Membership
Memberships have increased $5 in 2019 -- pay by Feb. 29 to qualify to vote.
Membership is how you show your support for Michigan's railroad history! You'll receive our newsletter, the Railway Express, and learn all about what it takes to keep this railroad up. You can attend training sessions, membership meetings, and even vote on key decisions and help elect our Board. Members get to ride the train for free during the summer season. Membership is at a bargain price:
Regular (18 years and older) - $30
Family (one adult and related children or two related adults) - $50
Junior (16-17 years old) - $25
Sponsor (individuals, corporations and other organizations) - $60
Membership begins on the 1st of the month following receipt of dues, with annual renewal dates of January for those who join October through March and June for those who join April through September. There is a 30 day grace period for renewal.
Renew Online
Existing members can renew online.
Click here for Regular member renewal.
Click here for a Family member renewal.
Click here for a Junior member renewal.
Join by Mail or in Person
Click here to print a copy of our membership form.
Multiply your Membership - Make a Difference by Volunteering
As an all volunteer operation, the Southern Michigan Railroad provides a broad range of opportunities in which to volunteer. Whether you're a train enthusiast, a railroad history buff, or you're wanting to learn firsthand what railroading is all about, SMRS matches volunteers' interests and skills with the Museum's needs. Some of our volunteer positions available include:
Train Crew - Our bread and butter is the passenger train. What fun it is to help with that! You can meet and greet our visitors as a Station Agent, get your hands on a real train as a Brakeman, and work up to Conductor or Engineer! Because of our small size, that can really happen - we want to expand our operations, just need the crews.
Track Crew - Maintain the right-of-way, replace ties, signals or crossings, and control brush and weed growth. Learn to inspect the rail and bridges for safe train operations.
Restoration - Help refurbish and restore locomotives, passenger cars and cabooses to use in train service or static displays.
General Maintenance - Keep our yard, station, trains, buildings, and right-of-way clean and repaired.
Museum Docents - Assist the Curator with school programs and events, for charter excursions. Research historical events, building, and equipment used on the Clinton Branch.
Flexible Scheduling & Tax Deductible!
Volunteers primarily work on the weekends; however, there is also weekday tours requiring train crews, or restoration, mechanical, and museum work that volunteers can also do during the week. Some train crew positions require minimum hours, number of trips, or days worked to maintain certification or move to other train crew positions.
Because we are a non-profit organization under IRS 501(c)(3), some expenses are tax deductible: membership dues, donations of money or materials, and vehicle mileage traveling to and from the museum for volunteer duties.