August 24th, 2008
North Pole Express sets new record for earliest sell out for a single trip
On August 22nd, the Steam Railroading Institute's set a new record for its earliest sell out of a North Pole Express trip when a family from Croswell, Michigan, purchased the last four tickets for our 10AM trip on December 6th. In addition, we are VERY close to selling out a second trip on December 13th at 4PM (call for details). While the North Pole Express trips have sold out every year, we at the Steam Railroading Institute feel highly blessed, given the current economy, that our patrons continue to set new records for our earliest sell out.
Now
in our fifth season, our NPE trips are run behind the Pere Marquette
#1225, and run from the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso to the
"North Pole", better known as the Saginaw County Fairgrounds in
Chesaning, Michigan. As noted, tickets for certain dates tend to sell out early,
so if you wish to book specific dates, book as early as possible.
Don't delay, order today!
2008 NPE DATES & TIMES
Ticket Availability *UPDATED* as of August 24th
Based upon 300 seats (four coaches, two cabooses) per train
Two cabooses per train are available at $1000 each, and seat up to 12 people
(Call for cabooses)
Whole
Coaches also available at $4000 each (75 seats each; whole coach option
available only while remaining seats on a given train are above 80)
November 28th - (4 PM Only: 215 Seats Remaining)
November 29th - (10 AM: 212 Seat Remaining, 4 PM: 225 Seats Remaining
November 30th - (10 AM: 283 Seats Remaining, 4 PM: 285 Seats Remaining)
December 6th - (10 AM: SOLD OUT, 4 PM: 63 Seats Remaining)
December 7th - (10 AM: 230 Seats Remaining, 4 PM: 270 Seats Remaining)
December 13th - (10 AM: 174 Seats Remaining, 4 PM: 1 Seats Remaining)
December 14th - (10 AM: 268 Seats Remaining, 4 PM: 272 Seats Remaining)
December 20th - (10 AM: 190 Seats Remaining, 4 PM: 199 Seats Remaining)
December 21st - (10 AM: 274 Seats Remaining, 4 PM: 246 Seats Remaining)
August 8th, 2008
TRAINFESTIVAL 2009: “America’s Largest Celebration of Railroading in 2009”
TrainFestival 2009 coming to Owosso July 24 -26, 2009. Click for details
August 1st, 2008
Tickets for Diesel-powered Fall Color Trip from Mt. Pleasant to Cadillac Chestnut Festival, October 11th now on sale.
The
Steam Railroading Institute will be running a diesel powered Fall Color Excursion between Mt. Pleasant and Cadillac, Michigan. Due to the fact the costs of operating #1225 to Cadillac this season would be considerable, and that we needed time to complete #1225's annual FRA inspection, Great Lakes Central has graciously offered the use of their diesel.
This has allowed us to keep the trip, which would easily be over $125 a ticket with the #1225, to a more managable price range for our patrons. Tickets are now on sale, with adult tickets priced at $50 and children at $30. The train will leave Mountaintown Station at 9 AM, and arrive at Cadillac at approximately 11:45 AM. There you will be able to attend the Cadillac Annual Chesnut Festival, before reboarding the train at 3 PM for a 5:45 PM arrival at Mt. Pleasant. You may purchase tickets online by clicking our link below, or by contacting the Steam Railroading Institute at (989) 725-9464.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
FLAGG COAL #75 RETURNS!
"Ride Behind the #75!"
Next Trip: August 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24th, 2008
Woodard Turn Trips Owosso to West Owosso Behind visiting Flagg Coal #75
$15 for adults, $10 for kids
HOBOFEST COMES TO OWOSSO!
Owosso Hobo Fest 2008
Saturday, September 20th & Sunday, September 21st
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM - Rain or Shine!
Admission Fees
$5 per person. Children 4 & under FREE
For More information, check our Owosso Hobo Fest link from our new Facebook Group here:
Owosso Hobo Fest Facebook Web Link
July 28th, 2008
Steam Railroading Institute partners with Pere Marquette Historical Society on Night Photo Session, Trip from Owosso - Alma, Michigan on historic Pere Marquette Wye
The Steam Railroading Institute, in conjunction with the Pere Marquette Historical Society, hosted a Friday-night photo session and a trip which carried nearly 200 passengers from Owosso to Alma, Michigan this past Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26th. The first foray of the PMHS outside of Grand Rapids in over a decade, the trip briefly put the #1225 on "home" rails, as it turned on the historic wye of the Ann Arbor and Pere Marquette Railways. The City of Alma was a generous host, handing out visitor packets to those who rode with us, and rushing to complete paving work just the night before on a new bike trail next to our boarding site near Alma College. Thank you to everyone who rode with us, and to the employees of Great Lakes Central and RailAmerica's Mid-Michigan Railway for helping us from those of us at the Steam Railroading Institute.
June 19th, 2008
Steam Railroading Institute partners with RailAmerica for Monthly Business Review Dinner Train
The Steam Railroading Institute is appreciative of the RailAmerica Corporation and
their subsidiary Huron & Eastern Railway, for their request to use our locomotive and equipment for the last two days in and around the Bay City and Saginaw region. The opportunity to run large steam in the 21st Century, let alone in conjunction with one of the top firms in the rail industry, is one that those of us at the Steam Railroading Institute are deeply honored to have been able to do. Thank you to RailAmerica and all of its many employees from us at the Steam Railroading Institute.
May 27th, 2008
The Steam Railroading Institute is pleased to announce that we are recipients of a $2500 Grant from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation of Midland, Michigan.
Read About it...
May 25th, 2008
Your Hand On The Throttle a Huge Hit: Many get the chance to have "Your Hand on the Throttle" of #1225!
Participants supported the efforts of the Steam Railroading Institute in this special fundraising event held at our site in Owosso on the weekends of May 24, 25 and May 31/ June 1st. A chance to sit both in the fireman and engineer's seat and actually run the locomotive back and forth on trackage within our Owosso site thrilled nearly 75 participants. Participants experienced the job of our ancestors or were able to live out the job of our ancestors or were able to live out his or her childhood dream of running a steam locomotive. This fundraiser allowed for participants to run and fire for twenty minutes with each activity. Each 40-minute slot sold for $300 each, and nearly 75 participants paid for this rare opportunity. The proceeds from this event will benefit the "1225 15-Year Fund," designed to defray the costs of our federally-mandated boiler tube and flue renewal in 2010. Many thanks to those who participated.
January 14, 2008
2008 North Pole Express tickets now on sale!
Due to overwhelming demand, tickets for the Steam Railroading Institute's North Pole Express went on sale January 14, 2008. Now in our fifth season, our NPE trips are run behind the Pere Marquette #1225, and run from the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso to the "North Pole", better known as the Saginaw County Fairgrounds in Chesaning, Michigan. Tickets for certain dates tend to sell out early, so if you wish to book specific dates, book as early as possible. Don't delay, order today!
In addition, SRI is always in need of additional volunteers to work
as locomotive crews, maintenance crews, car hosts, merchandise sales
persons, and as greeters in the visitor center. If interested in
participating in this event, please contact the SRI at (989) 725-9464
or by e-mail at tjgaffney@mstrp.com.
Please return here regularly for updates of new happenings at the Steam Railroading Institute!
