This old stone depot is in Standish along US-23. It has been a while since trains have stopped at the old depot. It is now a visitor center for tourists and travelers. Next to the depot are old historic railroad cars that visitors can walk around and look at. If you are heading up the sunshine coast along Lake Huron this is a nice place to stop and take a break.

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The southwestern Michigan town of Three Oaks was named after, you guessed it, three oak trees that stood nearby when the area was settled in 1850. This adorable little brick depot was constructed in 1898. It was used by the railroad until 1959. The little depot sat empty for years before it was restored in 1980. It is now used for retail and community space.

I did not get to spend a lot of time in Three Oaks when I passed through last year. It seemed like a charming little town. I guess I will have to take a trip back down there sometime soon.

P.S. Yesterday I had some wire crossed or something on my website and the link did not work correctly on yesterday’s notification post. I got it fixed so if you missed my post about the Sky Pilot of the Great Lakes you can see it HERE

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In the small northeastern village of Lincoln is an old train depot and caboose. I am sure the caboose is not going anywhere soon because other than the tracks underneath it, the rest of the rails are gone. The old depot welcomed travelers to the area many decades ago when it was called the West Harrisville Depot. A historical marker mounted to it gives a little history and reads:

In 1893 lumberman and Civil War hero Russell Alger led the consolidation of several lumber railroads as the Detroit, Bay City, and Alpena Railroad, bringing passenger and freight service to this region for the first time. Built in 1886, the depot was taken over by the Detroit and Mackinac Railroad in 1895 and renovated in 1913. Service ceased in 1927 and from 1930 to 1996 the building served as a residence. Citizens saved the depot from demolition in 1997

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This old brick train depot in Coldwater was constructed in 1883. The last regular passenger train departed from this station in 1956. This is one of the few train stations that does have a steam train that takes passengers for rides. The Little River Railroad operates a historic steam locomotive from this station giving riders the opportunity to take a short trip on a real steam train.

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Michigan has a few train depots with a cone-shaped roof but the most well known one is called “The Witch’s Hat Depot.” It proudly stands in South Lyon. It is no longer used for passengers to ride the rais but is a historical museum. The historical marker next to it reads:

In the late nineteenth century, the community of South Lyon was served by three rail lines operating from the 1871 Pere Marquette depot, which burned in 1908. By the time this one-story Queen Anne depot was erected by the Grand Trunk Western railroad system in 1909, only two lines came to South Lyon. Featuring a rounded front and a conical roof, the wood-frame structure served as a passenger station until 1955. The City of South Lyon acquired the depot in 1975 and in 1976 moved it to this site. In 1981 the station began its service as the Witch’s Hat Depot Museum and community center.

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If you travel to the Capitol Building in Lansing along East Michigan Avenue you will pass by the old Union Train Depot. It was built in 1901 to handle all the passenger trains traveling through the state capitol. By 1971 passenger service ended and in 1978 the old depot was purchased and converted into a restaurant.  The restaurant closed in 2016 and now the grand old station sits empty waiting for its next purpose.

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The brick train depot in Albion has been welcoming visitors since 1882. It served the town for decades greeting passenger trains until 1972. It was eventually restored and is still used today by Amtrack and as a bus depot.

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I have visited a lot of train stations around Michigan and I have to admit the depot in Niles is one of my favorites. The station building was constructed by the Michigan Central in 1892 to a design by architects Spier and Rohns. Niles station was used as a filming location for Continental Divide, Midnight Run, and Only the Lonely, the latter of which spawned an annual tradition of adding Christmas lights and decorations around the station. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Now I need to get back to the southwest corner of the state so I can see the station lit up in Christmas lights.

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