The Southern Michigan Railroad Society strives to preserve railroad history of both our rail line and the surrounding area. This mission is made possible by the passengers aboard our trains and through the many generous donations from our community and supporters. Every donation helps us improve our reach as an organization, from supporting the restoration and maintenance of our vintage railroad equipment to helping us create new experiences that enhance our interpretation of railroad history.
Your donation, large or small, helps us continue to offer a meaningful railroad experience for future generations and ensure that our collection remains available for all to explore. Please browse the wish list below for items we can use to support our mission. If there is an item you wish to donate, please contact us! We would love to discuss how your donation can help us continue to tell our story.
Our Wish List
Equipment
- Locomotives: Operational or serviceable diesel-electric locomotives
- Freight Cars: Cabooses, box cars, gondolas, tank cars, hopper cars, flat cars, and many other types of freight equipment
- Passenger Cars: Open-window coaches that are equipped for passenger service, baggage cars, and other types of passenger equipment
- Track Maintenance Equipment: Motorcars, hi-rail vehicles, tie inserters, spikers, tampers, ballast regulators, tie cranes
- Construction Equipment: backhoes, dump trucks, skid steers, excavators, tractors, forklifts, air compressors, trailers
Tools
- Welding equipment and supplies
- Hand tools
- Power tools (battery or plug-in)
- Metalworking tools
- Wood working tools
- Air and hydraulic hoses
- Track maintenance tools: spike pullers, spike mauls, gauge bars, track wrenches, track jacks, air-operated impacts, air-operated tampers, air-operated spikers
- Chain saws and pole saws
- Jacks
Supplies
- Paint
- Lumber
- Metal
- Hardware
Artifacts
- Signs
- Uniforms
- Lanterns
- Paperwork
- Photographs
- Drawings
Museum and Giftshop
- Televisions
- Projectors
- Display cases
- Folding tables
- Pop-up tents
- Picture frames
- Retail display shelves/racks
Special Notes: Our rail line is not connected to the general railroad system. Railroad equipment must be transported over the road to reach our collection. While we have done this in the past, we may not be able to accept every donation; however, we will entertain all offers. For artifacts and railroad equipment, our preference is focused on items related to our specific railroad line and/or items having significance to greater Michigan railroad history.
Thank you for your consideration!
This is not a comprehensive list of the tools and materials we need to keep our trains rolling and our grounds looking great. If you have anything you think may help us, please reach out! Your support will help us continue to share our collection and tell the story of railroading for years to come. Thank you!