Flying white “extra” flags, a peculiar set of equipment crosses Lenawee Highway and enters the former-Clinton Branch trackage of the Southern Michigan Railroad Society at Lenawee Junction, MI on a cold January morning in 1986.
The move marks the end of a blizzard of equipment acquisition moves made by the SMRS in the previous months.
Up front are former-Ann Arbor Railroad RS-2s #301 and sister #303, purchased by the SMRS in November 1985. The units were retired by the AA (Michigan Interstate) in serviceable condition and had been in storage in Toledo, OH.
Next up is former-AA camp car #3296 (originally Pullman “Emerald Vale”), donated by the State of Michigan. This is followed by two former-Lackawanna commuter cars owned by Village Rail Excursions.
Behind the passenger cars are ex-AA Alco RS-1 locomotives #20 an #21, also donated to the SMRS by the State of Michigan.
Finally, an ex-AA caboose, also owned by Village Rail Excursions, brings up the rear of the equipment collection.
Out of sight, a Lenawee County Railroad S2 provides the power for the movement.
All of the equipment arrived at Lenawee Junction in December and January, and the LCRC moved it to Lenawee Junction as it arrived. When all deliveries were complete, it was coupled together and the LRCR pushed it about one mile north on the SMRS to its storage site north of Demlow Road.
RS-1 #21 remains there to this day, some 39 years. The #3296 camp car was moved to Clinton, MI by road in 2024.
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