Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village History
- The museum and village originally began as the collection of its namesake founder, Henry Ford.
- Together the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village is the largest indoor-outdoor museum complex in the United States. Both opened to the public in 1933.
- The Henry Ford Museum features a collection of historic artifacts important to American innovation and history.
- Greenfield Village is the outdoor living history museum section of the Henry Ford complex. The village features numerous historical buildings (moved in from various places) and is almost a recreation of historic early 1900's America.
- Greenfield Village features the 2 mile "Weiser Railroad" which loops the property and is powered exclusively by steam locomotives.
- https://www.thehenryford.org/
Weiser Railroad History
- Originally a simple straight stretch of track along the northern edge of the museum, which was dedicated in 1929.
- The railroad has since expanded to a two mile loop around the village, and has four stations.
- The "Railroad Juncton" station is the former GTR Smiths Creek depot, which was relocated to the property.
- The four stations are: "Firestone," "Susquehanna," "Walnut Grove" (used for special events only), and "Railroad Junction."
- Locomotives are operated for 30 days and then switched out.
- Locomotives are restored and repaired in a replica roundhouse which was based on the Detroit, Toledo & Milwaukee Railroad roundhouse in Marshall, Michigan. (Pieces of the former roundhouse were used in construction of the replica). The replica roundhouse was opened to the public in 2000.
- The turntable came from Petoskey, Michigan. It was built in 1901 for the Pere Marquette Railroad and has no motor (turned by hand).
- After the roundhouse was completed, the former engine shed was re-purposed as a garage for the Village's many vehicles.
- The railroad has a direct connection to the national railway network, via the Amtrak/MDOT Michigan Line. The railroad once received hoppers of coal from Norfolk Southern. Coal for the steam locomotives is now trucked into the Village.
Greenfield Village/Weiser Railroad Locomotives
|
Number
|
Model
|
Year(s) Built
|
History
|
Notes
|
Mistersky Power Plant Plymouth #?
|
JLC
|
1927
|
A Plymouth JLC. From Mistersky Power Plant.
|
Operational. Used as a shop switcher.
|
"Edison" #1
|
4-4-0
|
1875 (1932)
|
Originally built as an 0-4-0 for Edison Portland Cement by Manchester Locomotive Works. Rebuilt into a 4-4-0 by Ford in 1932.
|
Main locomotive. In active service.
|
Naval Ammunitions Depot Charleston #1
|
45-Ton
|
1942
|
Built by GE for the Naval Ammunitions Depot of Charleston, SC. Ex-USN 65-00002.
|
Operational. Used as a switcher and backup power for the steam locomotives.
|
Hecla & Torch Lake #3 "Torch Lake"
|
0-6-4T
|
1873
|
Built by Mason Machine Works. Donated to Henry Ford in 1969. Known as a "Mason Bogie" locomotive.
|
Main locomotive. In active service. Oldest regularly operating steam locomotive in the US.
|
Detroit & Lima Northern #7
|
4-4-0
|
1897
|
Built by Baldwin. Donated to Henry Ford in 1930.
|
Main locomotive. In active service.
|
Detroit & Mackinac #8
|
0-6-0
|
1914
|
Originally built by Baldwin for Michigan Alkali. Donated by D&M to Henry Ford in 1979.
|
In storage. May possibly be restored to operation in the near future.
|
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton #45
|
4-4-2
|
1902
|
Originally built by Alco as Michigan Central #254. Donated to Henry Ford in 1930.
|
On display in the roundhouse. The tender is located by the vehicle garage, safely shrink wrapped.
|
|
Greenfield Village/Weiser Railroad Rolling Stock
|
Number
|
Model
|
Year(s) Built
|
Notes
|
Detroit River Tunnel 1
|
Crane
|
1914
|
On display near the roundhouse. Conrail donated the crane in 1986. Operated during Railroad Days.
|
Weiser Railroad 1
|
Open Air Coach
|
19??
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number).
|
Weiser Railroad 2
|
Open Air Coach
|
19??
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number).
|
Weiser Railroad 3
|
Open Air Coach
|
19??
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number).
|
Weiser Railroad 4
|
Open Air Coach
|
19??
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number).
|
Weiser Railroad 5
|
Open Air Coach
|
19??
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number).
|
Weiser Railroad 6
|
Open Air Coach
|
19??
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number).
|
Weiser Railroad 7
|
Open Air Coach
|
19??
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number).
|
Detroit & Mackinac W52
|
Caboose
|
191?
|
Display only. Recently restored.
|
Union Tank Car 1328
|
Tank Car
|
1937
|
Display only.
|
New Haven 34054
|
Boxcar
|
1957
|
Display only. Maybe faux paint?
|
Chesapeake & Ohio 19462
|
Boxcar
|
1957
|
Display only.
|
St. Louis Southwestern Railway 35850
|
Boxcar
|
1957
|
Display only. Maybe faux paint?
|
Norfolk & Western 133265
|
Open-top Hopper
|
1969
|
Display only. Lettered for NS.
|
Canadian Pacific 277111
|
Stock Car
|
1958
|
Display only.
|
Chesapeake & Ohio 491556
|
Boxcar
|
1985
|
Display only.
|
Chesapeake & Ohio 25038
|
Boxcar
|
19??
|
Display only.
|
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton 10561
|
Boxcar
|
1915
|
Display only.
|
Southern 50050
|
Flatcar
|
1956
|
Used for MOW storage.
|
Norfolk & Western 28502
|
Hopper
|
19??
|
Display only.
|
?????
|
Unknown Boxcar
|
19??
|
Display only.
|
?????
|
Unknown Flatcar
|
19??
|
Used for MOW service. Possibly C&O?
|
?????
|
Unknown Passenger Car
|
19??
|
Used as a classroom for Henry Ford Academy.
|
?????
|
Unknown Passenger Car
|
19??
|
Used as a classroom for Henry Ford Academy.
|
?????
|
Unknown Passenger Car
|
19??
|
Used as a classroom for Henry Ford Academy.
|
|
Henry Ford Museum Locomotives
|
Number
|
Model
|
Year(s) Built
|
History
|
Notes
|
Atlantic & Gulf 3
|
4-4-0
|
1858
|
Built by Rogers. Originally nicknamed “Sam Hill.” Renamed the “President” by Henry Ford.
|
On display.
|
Fort Collins Municipal Railway 26
|
Trolley
|
1924
|
Built by American Car Company. A Birney safety car.
|
On display.
|
Ingersoll-Rand 90
|
Boxcab
|
1926
|
First successful diesel locomotive.
|
On display.
|
Cleveland Railway Company 0140
|
Trolley
|
1892
|
Moved to the Henry Ford Museum in 1954.
|
On display.
|
Bessemer & Lake Erie 154
|
2-8-0
|
1909
|
Built by Baldwin. Came to the museum after trading Detroit, Toledo & Ironton #16 to IRM.
|
On display.
|
Chesapeake & Ohio 1601
|
2-6-6-6
|
1941
|
Built by Lima. Donated to the Henry Ford in 1956.
|
On display.
|
"Rocket" Replica
|
0-2-2
|
1929
|
Replica of the famous "Rocket."
|
On display.
|
NYC "Dewitt Clinton" Replica
|
0-4-0
|
1929?
|
Replica of the "Dewitt Clinton."
|
On display.
|
|
Henry Ford Museum Rolling Stock
|
Number
|
Model
|
Year(s) Built
|
Notes
|
CNSM 761
|
Interurban
|
1930
|
Traded to the East Troy Railway Museum in 2001 for South Shore #11.
|
USAF C-258
|
Crane
|
19??
|
Scrapped in 2011.
|
|
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