The Huckleberry RailroadThe Huckleberry Railroad, certainly one of the more interesting names of a tourist line, operates a short section of the former Pere Marquette Railway (which became part of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway system in the 1940s) and departs its trips from Flint, Michigan. While the Huckleberry only operates a short stretch of railroad the real attraction to the line is its fine collection of steam locomotives. The Huckleberry Railroad was actually once a real freight line, as a subsidiary of the Pere Marquette and established in 1857 (it also should be noted that the railroad received its name because of its slow pace, which was said to be so slow that one could jump off of the train, pick huckleberries, and jump back on with little effort!).
More information can be found about the two primary locomotives below, courtesy of the Huckleberry Railroad: In 1943, #152 was transferred from storage at the Alaska Railroad to the US War Department, in Seattle, WA. At some point later, #152 was sold to the Davison Scrap Company in Stockton, CA. It was purchased by Hal Wilmunder and relocated to the Antelope & Western in Roseville, CA and renumbered as #2. In 1963, #2 went to the Camino, Cable, & Northern. When Camino, Cable, & Northern shut down in 1974, Mr. Wilmunder sold #2 to Keystone Locomotive Works. In 1975, the Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission purchased #2 and began restoration. After restoration was completed on #2 locomotive in 1976, it began revenue service at the Huckleberry Railroad. #2 is the primary locomotive for the Huckleberry Railroad. And of the locomotives operating at the beginning of the Huckleberry Railroad, #2 is the only locomotive still in active service. The other primary locomotive, #464 was built in 1903 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. #464 was the final "mudhen" in an order of 15 locomotives delivered with Vauclain Compound cylinders, Stephenson Valve Gear, and a slope back tender. The Rio Grande, a few years later, converted #464 to simple cylinders and slide valves. Later in its life #464 was again converted to its third set of cylinders, now with Walschaerts Valve Gear and piston valves. In 1981, the Huckleberry Railroad acquired #464 from Knotts Berry Farm and started restoration immediately. By 1989 restoration of #464 was completed and ready to enter service. In January of 1990, #2 went down for major rebuilding, and #464 became the Huckleberry’s primary locomotive.
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