History of the Railcars

Our equipment consist today is made up of a locomotive, four railcars and an operating caboose.

1917-built Delaware Lackawanna & Western railcars
The first two railcars are 1917-built Delaware Lackawanna & Western self-propelled commuter cars that were used in and out of Manhattan. In 1930 these very railcars were among a group passenger cars retrofitted with the first ever electric service to be provided on a railroad passenger car.

On September 3, 1930 electrical operations on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western’s Hoboken and Montclair, New Jersey line were inaugurated. A special ten car train carrying railroad officers and their guests made the initial trip between the two points, using, we believe, both of these two railcars. Among the group of approximately 300 guests onboard the inaugural trip was Thomas A. Edison. The electrical propulsion systems were designed by Mr. Edison and Edison was the engineer on the first regularly scheduled train in and out of New York using these railcars.

These passenger cars were in continuous use up and until they were purchased by this railroad in 1986. The cars looked much like you see them today, with the exception of the new windows added. A third car is currently being restored to its original 1930 state, after the installation of this first-ever electrical service in a railcar. All of these cars still have the original motorman’s controls.

Milwaukee Road Tip Top Tap Car Lounge
One of eight cars of this type ever built, only two exists today and the Walled Lake Scenic Railway has the only operating version of this car, while the other is on static display in Kansas City.

The car was built by the Milwaukee road in their Milwaukee shops after World War II, in order to provide its passengers with an relaxing lounge setting while traveling by train. This unique art deco designed bar still contains the original Milwaukee Road markings on the top of the bar along with the original configuration. This car was #167 and fifth in the series of eight. This design was the second generation “Tap Lounge Cars” built by the Milwaukee Road.

The original series was built after World War I as Lounge-Baggage Cars and the bar was at the front of the train. The second design change allowed the car to be placed in the train between the first class and coach sections of the train. Due to its popularity the cars were named the “Tip Top Tap Lounge Cars” and today the Walled Lake Scenic Railway continues that tradition.

Grand Trunk Railroad Baggage Car
While this car is a standard clestory, 1920’s railcar, the Walled Lake Scenic Railway has converted it into a 50-person open air lounge car and commissary car. We have decorated its interior with large railroad photos and signs from US and English railroads.

The caboose
While our caboose is on the train for operational purposes, it too is historic. It was built in 1947 for the Port Huron & Detroit Railway which was owned by Morton Salt of Canada and nicknamed “The Doctor Route”.

Locomotive no. 1512
Our locomotive #1512 was built in 1960 for the Grand Trunk Railroad.