12-31-2008, 03:34 PM
RailCop Wrote:Several years ago my wife and I visited Frankenmuth, MI, and camped at the Frankenmuth Campgrounds (imagine that!). Anyway, a short distance away, in Bridgeport, MI, I found the Junction Vally Railroad. This was the darndest thing...a 1/4 size railroad completely homemade from scratch. The guy built several engines, all powered by 4 or 6 cylinder car engines.
Here's a link to the site: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.jvrailroad.com/">http://www.jvrailroad.com/</a><!-- m -->
You have just got to see this thing. They have a dispatcher working to direct train movement. All engines and cabooses communicate via radio. There are bridges, tunnels, a yard, passenger station, freight and passengers cars, even a turntable and enginehouse! And there's a snack bar too. Check it out.
Railcop,
If you ever go back, you're only about 45 minutes from Durand Union Station. You can watch the operations (not what they used to be) of CN (ex-GTW) and Huron and Eastern (ex-Central Michigan). The Michigan Railroad Museum is also housed in the station. If you go in May, you just might catch a group of us out there from Railroadfan.com
Mike