandmothers cottage a couple of miles from where I am now. Due to decling revenues, the tracks from Gaylord north to Mackinaw City have been torn up and it's now a state owned Rails to Trails, bike/hike/snowmobile trail.
And now the TIMBERLINER:
All of the cars on this train are retired from service and formerly were owned by Southwest Railroad and CNR/VIA in Canada. Bluewater owns 6 and the rest are privately owned.The conductor collecting the tickets.
I shot this picture when we stopped at a siding to reverse the engines
The origianl Grayling Train depoot, built in 1882. Is now a Michigan Historical site and home to the county historical society. It was originally much larger but about 60 feet of the north end was demolished.
And a scene from the tractor parade. The first two tractors in line had haywagons attached and anybody who wanted to ride in the parade could go along. I hopped aboard and enjoyed about a half hour ride down the mainstreet and through the town and back. The tractors/haywagons will act as shuttles to take people from the train and anybody else to the various events going on in town (craft show, model traln show etc.).
These are the things you do when camping season is over.
