Page 1 of 1

Charlton Park in Hastings

Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2020 11:53 pm
by SD80MAC
When I was in second grade, we took a field trip to the pioneer village at Charlton Park in Hastings. This would have been in the late 90s. I swear there was some kind of a railroad display there, as I recall seeing some kind of an engine shed and a small diesel switcher. Can anyone confirm this, or am I crazy? Their website doesn’t show anything having to do with trains.

Re: Charlton Park in Hastings

Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 12:05 pm
by Jetlink
I've been to Charlton Park many times. I do not recall a diesel switcher there. I asked Leslie (her grandparents live on Charlton Park road less than a mile away). She says they did have some sort of a train there. I don't remember it though. I'll start quizzing down the locals.

Re: Charlton Park in Hastings

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 6:48 pm
by NS3322
There is indeed a locomotive at Charlton Park. The locomotive is a 1920’s small gauge engine built by the Midwest Locomotive Works in Hamilton, Ohio. I was told via email in 2016 that the last time the train operated was sometime in late 90’s or early 2000’s. It is currently housed in a small shed over by the river with approximately 20 feet of track and it is rolled out during special events. It was used at the Battle Creek sewage treatment plant from 1920 to around 1960.

Here is a link on its history:
https://charltonpark.wordpress.com/2010 ... 20s-train/

I intend to pay this locomotive a visit sometime in the spring. I was told via another email in 2018 that it is now in storage (whatever that means).

2002 Eddie Gross photo:
Image

Re: Charlton Park in Hastings

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 9:20 pm
by SD80MAC
Yes, that’s it! I was going to edit my post to say it looked like a small Plymouth or a Whitcomb. I remember seeing it in the shed with a small section of track leading out of it. Thanks!

Re: Charlton Park in Hastings

Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 8:22 pm
by CAT345C
Does anybody know Eddie Gross? He seems to have a photo of just about everything in the state.

Re: Charlton Park in Hastings

Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 9:17 pm
by NS3322
CAT345C wrote:Does anybody know Eddie Gross? He seems to have a photo of just about everything in the state.
I have spoken with him via email several times. He is definitely a real person. :)

Re: Charlton Park in Hastings

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 5:36 pm
by NS3322
I visited the locomotive back on Monday. Initially, no one in the office knew what I was talking about until I further explained what it was. :roll:
I was told it is pulled out of the shed once a year for the big tractor and engine show.

Image

Re: Charlton Park in Hastings

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 10:24 am
by KenB
Is this park along the river along Indian Trail road?

Re: Charlton Park in Hastings

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 1:33 pm
by Jetlink
KenB wrote:Is this park along the river along Indian Trail road?
Most would say it is along the river off Charlton Park Road just north of M-79 between Hastings and Nashville.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Histo ... 85.2116371

I see google does list one of the roads within the bounds of the park as Indian Landing Drive. I've not really ever known it as a road that anyone in the area knew even had a name though.

Re: Charlton Park in Hastings

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 6:48 pm
by Doktor No
Grand Rapids Gravel truck garage on Chicago Drive had a set of dump cars and a couple engines like this behind their garage. I am assuming they used these in their Chicago Drive mining ops. Judging by the little lakes behind Colprovia (now Reith-Riley) along the Acme Spur they needed a railroad, miniature sized as it was.

Re: Charlton Park in Hastings

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:44 pm
by MQT1223
Doktor No wrote:Grand Rapids Gravel truck garage on Chicago Drive had a set of dump cars and a couple engines like this behind their garage. I am assuming they used these in their Chicago Drive mining ops. Judging by the little lakes behind Colprovia (now Reith-Riley) along the Acme Spur they needed a railroad, miniature sized as it was.
This would be cool to see, is there anything left of this?

Re: Charlton Park in Hastings

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2020 8:41 pm
by gbw
Eddie Gross here, I live in Lansing, mostly read along, don't post much