Durand Union Station-Michigan Railroad History Museum

Durand Union Station-Michigan Railroad History Museum http://www.durandstation.org Railroad History Museum
Historic Train Station built in 1903, burned and rebuilt in 1905.
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Handicapped entry, elevator to second floor.

There’s a reason trains have earned a reputation for being some of the toughest machines ever built.Just look at some of...
09/02/2026

There’s a reason trains have earned a reputation for being some of the toughest machines ever built.

Just look at some of the harrowing footage making its way around social media lately. Earlier this summer, a Canadian National freight train near Armstrong, Ontario, found itself surrounded by a raging wildfire. Flames were visible on both sides of the locomotive, with fire literally surrounding the cab. The crew was eventually evacuated safely.

And then there’s the footage of a freight train caught in a tornado during the 2024 Nebraska tornado outbreak. The tornado derailed 31 cars; yet the engineer and conductor walked away unharmed.
These aren't machines designed for gentle conditions. They're built to haul enormous loads, operate for hours on end, withstand extreme weather, and keep moving across thousands of miles of track.

Top photo is a screen grab from a video posted by Sol Mamakwa on X. Bottom photo is a screen grab from on TikTok. Links are posted in the comments.

Today’s we are featuring the Michigan Central station in Horrigan 🚂 Horrigan was a small railroad community in Crawford ...
08/31/2026

Today’s we are featuring the Michigan Central station in Horrigan 🚂

Horrigan was a small railroad community in Crawford County, located about five miles south of Grayling along the Michigan Central’s Mackinaw Branch. The railroad connected the area with Grayling and other communities farther north, while also providing access to the forests and industries that shaped northern Michigan.

The photograph here shows the Michigan Central depot at Horrigan in 1918, captured as part of a railroad evaluation. More than a century later, the railroad remains active in the area: the Lake State Railway operates a yard near Four Mile Road, serving several forest-products customers.

Sources listed in comments. Photo is from CMU Library via Michigan Railroad History’s website.

08/26/2026

Caught on Main Street in Durand. Train central!

Today’s featured depot is the Detroit & Mackinac depot in Lachine 🚂Lachine, located in Alpena County, was settled about ...
08/21/2026

Today’s featured depot is the Detroit & Mackinac depot in Lachine 🚂

Lachine, located in Alpena County, was settled about 1909.

The settlement sat along the Detroit & Mackinac’s (D&M) Hillman Branch which ran from Hillman Junction (near Alpena) west to Hillman. Lachine had a fairly large passenger station.

Sources listed in comments.

Wow! What a morning! 🚂CN’s 250th Whistle Stop Tour here at Durand Union Station was a tremendous success! Today was a ce...
08/19/2026

Wow! What a morning! 🚂

CN’s 250th Whistle Stop Tour here at Durand Union Station was a tremendous success! Today was a celebration of railroading - past and present - and a wonderful example of the way a community and a railroad can come together to celebrate the history that connects us.

One quote from today really captured the spirit of the event. Durand native and CN employee Nick Clark reminded us:

“History is still being written in communities like Durand.”

And today, we certainly added another chapter. ❤️

A huge THANK YOU to Canadian National , our depot staff and volunteers, and our local law enforcement and safety personnel for helping make this event such a success and ensuring everything ran smoothly and safely.

Most of all, thank you to everyone who came out and helped us celebrate. We’re proud to be a railroad community, proud of our history, and proud to continue making it.

On March 27, 1960, thousands gathered at Durand Union Station to witness the arrival of Grand Trunk Western Train No. 21...
08/19/2026

On March 27, 1960, thousands gathered at Durand Union Station to witness the arrival of Grand Trunk Western Train No. 21, the last regularly scheduled passenger steam train in the United States. It was a day that became part of railroad history.

Now, history is coming back to the depot as Canadian National's 250th Whistle Stop Tour makes its stop in Durand TODAY!

We can't wait to welcome another crowd of railroad enthusiasts, families, and community members. As you enjoy the event, please remember: NO PHOTO IS WORTH RISKING YOUR SAFETY. Stay off the tracks at all times, obey railroad personnel, and watch trains only from designated public areas.

Let's make this another memorable day - for all the right reasons!

🚂 What is a Slot Train?A slot train is a specialized maintenance-of-way train designed to help keep railroad tracks and ...
08/19/2026

🚂 What is a Slot Train?

A slot train is a specialized maintenance-of-way train designed to help keep railroad tracks and infrastructure in working order. These trains can carry an excavator and move material along the railroad, allowing crews to clean ditches, clear areas around signals, and perform other maintenance work in places traditional equipment may not be able to reach.

They may look like an unusual freight train, but they can be an important part of keeping the railroad running safely!

Today’s featured depot is the Michigan Central station in Mount Forest 🚂Mount Forest, located in Bay County, was settled...
08/14/2026

Today’s featured depot is the Michigan Central station in Mount Forest 🚂

Mount Forest, located in Bay County, was settled about 1888. It was a former sawmill town that sat along the Michigan Central’s (MC) Gladwin Branch. Mount Forest was also a junction for a logging line that left Gladwin and went north to Bentley.

The depot here was small and shanty-like. We do not believe it exists anymore.

Sources for info/photo are listed in the comments.

There’s something really special about hearing how our community sees the depot. ❤️At National Night Out, we asked peopl...
08/11/2026

There’s something really special about hearing how our community sees the depot. ❤️

At National Night Out, we asked people what Durand Union Station means to them or what they know about it. One of our favorite answers came from a 7-year-old, who smiled and said, “They always have stuff for kids there.”

We couldn’t have asked for a better reminder of why we do what we do. The depot isn’t just a historic building. It is a place where families make memories, children discover history, and community comes together.

Thank you all for making the depot a place that feels like home to so many. 🚂

As we count down to **Canadian National's 250th Whistle Stop Tour** arriving at Durand Union Station, we thought it woul...
08/08/2026

As we count down to **Canadian National's 250th Whistle Stop Tour** arriving at Durand Union Station, we thought it would be fun to share a few facts about CN and its history over the next couple of weeks.

Did you know the CN Tower in Toronto was actually built by Canadian National Railway Company? 🚂

Completed in 1976, the tower was constructed as a communications tower to improve television and radio signal transmission while also serving as a powerful symbol of Canada's innovation and engineering. At the time, it was the tallest free-standing structure in the world, and today it remains one of Canada's most recognizable landmarks. Visitors can ride to the top for breathtaking views, enjoy the observation decks, or even dine in the revolving restaurant.

It's incredible to think that one of the world's most famous landmarks has its roots in a railroad company!

Be sure to follow along as we share more interesting CN history leading up to the 250th Whistle Stop Tour here at Durand Union Station. We can't wait to welcome everyone for this special event! 🎉

Address

200 S Railroad Street
Durand, MI
48429

Opening Hours

Tuesday 1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 1pm - 5pm
Thursday 1pm - 5pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+19892883561

Website

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