This is the last loco used on the Keweenaw Central in the summer of '71. Clint Jones is in the door of this 1929 400 HP Pullman "Doodlebug" mail/baggage locomotive which replaced the 1907 ALCO 2-8-0 No. 29. Throughout '72 the KCRY was forced to abandon and move it's equipment out of Calumet due to the planned abandonment of the Copper Range connection to the south.

For more railroad memories see CopperRange.org

The reincarnation of the old Keweenaw Central was quite the show while it lasted. I spent the better part of my 10 day vacation in '68 hanging around the old Copper Range yard in Calumet watching and riding 29. The mornings were especially good since the ritual of "waking up" a steam locomotive was something that was very rare. I capped that season off with a cab ride. One season they had a "hoot" whistle on 29. We were on top of the Cliff at Cliff mine and could hear them blowing for the crossings in Calumet!
Clint Jones and 29, along with seeing the big hoist at Ahmeek 3&4 run sealed my life long interest in things powered by steam.

I can remember as a kid on a family vacation, back in the late 60's, having a train ride aboard a real steam engine that left from the Calumet station. It was a real treat. And I still remember it today.

Took a ride on the Marquette and Huron Mountain Railroad from Presque Isle in Marquette a few years back. Was a nice couple hours toward Big Bay I think. I love the old steam operated machinery. Also remember the C&H steam engines on the trestle to the Ahmeek Stamp Mill in Tamarack. Used to follow the tracks onto the trestle and up to the mill 'til someone would say "Hey, you kids ain't supposed to be up here!"
Was a good place to shoot our Roman Candles from on da Fortchuly. :o)

Here's a picture of Keweenaw Central's ex-Copper Range #29 leaving the yard at Calumet.

My great-uncle, Otto Lund, used to be the engineer for Soo Line; he drove the "Milwaukee Road" train from Champion to Calumet each day. He'd turn the train around, nap for the day, and return to Champion later in the day. My brothers and cousins and I would meet the train in the morning and ride "around the y" with him as he turned it around, ready for the return trip. It was exciting riding in that huge machine!

This brings back old, wonderful, memories. Back in the mid-fortys my Mother,sister, and my-self rode this train from South Milwaukee, Wis. to visit my Grandfather, George Kump, who lived on the corner of Ninth & Cone in Calumet. The house is no longer there. My Sister & me would walk to the store across from the Depot called "Brocko's", ( not sure of the spelling) buy some candy, then walk to the Depot and watch the train arrive. We would then ask if we could ride with them to turn the train around. How thrilled we were when they said we could. My Grand father worked in the Red Jacket Mine untill he retired. He passed away in Dec. of "51". I also remember a wonderful family that lived across the street by the name of "German". So many beautiful memories. Enough for now, but I will write more. Thank you for this site.

When visiting my grandparents as a youngster, in the 50's, we always knew when it was 6 P.M. The train would be pulling into the Calumet Depot (or maybe departing, I forget which) and always blew the whistle.