Michigan Railroads – Jim Pearson Photography

Nickel Plate 765 leads “The Limited” as they arrive at Reading, Michigan

August 30th, 2024, Steam locomotive Nickel Plate 765 leads “The Limited” as they arrive at Reading, Michigan with a late evening passenger train run as part of Indiana Rail Experience’s Rolling Victory Weekend.

According to their website: Rolling Victory was a three-day living history event celebrating American military, railroad, and home front history featuring vintage train rides, World War II reenactors, battles, a big band orchestra, and an immersive and educational experience for all ages in Pleasant Lake, Indiana.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/20, ISO 800.

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 as it sits on the turntable at Owosso, Michigan

An early morning view of Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 as it sits on the turntable at Owosso, Michigan. It was being serviced by crews before it backed up to the ash pit in preparation for another day of pulling the North Pole Express between Owosso and Ashley, Michigan, along the Great Lakes Railroad on December 17th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/10, ISO 680.

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 pulls off the turntable at Owosso, Michigan

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 pulls off the turntable at Owosso, Michigan, as it prepares for a day of pulling the North Pole Express to Ashley, Michigan on December 16th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 22mm, f/4.5, 1/320, ISO 125.

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 heads for Ashley, Michigan

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 makes its way through the Michigan countryside, as they run one of their last North Pole Express passenger trains for the 2024 season between Owosso and to the Village of Ashley, Michigan, for their Ashley Country Christmas, on December 16th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 140.

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 pulls off the turntable at Owosso, Michigan

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 pulls off the turntable at Owosso, Michigan, as it prepares for a day of pulling the North Pole Express to Ashley, Michigan on December 16th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/320, ISO 72.

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 makes its way through the Michigan countryside.

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 makes its way through the Michigan countryside, as they run one of their last North Pole Express passenger train between Owosso and to the Village of Ashley, Michigan, for their Ashley Country Christmas, on December 16th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 160.

Pere Marquette 1225 heads out of Owosso, Michigan as it approaches the Robbins Furniture Company Warehouse

Pere Marquette 1225 heads out of Owosso, Michigan as it approaches the Robbins Furniture Company Warehouse Number 3, with the morning North Pole Express excursion train that runs between Owosso and to the Village of Ashley Country Christmas, on December 16th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 400.

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 passes the Carland Elevator at Carland, Michigan

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 passes the Carland Elevator at Carland, Michigan, as they run one of their last North Pole Express passenger train between Owosso and to the Village of Ashley, Michigan, for their Ashley Country Christmas, on December 16th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 260.

Steam Railroading Institute’s 25-ton switcher “Mighty Mouse” diesel sits on the turntable at Owosso, Michigan

Steam Railroading Institute’s 25-ton switcher “Mighty Mouse” diesel sits on the turntable at Owosso, Michigan, as it waits to begin a day of work at Owosso, Michigan on December 16th, 2023.

According to their website, built in the 1940’s by General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania, this type of locomotive was used in light switching at industrial plants and elevators. The locomotive was last used by an elevator at Shelby, Ohio before being purchased by the Steam Railroading Institute at an auction in 2008. It is the primary switching locomotive in the museum’s yard, and for pulling the 1225 onto the turntable when not under steam. “Mighty Mouse” gets its nickname from a previously added decal on the hood of the locomotive.

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/160, ISO 12,800.

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 pulls off the turntable at Owosso, Michigan

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 pulls off the turntable at Owosso, Michigan, as it prepares for a day of pulling the North Pole Express to Ashley, Michigan on December 16th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/320, ISO 90.

Digital Photo Art – Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 as it sits at Ashley, Michigan

Digital Photo Art – Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 as it sits at Ashley, Michigan while pulling the North Pole Express between Owosso and Ashley, Michigan, along the Great Lakes Railroad.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/4.5, 1/1000, ISO 320.

An early morning view of Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 at Owosso, Michigan

An early morning view of Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 as it sits on the turntable at Owosso, Michigan. It was being serviced by crews before it backed up to the ash pit in preparation for another day of pulling the North Pole Express between Owosso and Ashley, Michigan, along the Great Lakes Railroad on December 17th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/10, ISO 610.

An early morning top-down view of Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225…

An early morning top-down view of Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 as it sits on the turntable at Owosso, Michigan. It was being serviced by crews before it backed up to the ash pit in preparation for another day of pulling the North Pole Express between Owosso and Ashley, Michigan, along the Great Lakes Railroad.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/10, ISO 620.

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 passes the Carland Elevator at Carland, Michigan

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 passes the Carland Elevator at Carland, Michigan, as they run their last North Pole Express passenger train between Owosso and to the Village of Ashley, Michigan, for their Ashley Country Christmas, on December 17th, 2023. This is considered one of the top locations to photograph the train and thanks to Scott Shields, who set up his lights, we were able to capture the scene at night! The only thing missing was the snow! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 36mm, f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 8000.

In this week’s Saturday Infrared Photo – Pere Marquette 1225 heads out of Owosso, Michigan

In this week’s Saturday Infrared Photo – Pere Marquette 1225 heads out of Owosso, Michigan pulling the morning North Pole Express excursion train that runs between Owosso and to the Village of Ashley, MI for their Country Christmas, on December 17th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24 @ 15mm, f/5.6, 1/40, ISO 400.

