Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Owosso, Michigan · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesFreeWelcome Center open summers; excursions and North Pole Express on scheduled dates

The Steam Railroading Institute keeps steam era railroading alive in Owosso, Michigan, where volunteers maintain and run Pere Marquette 1225, a 1941 Lima Berkshire that is among the largest operating steam locomotives in the state.

  • Home of Pere Marquette 1225
  • Free admission, donations welcome
  • Former Ann Arbor Railroad steam shops
  • Restoring Chicago and North Western 175
  • North Pole Express in November and December

Steam Railroading Institute at a glance

Hours
Summer 2026: Welcome Center Wednesday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm (June 4 to August 15); closed to the public September to March
Admission
Free admission, donations welcome
Train rides
Steam excursions on scheduled dates, including the North Pole Express and fall color trips; fares vary by trip
Seasonal events
North Pole Express, Fall color tours by rail
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours for a guided visit
Best for
Steam fans and families who want to see a giant locomotive up close
Best ages
Ages 3 and up
Accessibility
The historic passenger cars are in original condition and are not ADA accessible.

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Steam Railroading Institute? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Owosso.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

From a campus display to a steam shop in Owosso

The story starts with one locomotive. Pere Marquette 1225 was built by the Lima Locomotive Works in October 1941, one of 39 Berkshire type engines the Pere Marquette Railway ordered, and for ten years it hauled fast freight between Detroit, Toledo, Flint, Saginaw, Grand Rapids and Chicago, including war materiel while Detroit was the Arsenal of Democracy. Diesels retired it in 1951.

In 1957 the Chesapeake and Ohio donated the 1225 to Michigan State University, with help from MSU trustee and Dodge executive Forest Akers, who wanted engineering students to have a real machine to study. It sat on display until 1969, when students formed the Michigan State University Railroad Club with a bold goal: restore the engine and use it to pull excursion trains to football games.

The club became the Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation, incorporated in July 1979, and in 1981 the university donated the locomotive to the new nonprofit. In 1982 the 1225 moved to the former Ann Arbor Railroad steam backshop in Owosso, and in 1985 it moved under its own power for the first time in 34 years. It has been kept in operable condition since 1988.

Today the Steam Railroading Institute is the public face of that trust. On the old Ann Arbor steam shop and roundhouse site, volunteers now care for several steam and diesel locomotives, a fleet of passenger cars, freight cars and historic structures, and they have started restoring a second steam engine, Chicago and North Western 175.

A guided walk to the backshop where the 1225 lives

Visits begin at the Welcome Center, which holds the exhibits, a model railroad layout, the library of artifacts and archival materials, and a gift shop stocked with Pere Marquette 1225 souvenirs and railroad toys. From there, volunteer tour guides lead visitors through the whole site for a behind the scenes look at equipment that is rarely open to the public during excursions.

The high point is the backshop, where the 1225 is kept when it is not out on the road. Standing beside a locomotive that is 101 feet long and more than 15 feet tall gives kids and adults a real sense of the scale of late steam power, and the shop itself shows what it takes to restore, maintain and operate equipment from that era. The equipment roster also includes Consumers Energy 1200, Precision Locomotive Leasing and Sales 57 and a 25-ton switcher nicknamed Mighty Mouse.

Don’t miss

  1. Pere Marquette 1225A 2-8-4 Berkshire weighing 401 tons with its tender, it needs about eight hours to build a full head of steam and burns a ton of coal every twelve miles.
  2. Chicago and North Western 175A locomotive more than a century old that the Institute is restoring so passengers can ride behind it on excursions around Michigan.
  3. The backshopPart of the former Ann Arbor Railroad steam shops, it is where volunteers keep the 1225 in running order.
  4. Mighty MouseA 25-ton switcher with a friendly nickname, a nice contrast to the giant Berkshire.
  5. Welcome Center model railroad and libraryThe model layout entertains younger kids, while the library holds the Institute's artifacts and archival materials.

