Little River Railroad

The Little River Railroad in Coldwater, Michigan, is an intimate and authentic steam railroad excursion experience operating over a segment of the former Indiana Northeastern Railroad between Coldwater and Quincy, with occasional longer trips to Hillsdale. The railroad’s primary motive power is Little River Lumber Company 4-6-2 No. 110 — a 1911 Baldwin-built Pacific-type locomotive significant as the smallest standard-gauge Pacific ever constructed, weighing just 57 tons. Despite its diminutive size, No. 110 has an impressive exhaust bark that fills the south-central Michigan countryside with the authentic sounds of steam railroading. The 12-mile round trip to Quincy passes through rolling farmland, wooded creek valleys, and the small communities of Branch County, offering a genuinely rural and unspoiled Michigan steam railroad experience. A variety of themed excursions throughout the year provide different experiences for repeat visitors, including the Easter Bunny Express in spring, Lazy Days summer rides with train robbery reenactments, the beloved Fall Pumpkin Train in October, and the Holiday Express with Santa in December. Charter excursions and school trips are also offered. The Little River Railroad is operated by a dedicated team of volunteers and professionals who maintain the historic equipment with expertise and passion, making it one of the finest small steam railroad operations in the American Midwest.