December 23rd, 2023 – Episode 51 – Saturday Edited Video from Jim Pearson Photography

This week’s video is from my recent weekend trip to chase Steam Railroading Institute’s (SRI) Pere Marquette 1225 between Owosso and Ashley, Michigan as they ran the North Pole Express excursion train which runs to the Village of Ashley for their Country Christmas. Enjoy and please like, share, and subscribe, and thanks for watching!

Pere Marquette 1225 heads out of Owosso, Michigan as it passes the Robbins Furniture Company Warehouse..

Pere Marquette 1225 heads out of Owosso, Michigan as it passes the Robbins Furniture Company Warehouse Number 3, with the morning North Pole Express excursion train that runs between Owosso and to the Village of Ashley Country Christmas, on December 16th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 400.

Pere Marquette 1225 heads out of Owosso, Michigan at dusk

Pere Marquette 1225 heads out of Owosso, Michigan at dusk with the last North Pole Express excursion between Owosso and the Village of Ashley Country Christmas for the year, on December 17th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 4500.

Indiana Northeastern Railroad 3084 works at Reading, Michigan

Indiana Northeastern Railroad 3084, along with another train work on picking up grain at Reading, Michigan on September 23rd, 2022.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Northeastern Railroad (reporting mark IN) is a Class III short line freight railroad operating on nearly 130 miles (210 km) in southern lower Michigan, northeast Indiana, and northwest Ohio.

The Indiana Northeastern Railroad Company began operations in December 1992 and is an independent privately owned company. As of 2017 the railroad hauled more than 7,000 carloads per year. Commodities moved by the railroad include corn, soybeans, wheat, and flour. It also handles plastics, fiberboard, aluminum, copper, coal, perlite, stone, lumber, glass, rendering products, as well as agricultural fertilizers and chemicals.

In the early 1990s the Hillsdale County Railway was heavily in debt. Its trackage was suffering from deferred maintenance and derailments were becoming a common occurrence. Then in 1992, a 50-car eastbound unit train from South Milford hauled by HCRC derailed near Hamilton, Indiana costing the South Milford Grain Company $30,000. The grain elevator company’s owners decided to assume HCRC’s $1 million in debt, and it acquired the railway. The grain company then created the Indiana Northeastern Railroad Company to take over the rail operations of the HCRC and its Pigeon River Railroad on December 22, 1992. It’s now owned by the grain company and farmers in the areas it serves, and major track improvements and upgrades have been done over the years creating a solid and reliable railroad.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 110.

Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive 765, works at Hillsdale, Michigan on the Indiana Northeastern Railroad

The conductor of the American History Train, being led by Nickel Plate Road (NKP) steam locomotive 765, works on turning its train on the Indiana Northeastern Railroad line at Hillsdale, Michigan on September 23rd, 2022.

NKP 765 was pulling the American History Train between Pleasant Lake from Angola, Indiana during the annual American History Days Festival on September 24-25th, 2022. It took guests back to the 1940s for a living history experience. The passengers then got a 45-minute layover at Pleasant Lake where they visited with WWII reenactors, listened to live music and much more.

Nickel Plate Road 765 is a class “S-2” 2-8-4 “Berkshire” type steam locomotive built for the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, commonly referred to as the “Nickel Plate Road”.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW Sigma 150-600 @220mm, f/5, 1/1600, ISO 250

Indiana Northeastern Railroad 2185 leads the American History Train as it heads south at Montgomery, Michigan

Indiana Northeastern Railroad 2185 leads the American History Train as it heads south at Montgomery, Michigan on September 23rd, 2022. The Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive 765 is on the end of the train around the curve and pulled the train northbound between Angola and Palmer Lake, Indiana, during the annual American History Days activities on September 24-25th of 2022

The train took guests back to the 1940s for a living history experience at Pleasant Lake from Angola. The passengers then got a 45-minute layover at Pleasant Lake where they visited with WWII reenactors, listened to live music and much more.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Northeastern Railroad (reporting mark IN) is a Class III short line freight railroad operating on nearly 130 miles (210 km) in southern lower Michigan, northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio.

The Indiana Northeastern Railroad Company began operations in December 1992 and is an independent privately owned company. As of 2017 the railroad hauled more than 7,000 carloads per year. Commodities moved by the railroad include corn, soybeans, wheat, and flour. It also handles plastics, fiberboard, aluminum, copper, coal, perlite, stone, lumber, glass, rendering products, as well as agricultural fertilizers and chemicals.

In the early 1990s the Hillsdale County Railway was heavily in debt. Its trackage was suffering from deferred maintenance and derailments were becoming a common occurrence. Then in 1992, a 50-car eastbound unit train from South Milford hauled by HCRC derailed near Hamilton, Indiana costing the South Milford Grain Company $30,000. The grain elevator company’s owners decided to assume HCRC’s $1 million in debt, and it acquired the railway. The grain company then created the Indiana Northeastern Railroad Company to take over the rail operations of the HCRC and its Pigeon River Railroad on December 22, 1992. It’s now owned by the grain company and farmers in the areas it serves, and major track improvements and upgrades have been done over the years creating a solid and reliable railroad.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 120.