RAILROAD SIGNALS of the U.S.

TRAVERSE CITY MI
RAILFAN GUIDE
Including Suttons Bay and Kalkaska

I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say that most railfans won't come to Traverse City for the rail activity.  Just a guess.  While Traverse City has a lot to offer in both the summer and winter seasons, trains just isn't a big clincher here. 

However, there are four depots in the area worth checking out (five if you count the one in Cadillac, which is closer to TC than Grayling):
     Traverse City
     Suttons Bay
     Kalkaska
     Grayling

The Traverse Steam train no longer has a zoo to run around, as PETA had a hand in shutting the zoo down about 3 years ago (~2007).  The train still runs however, between Memorial and Labor days.

The area is also the largest producer of cherries, altho the grape industry for making wines is catching up and may surpass the cherry business.  The town's Cherry Festival is the first weekend in July.

The only reason I came about visiting Traverse City is because my Aunt and Uncle have a summer home here.

Getting Here

On the eastern side of the state, such as Detroit or Ann Arbor, you can come up I75, and jump off at Grayling, heading west on 72 into TC via Kalkaska.  Grayling is roughly 50 miles from TC.  Out of Ann Arbor, you would head north US23 till it joins up with I75 in Flint.

On the western side of the state, from Grand Rapids for instance, head north on US131 till you're just south of Cadillac, then head north (NW) on 115 (but make sure you stop in Cadillac for the depot).  Hop on 37 north at Mesmick, and your only 25 miles from TC.

From the center of the state, as in Lansing, head north on US127.  When you hit Clare / Grant Township, you have a decision to make, for you can stay on 127 till it joins up with I75, and then do the Grayling and route 72 thing.  Or, you can US10 west a shorts ways till you cross 115, and take that up to TC via Cadillac.

Obviously, coming from the U.P, there is really only one choice of coming down I75 and again, getting off at Grayling for route 72.

Clcik here for the above map in a PDF

    1       The Traverse City Depot

Bridge

One of the few remaining railroad items around, outside of the two depots in Traverse City and Suttons Bay, is this girder bridge between the two cities.  It goes over Co Rd 633, just south of East Bingham Rd.

    2       The Traverse "Zoo" Train

    3       The Sutton's Bay Depot

The depot was built by the Leelanau Transit Company in 1920.  Tracks going north were removed in the 1960's.  Over the years, the railroad was operated by the Leelanau Transit Co, then later leased to the Manistee and Northeastern, the Pere Marquette, and finally the C&O.  The last operator was the Leelanau Scenic RR between 1989 and 1995, when an accident caused a lot of local opposition and subsequent closing of the operations.  An architect currently uses the building.

  Main street in Suttons Bay with an approaching storm at sunset.

  One of the more interesting places to shop in Suttons Bay.

    4       The Kalkaska Depot

  Grade crossing on the south side of town at the 72/131 junction.

    5       Village Press

Village Press is one of the few remaining publishers of railroad friendly publications, including Live Steam and Outdoor Railroading, the Home Shop Machinist and Machinist's Workshop magazines.  Village Press got it's start in 1967 printing food service material, and then got into printing the "Live Steam" magazine in the early 70's.  Today they print over 30 publications catering to specific markets including aviation, live steam railroading, and machining.  They do all of the writing, editing, printing, and mailing of the periodicals on site.  I'd like to thank Clover McKinley, former editor of the Live Steam magazine for a great tour of the facility back in 2009!

Floobydust

  High tension pole made to look like a light house... pretty cool.

    A couple of sunsets over Lake Leelanau from my Aunt's house.

  On the way to Leelanau is this metal house, you either love it or hate it!

  Your wife or girlfriend would probably love shopping in the downtown area with all of it's antique stores and speciality shops.

   
Moomer's is one of the local favorites for getting an ice cream, be prepared to wait for some of the best stuff around.

  You cross the 45th parallel on the way to Suttons Bay from Traverse City....

    Located at the junction of E Traverse Hwy (72) and Co Rd 616, is this windmill, the only one around.

  I travelled 700 miles to see something from my own backyard!  At Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, was this Hunt Valley Motor Coach bus on a week long tour of Michigan.

    I'm always amazed with the size of the trucks Michigan allows on it's highways.

2009-0723, 2009-0724, 2010-0906, 2010-0909, 2007-0919

NEW 9-30-2010
Last Modified 03-Nov-2010