Morning and Arrival
Presented By: Northwest Michigan Engine & Thresher Club
Arial view of our 200+ acres Show Grounds
The show begins early for many of the members. Making breakfast, removing trash, and firing the boilers, and our faithful timekeeper on the Whistle Tower.
The whistle blows at 6:00 AM to wake the hundreds of working members to begin their day. The whistle echoes over the campground to the woods in the center of the railroad track. It is said that on a clear morning the whistles can be heard for twenty miles. If you plan to sleep in, you had better wear some ear plugs.
As the Track Crew makes an early morning inspection of the track, part of the Shuttle Crew pose for a group picture. Many of the Shuttle Crew have already been hard at work transporting people from the campground to breakfast and bringing in people from the Parking Lot. Gates open to the general public at 7:00 AM. As the shuttles begin to arrive, you will find Gene Malloy among one of the many Turn-Around Guards that will be your watchful eyes to guide you out of harms-way of the many tractors and vehicles that pass through this area
One of the first things to see when you get off the shuttle is the train and depot, the Buckley Junction. Across from the depot you will find the Harness Shop, a Printers Shop, and the Blacksmith Shop.
The huge building next to the Train Depot, that is used to store the train during the winter, also houses a huge Woodworking Shop. There you can find Jim Saiers, a Master Craftsman, always working on some project for the Club.
