The Little River Railroad is a heritage railroad located in Coldwater, Michigan. The train runs to Quincy, Michigan and occasionally Hillsdale, Michigan.
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The Little River Railroad organization gets its name from the original Little River Railroad and Lumber Company that used to be based out of Townsend, Tennessee. The reasoning for the name can be traced back to the initial efforts to preserve and return Little River Railroad 4-6-2 #110 to service. It was this effort that caused the organization to form in 1972.
The Coldwater depot serves as the main headquarters for the Little River Railroad. Inside is the original ticket office, a gift shop, a permanent G-scale Christmas Layout, an S-scale layout, a gift shop with Little River Railroad merchandise, and a museum. This museum consists of display shelves containing various railroad artifacts and memorabilia, a complete picture wall detailing the career of #110 and the restoration of tank engine #1, and a maintenance-of-way speeder car.
Most excursions run between Coldwater and the village of Quincy, Michigan. Over the years, the track conditions between Coldwater and Quincy have drastically improved, leading to a smoother ride for passengers. Notable landmarks along the route are the I-69 overpass, two separate bridges crossing over the Sauk Creek, and a grade crossing with U.S. Highway 12. At their destination in the village of Quincy, passengers are able to step off and enjoy the park as the locomotive runs around the train and prepares for the return trip to Coldwater. At least once a year, #110 is allowed to travel past Quincy to Hillsdale, Michigan, and return on special "Hillsdale Flyer" excursions. The Little River Railroad has also collaborated with the Indiana Rail Experience, operated by the Fort Wayne Rail Historical Society. This has brought locomotive #110 together with Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 #765 and Nickel Plate Road EMD SD9 #358.
