I want to start this post today, saying that these photos were taken on private property, which Danielle Adams obtained permission from the owners to go on to photograph the abandoned passenger cars that sit there, still on a section of the tracks.

The cars were part of the Marquette and Huron Mountain Railroad, formed in 1962 as a steam-powered tourist train. It operated on the former Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad, "Big Bay Branch" line from Presque Isle Depot in Marquette to Big Bay Depot in Big Bay, with a round trip ride taking from 3 to 4 hours. The tourist railroad operation was not what the owners expected it to be and in the 1970's they abandoned the railroad. If only these cars could talk, I bet they'd tell some interesting stories.

Quite the find, something that I hadn't known existed before. I do remember as a kid, riding a similar type train here in the Copper Country. My Dad took us on the Passenger train that ran from Calumet to Lake Linden in the late 60's or early 70's. I don't recall the name of it, but I do remember the excitement of boarding and riding the train like that.

I love old trains. Quite the find, Danielle! It
was fun when we went to Duluth to ride the train
there up the coast a bit. I remember when the
trains used to board in Houghton down by the lake.
That was soooo many years ago. Great memories.
Thanks for sharing, Danielle!

Mary, was it the Keweenaw Central Railroad?

The Keweenaw Central ran from Calumet to Lake Linden.

Great discovery Danielle and thanks so much for sharing it. Those are really neat pictures. The first picture made me think of the song by the late Prince. Purple Train, Purple Train.

History in the woods.

We really need one of those "SHARE" Buttons on
here...."Click...facebook post"....

Oh the memories these old cars must have of days
of glory of the passenger trains! I have many
memories of riding passenger trains!

Interesting pix! I wonder, was the train moved to that location, or is that where it made it's final stop?

Interesting photos, seems like such a waste just sitting there.

"Casey Jones you'd better watch your speed"

" A peanut sittin on a railroad track
His heart was all a flutter
Along come a choo choo on the track
Toot! Toot! Peanut butter!"

Grateful Dead-

Duane, the first thing I thought of was the old
children's book series of The Boxcar Children.
Loved that series. I even read it as an adult when
I bought the books for my kids.

I remember, as a kid in the 60's, my folks taking
me on that train in Calumet. As I recall, it was
boarded down in behind Harter's party store and it
was a blast to go on! I'm sure that's the one
that people mentioned running to Lake Linden, yes?

Deb: The Boxcar Children was not a part of my childhood. I wish it had been. I googled it and there are over a hundred titles in the series now. My earliest recollections of reading was Little Men by Louisa May Alcott. I was a voracious reader BC (before computers). Sad to say that trait has gone through shrinking pains.

I remember as a youngster riding this train with
my family. I believe the train ran into the 80,s
with my trip in 1982 (just turned 16 and just
received my license). I have pics at my parents
house of me riding the locomotive on the front
with the conductor. Yes I was a big train fan and
my parents told the crew about me....the reason I
got the engine ride :). It was a nice trip and was
sad to hear it closed down. Now I ride trains
everyday as I work for Amtrak.

I received an email from Mike Ekdahl with a link to a neat page about the Keweenaw Central Railroad, which IS the railroad I mentioned that I couldn't remember the name of, not the one pictured here today, though.

Mary,
This was the tourist train that went from Calumet to Lake Linden. The conductor in the lower picture was my brother, John Ekdahl. See the link below.

Mike Ekdahl (formerly from Laurium, MI)
Keweenaw Central Railroad

Here's a direct link to the photo Mike is talking about that is of his brother, John Ekdahl:
Conductor John Ekdahl

And make sure you check out this link about the Keweenaw Central Railroad:
Copper Country Explorer

Thanks for the links, Mike!

I remember when two passenger trains came to and left from Calumet daily. The Milwaukee Road and the Duluth South Shore and Atlantic R.R.
There was a tourist train, a steam engine, that operated in the early 1970s for a year or two. My wife and I rode it for one trip and it crossed over an old wooden trestle. I believe it traversed on C & H tracks before they were removed.
The color of the abandoned passenger cars in the photos look like the maroon color of the DSS&ARR cars which were all sold after that railroad folded in 1961.
I just finished reading the history of the DSS&ARR 2 days ago. Thanks for the very timely photos.

When I was a freshman at NMU we took a tour on that train from the old Depot at the upper harbor out to behind Harlow Lake. There was a restaurant in the depot that served a nice hot bowl of soup.