One big treasure trove and little discussed narrow gauge shop site that is reasonably intact that has always interested me is the narrow gauge Quincy & Torch Lake in Hancock, MI. While from photos it appears in poor shape, I am wondering what (if anything) is being done to preserve the site.2 engines, number 1 the Thomas F Mason and 5 the Opechee are still on the property, but in bad shape. Sadly 2 of the engines were taken off site, numbers 3 and 6, both at Flint MI, and the New Jersey Museum of transportation, respectively. I also understand there are 25+ ore cars with trucks on the site still as well. This site needs help. Can anyone provide further info?

I haven't been there yet, but have seen enough photos to understand what's being neglected at the site. In the 1960s, when it was pictured as "Dead but not buried" in Trains magazine. the enginehouse and site were largely as they had been left when the line shut down in 1945, though well weathered. The four engines were still inside the building, with quite a bit of track and rolling stock in place. In the 1970s, the locomotives were removed, with one now in New Jersey, one at Flint and the other two rusting away nearby at the Quincy No. 2 Hoist. The track in front of the enginehouse was removed so the big trucks could get in to remove the engines. With no care, the remaining wooden cars have largely disintegrated, though I'm not sure if any have been scrapped for their metal.The hoist association, which appears to have done a good job saving that structure and mechanism, briefly considered reviving the railroad as part of the exhibit, but quickly gave it up as too expensive. In the 1980s, a local person built a diesel-powered cog train car and installed this near the hoist as transportation between two of the related sites. Meanwhile, what's left of the railroad, as far as I know, still lies very derelict and neglected. Yet another historic railroad site with great potential to be restored as it once was, but largely ignored by everyone concerned.Here's a good site to get started for information on the Q&TL:http://www.copperrange.org/qtl.htm

This is all fine and dandy, but a couple of quick realizations by someone whose been there more than a couple of times:1.) This is located in an area with a very sparse population. I'm sorry, but one needs to go quite a few miles to get to almost anything. This doesn't help the cause when doing the "return on cost" factor of restoring the line, and there just isn't a huge population base to draw from to make a go of it.2.) The line was abandoned in 1945 for a reason, and sadly, although most would like to see it, its not exactly a "prefect site" for a tourist railway; the cost of rebuilding one of the original locomotives (which I would assume most would desire) alone would be so exorbinant that you would be so far in the hole that you'd never recover (assuming a for-profit venture), an effort that would be hard to foot for the Quincy area. In addition, there are no major employers or foundations willing to support this kind of effort by themselves in the U.P., and the State of Michigan can't afford to fund its restoration either, especially when they are debating whether or not to continue funding Amtrak's Pere Marquette and Blue Water in the L.P. Also, as was previously noted, most of the original equipment that could be hauled is beyond repair or gone --- so add in the cost of passenger car pruchase as well. 3.) Unless I'm missing something here, you gentleman are forgetting another important Q&TL engine, which will soon be operable again; the Torch Lake , the last operating Mason Bogie, at the Henry Ford Museum. While it may not be in its original location, it is (will be again) hauling passengers in a place that can afford to sustain itself, and it does not have to foot the entire bill!4.) While, as Bob noted, volunteers have done an admirable job with preserving the hoist, its taken every ounce of their effort and then some, which is why (and I believe correctly) they decided to forgo trying to restore the railroad AND the hoist with the limited manpower available. It would most likely take a completely separate organization to preserve the railroad, something like the EBT, and then another group, much like Friends of the EBT, to gelp restore what little remains.Sadly, you'd almost be better of to restore the logging engine in Nahma, or the Soo Line Pacific in Gladstone. TJ

Seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding. No where in my original post did I mention 'tourist railroad'. Quite the contrary. I would hate for something like that to happen.I meant stabilized, with cosmetic restorations.

My inference was basically stabilization and restoration of the site also. If one of the locomotives could be eventually made to run, great, but they would certainly be better off displayed under the roof of a restored roundhouse than they would rusting away in the open as they are now. Historic sites require a different mindset than other ventures. We should save them as they were, where they were, and if a credible historic site is developed, people will come to see it. The same ideas do not necessarily apply to a non-historic tourist railroad.

I agree Bob. This site is deliteful in that it does not seem to be threatened by devolpment...and so much equipment is still there. I beleive the remains of the caboose are still there along with the 30 or so ore cars. This would be a great way to tell the story of the copper mining history of Michigan, and how a narrow gauge time capsule survived all this time.

The Q&TL never had a mason bogie It had 6 locomotives with #s 1-4 being 2-6-0s and the #5 an inside frame 2-8-0 and the #6 an outside frame 2-8-0. Plus the mason bodie you talk about (from what I remember) is not 3ft gauge. The Q&TL is three foot gauge.-Eric

I would also add that the former Crowell Family Sawmill in Long Leaf, Louisiana was a similiar site in a location far from any big city. (Shreveport is about a half hour away IIRC; Lake Charles about an hour.) The site was also made into a museum, and stabilization of the buildings and equipment has been an ongoing effort.It has finally got some well-deserved publicity as well as recognition from the state over the years. It has not recieved much in the way of state money; but they have been having machinery meets and other events as well revenue from ticket sales. They also sell rides on speeder on the tracks around the grounds.I think the remoteness of the site was what saved it; had it been in a big city; redevelopment pressures and value of the land itself would have made saving it more difficult. As it was; it could lay fallow for about thirtyyears until the museum was formed.-James Hefner Hebrews 10:20a Surviving World Steam Project

He was referring to the C&H mining co. Torch Lake. (former narrow gauge engine of 4'1) If I recall, the Q&TL and former H&TL were owned by the same firm. Certainly they hauled the same product, though.

The Mason- Torch Lake is operable, and has been since I believe 2001 after a rebuild that began after the 1996 running season. The Torch Lake is currently standard guage.