Silver Lake Express - St. Ignace MI

Address: US-2
City: St. Ignace
State: MI
Zip: 49781
County: Mackinac
Number of visits to this page: 3343
Disclaimer:

Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance, features, addresses, phone numbers, or contact names of the attraction. This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. We ask you consult the propietor for current information.

General Information:

From Glen F on Flickr: This attraction was originally based within the Mystery Spot attraction premises in 1960. It was built by Mackinac Amusement Company. It originally ran along Silver Lake, the total trip was 19 minutes. The owners of the train and Mystery Spot had a disagreement and the train was either moved or re-rerouted depending on who you talk to. The locomotive used was a B20 Ottaway Streamliner, a design based on the futuristic GM "Aerotrain" which was built new for the company by the Ottaway Amusement Company of Wichita, Kansas.

The following year (1961) a second locomotive was added from Chance Rides, one of their steam-outline "CP Huntington's". This was the fourth one they built (hence the number 4 on the side). The tradition of putting the locomotive works number on the side is still mostly continued today and they're now up into the 400s.

In 1962, apparently after a disagreement, the railroad became an independent attraction and the sole property of Emil Syversen, one of the original partners. The track was rerouted away from the Mystery Spot and a new station and parking lot was built on the main US-2 road to the south. The railroad seems to have closed in the 1980s. The original building was moved to the Deer Ranch attraction nearby.

From RailroadFan.com

The #4 (C.P. Huntington) was sold to Story Land in Glen, New Hampshire and is still in service. Also confirmed that the Ottaway Aerotrain was sold to the Ellis Railroad Museum in Ellis, Kansas (apparently in 1993). It also is still in service.

Info Updates:
10/14/2022 - Alex Begler
Just an update on the Aerotrain which is now at the Ellis Railroad Museum in Ellis, Kansas. The train was restored a few years back and looks and runs great. It''s being enjoyed by many along the track set up at Ellis. I can send a few updated pictures if you can tell me where to send them.
 Photos:13
Silver Lake Express - Old Postcard
Old Postcard
Silver Lake Express - Old Postcard View Of Cp Huntington Train
Old Postcard View Of Cp Huntington Train
Silver Lake Express - Ottawa Aerotrain Now At Ellis Railroad Museum In Kansas
Ottawa Aerotrain Now At Ellis Railroad Museum In Kansas
Silver Lake Express - Old Postcard View Of Cp Huntington Train
Old Postcard View Of Cp Huntington Train
Silver Lake Express - Old Postcard View Of Cp Huntington Train
Old Postcard View Of Cp Huntington Train
Silver Lake Express - Old Postcard
Old Postcard
Silver Lake Express - Old Postcard
Old Postcard
Silver Lake Express - Postcard
Postcard
Silver Lake Express - Postcard
Postcard
Silver Lake Express - Postcard
Postcard
Silver Lake Express - Postcard
Postcard
Silver Lake Express - Orginal Building Now In Use At Deer Ranch Attraction
Orginal Building Now In Use At Deer Ranch Attraction
Silver Lake Express - 1954 Aerial Photo Of Possible Location
1954 Aerial Photo Of Possible Location
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