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 #1
|
JLC 12T
|
1927
|
A Plymouth JLC. From Mistersky Power Plant. Acquired in 1979.
|
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
|
50-ton
|
1942
|
Built by GE for the Naval Ammunitions Depot of Charleston, SC. Ex-USN 65-00002. Acquired in 1993 from Luria Brothers Scrapyard in Ecorse, MI.
|
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
|
Union Pacific #????
|
Automobile Boxcar
|
19??
|
Unknown reporting marks, came to the Village from Stickney, IL in the 1980s. Display only.
|
Detroit River Tunnel #1
|
Crane
|
1914
|
On display near the roundhouse. Conrail donated the crane in 1986. Operated annually during Railroad Days.
|
Weiser Railroad #1
|
Open Air Coach
|
1970
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number). Built by Keystone Light Rwy. back in the early 1970’s, the backbone of the cars were either old caboose frames or old tank car frames.
|
Weiser Railroad #2
|
Open Air Coach
|
1970
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number). Built by Keystone Light Rwy. back in the early 1970’s, the backbone of the cars were either old caboose frames or old tank car frames.
|
Weiser Railroad #3
|
Open Air Coach
|
1970
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number). Built by Keystone Light Rwy. back in the early 1970’s, the backbone of the cars were either old caboose frames or old tank car frames.
|
Weiser Railroad #4
|
Open Air Coach
|
1970
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number). Built by Keystone Light Rwy. back in the early 1970’s, the backbone of the cars were either old caboose frames or old tank car frames.
|
Weiser Railroad #5
|
Open Air Coach
|
1970
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number). Built by Keystone Light Rwy. back in the early 1970’s, the backbone of the cars were either old caboose frames or old tank car frames.
|
Weiser Railroad #6
|
Open Air Coach
|
1970
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number). Built by Keystone Light Rwy. back in the early 1970’s, the backbone of the cars were either old caboose frames or old tank car frames.
|
Weiser Railroad #7
|
Open Air Coach
|
1970
|
Used in excursion service. (Actually has no number). Built by Keystone Light Rwy. back in the early 1970’s, the backbone of the cars were either old caboose frames or old tank car frames.
|
Detroit & Mackinac W52
|
Caboose
|
1912
|
Display only. After sitting in a Tawas City park for five years, it was donated by D&M to Henry Ford in 1979. Recently restored.
|
Union Tank Car #1328
|
Tank Car
|
1937
|
Display only. Currently stored behind vehicle garage. Reporting mark: UTLX.
|
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton #10561
|
Boxcar
|
1915
|
Display only.
|
Chesapeake & Ohio #19462
|
Boxcar
|
1957
|
Display only.
|
Norfolk & Western #28502
|
Hopper
|
19??
|
Display only. Currently stored behind vehicle garage. Unknown build date.
|
New Haven #34054
|
Boxcar
|
1957
|
Display only. Faux paint. ex-C&O #19464.
|
St. Louis Southwestern Railway #35850
|
Boxcar
|
1957
|
Display only. Faux paint. ex-C&O #19385
|
Southern #50050
|
Flatcar
|
1956
|
Used for MOW storage. Currently stored behind vehicle garage.
|
Norfolk & Western #133215
|
Open-top Hopper
|
1969
|
Display only. Lettered for NS.
|
Chesapeake & Ohio #25038
|
Boxcar
|
1975?
|
Display only.
|
Canadian Pacific #277111
|
Stock Car
|
1958
|
Display only.
|
Chesapeake & Ohio #491556
|
Boxcar
|
1985
|
Display only.
|
#?????
|
Unknown Flatcar
|
19??
|
Used for MOW service. Possibly C&O?
|
?????
|
Fake Passenger Car
|
19??
|
Fake bodies fabricated on flatcars of unknown origin. Used as a classroom for Henry Ford Academy.
|
?????
|
Fake Passenger Car
|
19??
|
Fake bodies fabricated on flatcars of unknown origin. Used as a classroom for Henry Ford Academy.
|
?????
|
Fake Passenger Car
|
19??
|
Fake bodies fabricated on flatcars of unknown origin. Used as a classroom for Henry Ford Academy.
|
|
Henry Ford Museum Locomotives
Henry Ford Museum Rolling Stock
Henry Ford Museum Offsite Locomotives
|
Number
|
Model
|
Year(s) Built
|
History
|
Notes
|
Wayne County Board of Roads No. 7
|
0-4-0T
|
1897
|
Built by Davenport. Narrow gauge.
|
Now on display next door at the Dearborn Amtrak Station (John D. Dingell Transit Center).
|
Pennsylvania 4909/Amtrak 4932
|
GG1
|
1941
|
Built by PRR in Altoona.
|
Purchased by Henry Ford in 2008. As of 2021 it is still in Cooperstown Junction, NY.
|
|
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