The Marquette and Huron Mountain Railroad

from: https://www.nytimes.com/1964/08/09/archives/michigan-rail-club-gets-up-steam.html

August 9, 1964
The New York Times Archives

MARQUETTB, Mich.—The newest old steam railroad to be licensed by the Interstate Commerce Commission Has just begun operation here as a combination tourist attraction and railroaders’ club. It is the Marquette & Huron Mountain Railroad, which now runs three regularly scheduled round trips a day along the southern shores of Lake Superior.

The run begins at the Presque Isle station at the old ore docks in Marquette, on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The station was built in 1886 and has been preserved, as nearly as possible, in Us original condition. The 26‐mile route then cuts through unspoiled wilderness lands to the Big Bay station on Lake Independence.

The trains travel at about 25 miles an hour, making the trip in an hour and 10 minutes. This includes a stop at Harlow Lake, just eight miles out of Marquette.

The M. & H. M. was organized last year under the leadership of ?? line’s president, John Zerbel. The new company purchased all the rolling stock and the scenic Big Bay spur of the old Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad. This line had hauled logs, pulpwood, lumber and ore from 1896 until 1957, when it abandoned its operations.

The Big Bay spur itself was originally constructed by 1908. It was rebuilt in 1928, and last August it was reconditioned throughout. Several trestles were rebuilt and large sections of new track were laid.

When Mr. Zerbel organized the new company last year, he persuaded the Lake Superior & Ishpeming’s former president, J. H. Kline, to become senior vice president of the M. & H. M. Also, several of the other key executives of the old line came out of retirement for the new operation.

Since its organization, the new company has scouted throughout the country for old steamers and antique woodframe coaches. It now has 11 steam locomotives dating from 1906 to 1916. The coaches are turn‐of‐the‐century, gas‐lit cars with red velour upholstery and windows crowned with stained glass.

The route of the M. & H. M. runs through rocky mountains, fragrant forests and swamps. It passes abandoned cabins, goes through ghost towns reminiscent of Michigan’s tumultuous logging and mining past, and crosses numerous trout streams and a lengthy causeway over man‐made Lake Independence.

This is Hemingway country —where the Nick of his early stories spent his vacations and did his fishing on some of his trips “up in Michigan.” It also was the setting for John Voelker’s best‐selling novel, “Anatomy of a Murder,” and the movie version of that book.

Probably the most remarkable aspect of the M. & H. M. is its Thunder Bay Railroaders Club. Although the new company was able to obtain funds from the Federal Government for a big share of its financing, more money was needed.

The company enlisted the support of many prominent Marquette businessmen. However, the most unusual fund‐raising scheme was the club itself, and it endeared the road to railroad buffa throughout the country.

The club offered 500 charter memberships at $200 apiece and $80 annual dues. Charter members are entitled to 10 free rides on the line each year. But, more important for railroad enthusiasts, club members can work on the carrier while it is operating and receive pay up to $50 of their annual dues.

Members receive all data and manuals necessary for training in steam railroading, and are supervised by experienced rail roadmen. They also get an opiportuntty to be certified for all phases of railroading, from track and right‐of‐way maintenance to switching, tending, firing and actually running the trains. The company will buy back charter memberships from any persona who decide to leave the club.

The railroad is really a subsidiary of a larger company, Thunder Bay Recreation, Inc., which Is now developing recreational facilities at the three stations of the railroad and along its right of way. At present, tourists are offered supervised nature hikes, mountain climbing, rock‐hunting and camera trips, sawmill and pulpwoodmlU tours, horseback riding, Jeep trips, swimming, fishing, picnicking and boating.

The M. & H. M. operates seven days a week as follows:

Marquette to Big Bay and Return

Marquette to Harlow Lake and Return

Good highways lead into the area from all directions. Marquette is 290 miles from Milwaukee, 385 miles from Chicago and 375 miles from Minneapolis.

The Marquette and Huron Mountain Railroad

The Marquette & Huron Mountain Railroad was a heritage railway line that ran along the ex-Big Bay Branch of the Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad between Marquette and Big Bay, MI, starting operations in 1962, once freight hauls along the branch ceased. (Right of way)

 

Marquette & Huron Mountain Steam Engine no. 23 in 1964. FRRandP Photo Collection (unknown photographer)

 

The right of way began as the Marquette & Southeastern Railroad, which was merged into the Munising Marquette and Southeastern Railway in 1911 via a consolidation with the Munising Railway. In 1923, a much larger operation, the Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad took over operations.

The route mainly handled lumber during its life before the heritage line took over, and as supply dwindled during the 1940’s-50’s, so did revenue. By 1962, the line was slated for abandonment before the M&HM Railroad was formed to operate the line as a heritage railway.

 

Another shot of M&HM 23, from 1973, looking a little worse for wear. FRRandP Photo Collection (unknown photographer)

 

Upon the death of the main benefactor of the railroad, however, the line ceased operations in 1984, abandoning the right of way. About one mile of the former route survives today near Presque Isle.

Thanks as always for reading!