TRAVERSE CITY —
George Gregory grew up on Sixth Street, and watched trains roll by his family home many times a day.
He never lost his affection for trains. So Gregory, who presides over the Railroad Historical Society of Northwest Michigan, joined other such enthusiasts in a pitch to keep the last operating steam locomotive, the Spirit of Traverse City, running within the city limits.
The group will ask the city to relocate the miniature train to city parkland on the southwest corner of Division and 11th streets and create a train park. It's one of several train plans the city will evaluate.
"The main thing is to preserve the chance to ride the train for future generations of the people of Traverse City, their kids and grandkids," Gregory said. "It is so special to the people of Traverse City."
Traverse City commissioners voted in January to remove the train from its bayfront location to accommodate a waterfront park redesign. Officials gave groups until Thursday at 2 p.m. to submit proposals for the train's future site.
The city parkland plan joins four other submitted sealed proposals with return addresses in Grayling, Standish, Mackinaw City and Chicago. Members of The Northwest Michigan Engine & Thresher Club that runs The Buckley Old Engine Show also expressed interest.
"I'm encouraged that people are interested in the train, and that people from Traverse City are interested in the train, but the details I definitely need to know more about," said Mayor Michael Estes. "We will attempt to be as fair as possible and give some preference to a local entity."
The Traverse City group, which calls itself The Spirit of Traverse City, submitted a formal proposal on Tuesday. The group arranged donated services to move the train and tracks to a secure storage facility.
The group proposes to build a depot with bathrooms, gift shop, meeting room and space to display train memorabilia donated by the railroad historical society. It also would build a working garage to display the train in winter.
The plan's estimated cost is $1.5 million, said Jack O'Malley, the group's spokesman.
"This is not just a spot to put the train," he said. "We want to make this a destination."
The newly formed nonprofit group will ask the city to allow a year to raise money and work through the permitting process.
A private-public partnership to run a miniature train is not unique, said Neil Knopf, of Traverse City, editor of an outdoor railroad magazine. There are more than 130 such trains in the United States, and about two dozen operate on public land.
The group plans to finance train operations through tickets and gift shop sales and staff the depot with volunteers, similar to the State Theatre operation, O'Malley said. The train can co-exist with existing park uses, mainly hiking trails, and will use natural paths to avoid having to cut down trees.
"All we are asking is for the city to give us a chance," O'Malley said. "Then we'll need the people of Traverse City and Northwest Michigan to step up and help us save the train."
Region
Related Photos
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The Spirit of Traverse City, the miniature train, may have found a home at the southwest corner of 11th and Division Streets, near the entrance to The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
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Aaron McLauchlan, from left, Tucker Bailey and Don Frost tune up the Spirit of Traverse City train last May 27 at Clinch Park. Record-Eagle/Keith King
Group wants mini-train near Commons
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