Via the Traverse City Record Eagle.

At one time there was a small children's type zoo in Traverse City on the waterfront and it had a small train pulled by a steam engine that ran around it. The zoo closed a few years ago, but the train has remained and has been a local landmark... until now.

On Jan 3, 2011, Traverse City commissioners on Tuesday voted 6-1 to move ahead with plans for Clinch Park renovations that exclude the "Spirit of Traverse City", a steam-powered Traverse City tradition since 1982.

One commissioner cast a no vote. He called the train "unique," with fans all over the world.

The city will keep the train available until at least June 1 to give interested community groups time to draw up a plan to finance and move the train to a new location. It's "not likely" the train will run at the bayfront this summer, said city Manager Ben Bifoss.

Bob H

Traverse City is looking at getting rid of the train.

http://www.ci.traverse-city.mi.us/bids/train2012.pdf

Thanks for spotting/posting this....

if you read through the RFP you find the words...

'The proposals will be opened and studied to determine which is in the best interest of the “Spirit of Traverse City” train ride and the City of Traverse City'

which means it isn't "just for sale."

Bob H

Holy smoke, it carried 23,500 passengers during the 2011 season May 28-Sep 25. That's 4 months. That's with 3 cars with 12 seats per car.

It sure looks like there are a couple of places that the "Spirit of Traverse City" would fit well...in the open space between Boardman Lake and the library or the open space in front of the historic PM depot. Clearly the City is signaling that they want a local solution, so the issue is "who is going to step up to the plate"?

A couple of links:

http://www.traversehistory.org/Traverse ... etter.html
http://www.ci.traverse-city.mi.us/Parks ... -10-10.pdf
http://www.railroadmichigan.com/rrdtraversecity2.jpg

Craig Brinkman

Hull Park, the land between Boardman Lake and the Library, was looked at and is too small and hilly. Maybe a 200' diameter circle would fit.

I am not sure what the City is signaling as during the planning process for the "new" Clinch Park, the City has been against the train. There was talk in early 2011 about "relocating" the train, yet nothing came of it. During this whole process, the City never once asked for the requirements for the train/track. They were told later on (in mid 2011) and most of it was ignored.