A giant engine, a model layout and the North Pole Express

Kids get the thrill of standing next to a full-size steam locomotive in a working shop, and the Welcome Center's model railroad layout and toy-filled gift shop give younger children something at their own height. School groups visit too, and the Institute welcomes large groups of children for tours.

The North Pole Express in November and December is the Institute's most popular event. Keep in mind that the historic passenger cars are in original condition and are not ADA accessible.

Plan your visit: tips for Steam Railroading Institute

  • Check in at the Welcome Center first; guided tours start there.
  • Plan ahead for the North Pole Express, since it is the Institute's most popular event.
  • Plan visits for the warm months; the site is closed to the public from September to March apart from scheduled events.
  • Leave time for the gift shop's 1225 souvenirs and railroad toys.

The North Pole Express is the Institute's best known trip, running in November and December with steam power out of Owosso, and the Institute calls it the most popular of all its events. The Institute also runs other excursions through the year, including fall color tours by rail in Northern Michigan. Schedules change each season, so check the Institute's events page, and see our roundup of Christmas train rides in Michigan for more holiday trains.

The nonprofit that grew out of a college club

The Steam Railroading Institute is the public face of the Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation, a nonprofit that began with MSU students in 1969. Volunteer tour guides and shop crews do much of the work, and the Institute invites visitors to become members or donate, which directly supports keeping the 1225 running and restoring C&NW 175. Gift shop purchases help too.

Rail history within an hour of Owosso

Durand Union Station is only about 11 miles away, and the Flushing Area Museum is about 16 miles east. The Clinton Northern Railway Museum in St. Johns is about 20 miles west. Browse Michigan train museums by town to plan more stops.

Every train museum in Michigan

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The 1225 stands more than fifteen feet tall, and I can only imagine a corgi looking up at it. In our book, Rally's short legs can't manage the big train steps, so Dad lifts him up. Little kids know that feeling well. Everything on a real railroad is built bigger than they are, and a helping hand makes it an adventure. If you have a young reader at home, here are some train books for toddlers we love.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Steam Railroading Institute?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Steam Railroading Institute: 20 questions visitors ask

Where is the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso?

The Steam Railroading Institute is at 405 S. Washington St., Owosso, MI 48867, on the site of the former Ann Arbor Railroad's steam shops and roundhouse. When you arrive, check in at the Welcome Center. For directions or questions, call (989) 725-9464.

What are the Steam Railroading Institute hours?

As of October 2026, the Welcome Center's 2026 summer hours were Wednesday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, from June 4 to August 15. The site is closed to the public from September to March except for scheduled events. The website also mentions select visiting days from April to September, so check before you go.

How much does it cost to visit the Steam Railroading Institute?

Visiting the Institute during public hours is free. The website lists free admission with donations welcome, and those donations help keep Pere Marquette 1225 running. Excursions and special events such as the North Pole Express are ticketed separately.

How much are Steam Railroading Institute train tickets?

Prices depend on the trip and the season. The Institute posts current fares with each event on its website. A third-party listing put North Pole Express fares at roughly $80 to $105, but check the Institute's own site for the current year's prices before you plan.

What is the Steam Railroading Institute's schedule of upcoming events?

The Institute runs events and excursions throughout the year, from hands-on activities at the Owosso site to fall color tours by rail in Northern Michigan, with the North Pole Express in November and December. Dates change every year, so watch the events page on michigansteamtrain.com and the Institute's Facebook page.

What is the North Pole Express from Owosso?

The North Pole Express is the Institute's most popular event, a holiday steam excursion that runs during November and December. Because it is so popular, plan ahead. Look for dates and fares on the Institute's website as the season approaches.

What is Pere Marquette 1225?

Pere Marquette 1225 is a 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive built by Lima Locomotive Works in October 1941. It is 101 feet long, over 15 feet tall and weighs 401 tons with its tender. It hauled freight across Michigan until 1951, and volunteers returned it to steam in 1985.

