17th Michigan Railroad History Conference
Norris Science Center, Albion College, Albion, MI
Saturday, October 12, 2024 (plus optional Friday, October 11 Field Trip)
9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Registration begins at 8:15)
Speakers and Topics
- Featured Speaker–Edward A. Burkhardt–President/CEO, Rail World, Inc.
- The Wabash in Michigan in its Last Days as an Independent Railroad (morning)
- Personal Reflections on MSU’s Center for Railway Research and Education (afternoon)
- Gary Kadau – The History of Grosse Ile’s Railroad, 1873-1929
- Kevin P. Keefe – Michigan in the Viewfinder
- Norman Krentel – How Regulation Affected Michigan’s Interurbans
- Mark Worrall – Exploring the Relationships of Copper Mines and Railroads in the Western South Range of the Upper Peninsula
- Martin Hershock – Booted and Spurred, Railroads, the Open Range, and Rebellion in Antebellum Michigan
- Ronald Bretz – Rudy Bladel, The Railroad Killer
- Paul Trap – The Fennville Train Robbery
Presentations will be held at the Norris Auditorium of Albion College’s Science Complex, 900 W. Michigan Street, Albion, Michigan. Registration fee includes lunch plus beverages and refreshments during the morning and afternoon breaks. The facility is wheelchair accessible and has ample parking.
Afterglow following Saturday’s Conference—5:30 pm - Cascarelli’s of Albion, 116 South Superior St., Albion
Friday, October 11 Field Trip: Albion-Battle Creek-Jackson Interurban Tour
- Norm Krentel will lead an all-day field trip following the route of the Michigan Railway interurban line that ran between Battle Creek and Jackson. Participants will board a luxury coach with restroom and follow the interurban route from Albion to Battle Creek and then, after a lunch stop, from Jackson to Albion. Highlights will include the site of the Michigan Railway Company headquarters and shops, an electrical substation and remaining fragments of the right-of-way. Depart Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. from the parking lot at the rear of the Courtyard by Marriott Albion. Planned return 5:00 p.m.
- $60 fee (does not include any food or beverages)
Overnight Accommodations
The Conference has secured a block of rooms with a discounted rate at Courtyard Albion, located at 200 South Superior Street in downtown Albion. The discount rate is available Thursday, October 10 through Sunday-October 13, and must be booked by September 12, 2024. Please right click on the following link to open hyperlink: Courtyard Marriott Albion.
Organization Tables
There will be space for a limited number of table displays and posters for railroad history groups to provide information about their organization, activities, services and publications. To apply for one of these spaces, send a description of the group to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Notebook
A notebook with maps and background information will be distributed to all participants. If you have material you would like to contribute for this notebook, contact Mark Worrall at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Amtrak Opportunity
The Albion College campus is adjacent to Amtrak’s Wolverine Line, which is the former Michigan Central main line, now owned by the State of Michigan and operated by Amtrak. Westbound train #351 from Pontiac-Detroit-Ann Arbor stops at Albion daily at 8:14am; its companion eastbound train #354 stops at Albion daily at 10:03pm. Please contact us if you plan to use this Amtrak service on October 12th so we can arrange a pick-up service for you from the Albion Amtrak station .
General Information
For more information and updates see www.michiganrailroadhistory.org or visit us on Facebook by searching Michigan Railroad History Conference.
Questions: please contact Doug Johnson, Chair or Jerry Becker, Registrar through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(If you would prefer not to receive further communications from our organization, please respond STOP using This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)
The Michigan Railroad History Conference is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) Michigan non-profit educational corporation with the primary purpose of offering this biennial conference.
The Michigan Railroad History Conference Website is hosted by MichiganRailroads.com
17th Michigan Railroad History Conference
Norris Science Center, Albion College, Albion, MI
Saturday, October 12, 2024 (plus optional Friday, October 11 Field Trip)
9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Registration begins at 8:15)
Speakers and Topics
- Featured Speaker–Edward A. Burkhardt–President/CEO, Rail World, Inc.
- The Wabash in Michigan in its Last Days as an Independent Railroad (morning)
- Personal Reflections on MSU’s Center for Railway Research and Education (afternoon)
- Gary Kadau – The History of Grosse Ile’s Railroad, 1873-1929
- Kevin P. Keefe – Michigan in the Viewfinder
- Norman Krentel – How Regulation Affected Michigan’s Interurbans
- Mark Worrall – Exploring the Relationships of Copper Mines and Railroads in the Western South Range of the Upper Peninsula
- Martin Hershock – Booted and Spurred, Railroads, the Open Range, and Rebellion in Antebellum Michigan
- Ronald Bretz – Rudy Bladel, The Railroad Killer
- Paul Trap – The Fennville Train Robbery
Presentations will be held at the Norris Auditorium of Albion College’s Science Complex, 900 W. Michigan Street, Albion, Michigan. Registration fee includes lunch plus beverages and refreshments during the morning and afternoon breaks. The facility is wheelchair accessible and has ample parking.
Afterglow following Saturday’s Conference—5:30 pm - Cascarelli’s of Albion, 116 South Superior St., Albion
Friday, October 11 Field Trip: Albion-Battle Creek-Jackson Interurban Tour
- Norm Krentel will lead an all-day field trip following the route of the Michigan Railway interurban line that ran between Battle Creek and Jackson. Participants will board a luxury coach with restroom and follow the interurban route from Albion to Battle Creek and then, after a lunch stop, from Jackson to Albion. Highlights will include the site of the Michigan Railway Company headquarters and shops, an electrical substation and remaining fragments of the right-of-way. Depart Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. from the parking lot at the rear of the Courtyard by Marriott Albion. Planned return 5:00 p.m.
- $60 fee (does not include any food or beverages)
Overnight Accommodations
The Conference has secured a block of rooms with a discounted rate at Courtyard Albion, located at 200 South Superior Street in downtown Albion. The discount rate is available Thursday, October 10 through Sunday-October 13, and must be booked by September 12, 2024. Please right click on the following link to open hyperlink: Courtyard Marriott Albion.
Organization Tables
There will be space for a limited number of table displays and posters for railroad history groups to provide information about their organization, activities, services and publications. To apply for one of these spaces, send a description of the group to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Notebook
A notebook with maps and background information will be distributed to all participants. If you have material you would like to contribute for this notebook, contact Mark Worrall at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Amtrak Opportunity
The Albion College campus is adjacent to Amtrak’s Wolverine Line, which is the former Michigan Central main line, now owned by the State of Michigan and operated by Amtrak. Westbound train #351 from Pontiac-Detroit-Ann Arbor stops at Albion daily at 8:14am; its companion eastbound train #354 stops at Albion daily at 10:03pm. Please contact us if you plan to use this Amtrak service on October 12th so we can arrange a pick-up service for you from the Albion Amtrak station .
General Information
For more information and updates see www.michiganrailroadhistory.org or visit us on Facebook by searching Michigan Railroad History Conference.
Questions: please contact Doug Johnson, Chair or Jerry Becker, Registrar through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(If you would prefer not to receive further communications from our organization, please respond STOP using This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)
The Michigan Railroad History Conference is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) Michigan non-profit educational corporation with the primary purpose of offering this biennial conference.
The Michigan Railroad History Conference Website is hosted by MichiganRailroads.com
