Weston Bye
07-24-2010, 08:31 PM
I took my grandson to the Junction Valley Railroad today. He is 2 years old, but really enjoyed the train rides. To tell the truth, I enjoyed the whole experience, paying attention to the fabrication and engineering techniques from the point of view of a metal worker.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/Weston/DSCN0192.jpg
http://www.jvrailroad.com/home.nxg
The place was built as a hobby by a guy who made his money in the truck leasing business. All the locomotives, cars, rails and bridges were made from dimensional steel, welded together on site. The locomotives use what appears to be 4 cylinder automobile engines with electric or hydraulic drive. The mufflers on the engines produce a surprisingly locomotive-like sound. No effort was made to produce faithful scale models of real equipment, just good approximations, although some of the components are recognizable as former semi-trailer parts. Even the rails, almost 4 miles of track, are ordinary lengths of 1" square bar rather than true rail cross section.
This place isn’t Disneyland. The operators depend on a certain level of common sense and paying attention to your children among the riders. The equipment is well worn and rough looking in some areas, but well maintained. One of the tracks, on the way to the repair shop, runs through a graveyard of heavy trucks, trailers, parts, and iron junk. The machine shop consists of an old lathe and cast iron drill press, both in good working order, and a couple of 4 X 6 bandsaws. Probably more machinery, but I had to pay attention to my grandson. The fab shop had a lot of fixtures for welding up trucks, frames, couplers, and wheels and axles.
I am surprised at how few people know that this place exists. It’s just a few miles off I-75 near Bridgeport, MI. If you are in Michigan, or passing through, you might enjoy a visit. If you visit on their scheduled “Railroad Days” weekend, you can ride unlimited rides on the trains. There are picnic areas and pavilions, playground equipment, and child and adult-sized pedal cars scattered around the site. I’ve been trying to work out a picnic there with all my children and grandchildren.
No connection to the business, just a satisfied customer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/Weston/DSCN0192.jpg
http://www.jvrailroad.com/home.nxg
The place was built as a hobby by a guy who made his money in the truck leasing business. All the locomotives, cars, rails and bridges were made from dimensional steel, welded together on site. The locomotives use what appears to be 4 cylinder automobile engines with electric or hydraulic drive. The mufflers on the engines produce a surprisingly locomotive-like sound. No effort was made to produce faithful scale models of real equipment, just good approximations, although some of the components are recognizable as former semi-trailer parts. Even the rails, almost 4 miles of track, are ordinary lengths of 1" square bar rather than true rail cross section.
This place isn’t Disneyland. The operators depend on a certain level of common sense and paying attention to your children among the riders. The equipment is well worn and rough looking in some areas, but well maintained. One of the tracks, on the way to the repair shop, runs through a graveyard of heavy trucks, trailers, parts, and iron junk. The machine shop consists of an old lathe and cast iron drill press, both in good working order, and a couple of 4 X 6 bandsaws. Probably more machinery, but I had to pay attention to my grandson. The fab shop had a lot of fixtures for welding up trucks, frames, couplers, and wheels and axles.
I am surprised at how few people know that this place exists. It’s just a few miles off I-75 near Bridgeport, MI. If you are in Michigan, or passing through, you might enjoy a visit. If you visit on their scheduled “Railroad Days” weekend, you can ride unlimited rides on the trains. There are picnic areas and pavilions, playground equipment, and child and adult-sized pedal cars scattered around the site. I’ve been trying to work out a picnic there with all my children and grandchildren.
No connection to the business, just a satisfied customer.