Can you see Pere Marquette 1225 at the Steam Railroading Institute?

Yes, when it is home. The highlight of the guided tour is the backshop where the 1225 is kept when it is not out on excursions. Since it is an operating locomotive, it may be away on a trip some days, so call (989) 725-9464 if seeing it is the main reason for your visit.

What is the Hands on the Throttle program at the Steam Railroading Institute?

People often search for a Hands on the Throttle program here, but the Institute's main visitor pages do not describe one. The Institute does mention hands-on activities at its Owosso site. Call (989) 725-9464 or email info@michigansteamtrain.com to ask about any run-a-locomotive experience and current availability.

What passenger cars does the Steam Railroading Institute have?

The Institute owns a fleet of historic passenger cars that it uses for excursions, along with freight cars and other equipment. Because the cars are kept in their original historical condition, they are not ADA accessible. The equipment section of the website lists the passenger cars individually.

Is the Steam Railroading Institute accessible?

The Institute notes that its historic passenger cars are in original condition and are not ADA accessible, falling under exemptions in federal rules. It sometimes has a limited number of other seating options. If someone in your group uses a wheelchair, call (989) 725-9464 before booking a trip or tour.

What can you see on a Steam Railroading Institute tour?

Volunteer guides escort visitors through the whole museum for a behind the scenes look at equipment rarely open during excursions. The tour ends in the backshop where Pere Marquette 1225 is housed. The Welcome Center adds exhibits, a model railroad layout and a library of artifacts.

What other locomotives are at the Steam Railroading Institute?

Besides Pere Marquette 1225, the motive power roster includes Chicago and North Western 175, Consumers Energy 1200, Precision Locomotive Leasing and Sales 57, and a 25-ton switcher called Mighty Mouse. The Institute also has passenger cars, freight cars and historic structures on the Owosso site.

When will Chicago and North Western 175 run again?

The Institute has started restoring C&NW 175, a locomotive more than a century old, and says passengers will be able to ride behind it on excursions around Michigan once it is finished. It has not announced a completion date, so follow its Facebook page for restoration updates.

How did the Steam Railroading Institute start?

It began in 1969 when Michigan State University students formed a railroad club to restore Pere Marquette 1225. The club became the Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation in 1979, moved the engine to Owosso in 1982, and got it running in 1985. The Steam Railroading Institute is the trust's public name today.

Is the Steam Railroading Institute good for kids?

Yes, especially kids who like big machines. Seeing a full-size steam engine up close in a working shop is a memorable outing, and the Welcome Center has a model railroad layout and a gift shop with railroad toys. The Institute welcomes school groups, and the North Pole Express is a family favorite.

Does the Steam Railroading Institute have a gift shop?

Yes. The gift shop in the Welcome Center carries Steam Railroading Institute and Pere Marquette 1225 souvenirs along with railroad themed toys and specialty gifts. Purchases support the nonprofit's work keeping steam equipment running in Owosso.

What is the Steam Railroading Institute Facebook page?

The Institute's Facebook page is facebook.com/steamrailroadinginstitute, followed by more than 72,000 people. It is the quickest place to see photos, upcoming events and news about the 1225 and C&NW 175. The Institute is also on Instagram and YouTube under the same name.

Can groups or schools tour the Steam Railroading Institute?

Yes. The Institute is open on select days for visits and tours, from individual visitors to large groups of school children. Arrange group visits ahead of time by calling (989) 725-9464 or emailing info@michigansteamtrain.com so volunteer guides can be scheduled.

What train museums are near the Steam Railroading Institute?

Durand Union Station is about 11 miles away, the Flushing Area Museum about 16 miles, and the Clinton Northern Railway Museum in St. Johns about 20 miles. Huckleberry Railroad near Flint is about 27 miles off and the Saginaw Railway Museum about 30 miles, so Owosso makes a good base.

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