The railroad received its name due to the story that a person could jump off the train, pick wild huckleberries, and re-board the train without difficulty, as it traveled so slowly.[1]
History
What is now the Huckleberry Railroad began operating in 1872 as part of the Flint River Railroad. The Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad later extended the branch line from Flint to Otter Lake. It later came to be known as the Otter Lake Branch. Eventually the track was extended by another 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from Otter Lake to Fostoria, for a total of 19.5 miles (31.4 km) from Flint to Fostoria.
The Pere Marquette Railway abandoned the Otter Lake to Fostoria line in 1932, and the Otisville to Otter Lake line a year later.[2][3] The Huckleberry Railroad began operations in 1976 on the remaining line when the Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission opened Crossroads Village.[4]
On April 23, 2020, Genesee County Parks Director Barry June announced that the railroad and Crossroads Village would not open for the 2020 summer season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A late opening was planned in October 2020. It was the first time that the attraction had been forced to delay opening since it was first opened in 1976. [6]
Locomotives
The Huckleberry Railroad owns several locomotives and many pieces of rolling stock. Two steam locomotives (#152 and #464) have been restored to operating condition to pull vintage wooden passenger cars along the shores of Mott Lake.[7]
Locomotive Roster
In Service
12: Formerly Bethlehem Steel Co. #12, it is a General-Electric 45 ton diesel locomotive purchased from McHugh Locomotive's & Equipment Co. in trade for former engine #7, which was a nearly identical GE 50 ton locomotive.
