The Tecumseh Autumn Turn departs from DOWNTOWN TECUMSEH, MI where M-50 crosses Evans and the RR track. Follow signs for exact boarding location within 1 block of M-50, probably in front of "The Quilt Patch" -- but watch for signs indicating another point.
We are a small all-volunteer nonprofit preserving a historic railroad line - the only one dedicated to historic preservation. We do not have a building in Tecumseh - find the train!
Tecumseh's Autumn Turn on Michigan's heritage railroad
The railroad is the genuine article - Michigan's first branch line railroad, built in 1837 in the Michigan Territory, only 7 years after America's first railroad! This is the only historic railroad in the state preserved by a nonprofit.
The train is historic too - some of them even date from this very railroad! Ride in historic South Shore coach #1. Or reserve a seat in a caboose that ran this line. The open-air gondola car also ran this line before working on Zug Island.
The train will be pulled by one of the first diesel engines ever made, dating to World War II. Reserve today online.
New in 2018!
Groups are once again welcome for all but Appleumpkin. Contact the office directly.
It's a totally new ride. The bridge between Tecumseh and Clinton is overhauled - and you'll cross it twice. Since the turnaround point is remote, we don't disembark people, which wasn't fun anyway for people with disabilities. Unlike past Fall Color Tours, which were a 2-hour experience with a stop for cider and donuts, we cover most of the distance (skipping only the boring industrial districts of Clinton) -- but this ride is about a 55 minute experience, and then we return to lovely Tecumseh.
I'm not supposed to tell you this, but our volunteer Track Crews are working hard on something new. Time is tight, but if they succeed, we may go the other direction from Tecumseh, and ride a previously-unavailable section of the railroad, high along the bluffs overlooking the Raisin River Valley. In that case the boarding point will move about a block, just south of Evans St. Station, but there'll be signs.
No worries on booking the open-air car - seats in that car are refundable for weather. You can still book the entire Memorial Caboose exclusively for your party. The caboose seats 20 at windows and that is the maximum allowed on a whole-caboose ticket; if you want to add additional riders, please contact the office.
Rode last year? Please make your party members aware of the VERY different ride!
You can Reserve Today online.
It's the easiest way to pay with a credit card and assure you a seat. But don't worry, you can walk up too! Tickets will appear on your credit card statement as Fareharbor.
DATES:
October 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, and 27-28.
Tecumseh's Appleumpkin Festival is October 13-14, and we leave from the middle of the Festival. GIve extra time for parking!!!
TIMES:
10:30 - Noon (shows 11:55) - 2:00 - 3:30 - 5:00 - - - - - BOOK HERE ONLINE
Location: Downtown Tecumseh - where M-50 crosses Evans St and the Railroad
Tecumseh is on M-50 about 20 miles east of Dundee. For metro Detroit riders we recommend coming via Dundee - US-23 and M-50 are faster than pokey-slow US-12 through Saline.
Follow the signs on the sidewalk -- the boarding area could be one of two places (depending on what our track crews come up with)!
Fares (ROUND TRIP):
Adult (age 13-64) -- $14.65
Youth (ages 2-12) -- $10.45
Senior (age 65+) -- $13.60
Babies under 2 -- no ticket needed.
Entire Caboose up to 20 people -- $231 (no walk-up sales)
people over 20 extra, contact the office.
Above pricing includes online service fee (which we don't get). Phone sale, add an extra $1/ticket. Walk-ups, subtract about $1.50. For groups over 20 contact us
Seats in the open-air gondola only are refundable for weather - either rain or temperatures under 50 at train time. This can be either actual weather, or that expected in the 24-hour forecast as of 24 hours prior to train. (we don't cancel Before 24 hours out, because Michigan weather is so full of surprises!) Honestly, we don't worry about it that much -- but we have one very firm rule, don't book several dates and try to cancel all but one of them: One refund per customer per season. Call or email for refunds starting 24 hours before train time, and your last chance is 48 hours after train time.
Mobility limitations? Please see our Accessibility page. It is not possible to pull a car directly up to the train. There are handicap spots within 200 feet of the train, but those are shared with other downtown businesses.
We do not have a depot building in Tecumseh. See conductor for "will call" or lost tickets.
BATHROOMS -- are not available on the train, due to the historic nature of the train.