Found on another forum: The Pere Marquette 1225 Berkshire Steam locomotive will be polishing rails between Owosso, MI and Mt. Pleasant, MI on Sept. 29th. Take a look at this site:Lake Central Rail Tours Hey, guys, two years ago yours truly RAN this engine.
The 1225 did indeed get out and run last weekend. Chris Jacks got some good photos, check it out atChris Jacks 1225 shots
That is a good looking locomotive! Forgive my ignorance, but where was the Pere Marquette Railroad? I think I have seen pics of their diesels in Michigan, or somewhere close by?
Alan you are correct. The PM was a definite Michigan RR, spilling over a little into Indiana and all the way across southern Ontario to Buffalo/Niagara Falls. Actually I had to go find an old route map, but it is good for the brain to function once in a while. There is a good historical site at <http://www.pmhistsoc.org/> I'll make that clickableweb page
Thanks Fitz! WOW! That was quite a system - they covered most of Michigan Sad to view the map up to 1947, then the map of lines still in use Had not realised there used to be a line from Port Huron to Saginaw. We had to go From Port Huron to Flint, then get a Greyhound to bay City. Very interesting website, as Michigan is one of the only two states I have visited
They did cover about half of Michigan pretty well. With no bridge, they couldn't have a direct connection to the Uppper Peninsula. That is part of the reason for the ferry routes across Lake Michigan. The PMHS site is well done. Worth the visit.
The PM 1225 is virtually identical to the NKP Berks (and correct me if I'm wrong but I think the PM was a NKP subsidiary or acquisition in any event); beautiful locomotives. Ben
Ben, I think (but am not sure) that the PM was not a sub of NKP; however, it is most certain that it was one of the roads controlled by the Van Swearingen brothers. They had a great influence on the design of those Berkshires, and all of their RR's had similar ones. You are right, the PM's are almost identical to NKP's.
I forgot to add, if you can find any old magazines or videos that covered the NRHS convention in Huntington, WVa in 1991, there are fantastic coverages of the NKP 765 and the PM 1225 running side-by-side and double-heading. Absolutely GREAT stuff for Berk fans. A pair of real handsome locomotives.
While tripping , I stumbled across your replys. Perhaps you will find this infor useful. MR Oct 97 The first of the PM Berks ,class Ns, a group of 15 were built by Lima in 1934. In November 1941, came 12, N-1s. Restoring the 1225 was originally a project undertaken by students at Michigan State University. In 1997 the 1225 was operated by the Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation. In 1952 the PM was dieselized, but by then nearly all the Berks had gone to the Chesapeake & Ohio, with which the PM had merged in 1947. From another source, the PM patrons, the Agricultural & Industrial workers in the Territory with its 350 Odd Stations it served in Michigan, Indiana,Wisconsin,Illinois,Ontario and the Niagara Frontier. Also connected with car ferries between Ludington Michigan and Kewaunee Wisconsin. Ran passenger service between Grand Rapids Mi and Chicagp's Grand Central Station, 177.5 miles I just happen to have these bits and pieces. Chuck Walsh-Grand Rapids Mi
With apologies for resurrecting a long-dead post... ...gosh, I wish I'd read this way back when. This was my first month of undergraduate school, what a thrill it would have been to watch that old Berkshire steam into town. One weekend here I'm going to have to make the trip down to Grand Haven and pay my respects to 1223. Someday I'd love to go to Owosso and see 1225 under steam. -Dave
Dave, mark your calendar for next July, when Owosso will be hosting a steam fest, and so far at least the NKP 765 will join the 1225 there. Who knows, there may be more as the date draws closer. :tb-biggrin:
