CK&S

                



Historic Charlton Park

The next CK&S Railfan Festival will be at Historic Charlton Park

A sign in the old Delton Depot

"Here is the photo from the Delton Depot where my grandfather,
David Newell Honeywell, worked as station agent and telegrapher."


Here is a reconstruction of the sign hanging in the old Delton
Depot from the old photo submitted by David H. Honeywell.

<- click on the thumbnail for a larger view.

Historical Marker Dedicated

A Historicl Marker and Plaque was unveiled at 1:30PM Saturday at the 2nd Annual 2010 Railfan Festival in the Barry Township Park on Orchard Street. The 7-ton stone marker and bronze plaque were purchased with money raised from the 2009 festival.
<- click on the thumbnail for a closeup view.

2014 CK&S Railfan Festival

The festival will be held on Saturday, June 21st, 2014 from 10:00AM until 3:00PM at Historic Charlton Park, Hastings, MI

Download the Flyer!

Attractions this year will include:

Guest Speakers, Train Music, Model Train Displays, Souvenirs, Train Vendors and much more!

Historic Charlton Park
2545 S. Charlton Park Rd. * Hastings, MI 49058
Phone: 269-945-3775
Fax: 269-945-0390
e-mail - sgraham@barrycounty.org

Attention Vendors: Download the Vendor Registration Form.

Found for our archives!!!

Hunter's and Fisherman's Guide - Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw Ry

Festival Souvenirs

• $20 - Festival T-Shirts, bright Yellow (S,M,L,XL,XXL)
• $15 - "A Pictorial Journey Along The CK&S Railroad" DVD
•   $3 - Festival Buttons

Please contact Mike Madill at 269-623-6225 or: cksrailroad@hotmail.com to order. Shipping is extra. Checks & Money Orders only.

Lost & Found

FOUND: Photo of the Pavilion Depot in Pavilion Township (about five miles south east of Kalamazoo), the southern terminus of the CK&S. (Click the thumbnail for a larger image).

LOST: We are still searching for a photo of the Milo Depot for our collection. (And a better quality photo of the Pavilion Depot too).

More CK&S History...

A History of the Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw Railroad (in PDF format).

The above article was written by Florence Sergeant Lang in 1970 for the Barry County Historical Society. She was the daughter of CK&S Superintendent Lewis Sergeant.

Click here for links to a map of Michigan Railroads, circa 1921, and some articles from The Hastings Banner in 1909.

Donations Welcomed!

If you would like to make a donation to the CK&S Railfan Festival, please make a check or money order payable to John Conor. Mail to 11321 Fair Lake Drive, Delton, MI 49046. In the memo section write "CK&S Railfan Festival". All donations will be used to erect historical markers along the old CK&S Route.

The CK&S Railfan Festival is sponsored by KMRHS (Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society). If you would like to know more about KMRHS, visit their website at www.kmrhs.org or call (269) 343-8269. Thanks for your support and see you at this year’s festival.

CK&S Photos by pianoman4Jesus

I came across a posting linking to your CK&S website. Looks like you got it on-line before the one I was trying to do some years ago. Bravo!

Gallery of my CK&S related photos:

http://www.panoramio.com/user/376459/tags/CKS

CK&S Memories...

I just looked at your website and was most impressed. My experience is quite limited with the CK&S. I do have some memories though.

My one and only ride on the CK&S was in 1933 or 34. I was about 7 or 8 years old. My Dad took Mother and I to the Chicago Worlds Fair from Hastings. I can remember, in the early morning hours, going past Long Lake and seeing the fog lifting up out of the wetlands like little geysers. We went to the Frank Buck pavillion (he was a famous safari type of guy in those days) anyway, he had all kinds of animals on display. One was a tiny baby elephant, not as tall as me. The little bugger stuck his trunk inside my left pocket. Needless to say, I never forgot it. I wouldn't have that memory if not for the CK&S.

After the tracks were torn up I hiked the road bed from Hastings to M-43 and Herbert Road South of Delton. Well, most of the way. I got as far as Sager Road crossing and there was mean looking bull glaring over the fence at me. I took a detour. I got my hiking badge tho.

My mother went to school in Delton until the 10th grade. After that she commuted from Cloverdale to Hastings on the CK&S where she finished high school. Rode to Hastings on Monday Morning and back Friday night.

Sincerely yours,
Bud Texter
Dec 12, 2009

Class F-81 4-6-0 (CK&S No. 10, 12 & 13)


Wheel Arrangement 4-6-0
Total Length (including tender) 56' 9 1/8"
Maximum Height 14' 9 1/2"
Maximum Width 9' 2 1/2"
Total locomotive and tender weight (loaded) 338,700 lbs.
Weight of locomotive only 124,000 lbs.
Boiler pressure (maximum) 150 & 160 lb/sq in
Maximum tractive force 16,200 lbs & 17,300 lbs
Diameter of driving wheels 68"
Diameter of bogie wheels 33"
BOILER
Heating surface (firebox) 137.30 sq ft
Heating surface (small tubes) 1592.8 sq ft
Total heating surface 1730.1 sq ft
Firebox length 96 3/16"
Firebox width 42 7/8"
Grate area 286 sq ft
Small tubes 245 x 2" D
Large tubes -
TENDER
Coal capacity 12 tons
Water capacity 5,100 gallons
Weight (full) 114,700 lbs.
Wheel diameter 33"

2013 Festival Photos

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Mike Madill and his
Granddaughter Lucy

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Cofounder Mike Madill
sings CK&S train songs

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CK&S Storyboards
 

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CK&S sign &
Pickle Station

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Merchandise & History
 
 
 

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Speaker Joe Chandderdon
is a Parchment Historian
and his Father & Grandfather
worked for the CK&S

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Cofounder John Conor
listens to some
CK&S History
 

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Don Gerdts worked for the
Rock Island Line, shares
quirky Railroad tales
 

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Mike Dennany talked
about the Rail Post
Office (RPO) and
CK&S stocks

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Joe Chadderdon relaxes
and enjoys the fest
 
 

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John Mingles with
the crowd
 
 

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Tana Hardy & Eileen
Conor work the CK&S
Merchandise tables
 
 

 

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Tim Tilbury sings train
songs for the crowd
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Dave Honeywell. His
Grandfather worked at
the Delton Depot. The
sign next to him is a
replica of the sign
that hung in the
Delton Depot and his
Grandfather preserved
the sign

 

2009 Memorial Service Photos

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Memorial Service Attendees

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Memorial Service Attendees

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Memorial Service Attendees

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Memorial Service Attendees

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Relatives of CK&S employees

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Shultz Crash Site

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Mike Madill & Pastor Worden

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Mark Hewitt

Photos courtesy of J-Ad Graphics, Hastings. Order prints from Hastings Print Plus, 269-945-9105.

100th Anniversary Memorial Service

A memorial service was held on Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 at the Shultz crash site at 3:00PM (on the Mark Hewitt Farm, 4317 Tillotson Lake Rd). Approximately 80 people attended to hear the prayer and benediction by Pastor Jeff Worden.

CK&S Trestles - Present Day

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Thornapple River(Hastings)

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Kalamazoo River (Kalamazoo)

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Spring Brook (East Cooper)

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CK&S Trestle
Hastings, MI 1976

CK&S Memories...

"My name is Jack Osgood and I reside in Tucson, Arizona, but I was born and grew up in the little town of Woodland, Michigan. My Grandfather, Robert Grant Osgood was the CK&S station agent in Woodland from before I was born in 1926 until it was discontinued in 1937. I can remember waving goodbye to the last train to leave Woodland in 1937. After that, My Grandfather was transfered to Delton as the station agent there until he suffered a stroke in 1939 and was forced to retire but he got a pension from the CK&S Railroad company.

I bought my first bicycle from Montgomery & Wards in Chicago and it was shipped in a wooden crate to my Grandfather's depot in Woodland. During my growing up years in the 1930's in Woodland I was allowed to visit my Grandfather at the depot and play there with my friends. Many times when the train came to Woodland before going on to Woodbury my Grandfather would ride the train to Woodbury and back to deliver bills of lading and other paper work to the Woodbury office. Sometimes if I was there at the right time he would allow me to ride the train with him. Some times we rode in the big steam engine and other times we rode in the caboose. I was the envy of all my boy friends because of this.

I well remember Art Valentine who was the maintenance foreman on the Woodbury, Woodland and Coats Grove sections. He and one or two of his crew would travel up and down the line pumping a hand car loaded with their tools to perform the maintenance. When the line was discontinued and removed from Woodbury to Delton the rails were removed and the telegraph poles were cut down like trees. My Grandfather purchased all of telegraph poles between Hastings & Woodland and hired me and a friend to walk the line the 11 or 12 miles from Hastings to Woodland and count the number of poles that he had purchased.

I have many fine memories of my youth in Woodland and my association with the old Cow Kick Suzie railroad. Good luck with your celebration. I read about it in the Hastings Banner."

Cordially,
Jack Osgood, Tucson, AZ 85710
Jul 24, 2009

CK&S Memories...

"Hello Railfans.

I wanted to write you and thank you guys for all that you've done for the CK&S. I first learned about it years ago when I was a kid. I can't even say when.

I remember as a kid, playing around the elevators (both the ones on the east side of town, which was still open when I was young, as I remember going there to get a water bottle for my hamster, and on the south). I remember playing on the tracks that were in the cement there, but being a young lass, I never put two-and-two together. I often regret not having the hindsight to document all the little bits and pieces that were left at the time.

My father remembers the old depot in Woodland, which he thinks was tore down in the mid-60's, after being used for grain storage at the elevator.

I was at the memorial on Wednesday. It was very moving. I had goosebumps and tears all at the same time.

I really regret that I won't be able to make it to the festival on Saturday. I was really looking forward to it, and I really don't want to miss out on the DVD/t-shirt. Is there any way I could order them and have them mailed to me? I'd be more than happy to send a check for the cost, plus a donation. I'd love to see a Historical Marker next time I'm in Michigan! That would tickle me even more than CK&S Trail in Cloverdale!"

Thanks for everything,
Kaysie Cox, Woodland, MI
Jul 16, 2009

CK&S Additional Stops

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Crooked Lake

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Wall Lake Crossing

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Wall Lake Crossing

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Wall Lake Crossing

CK&S History

The CK&S Railroad ran from Kalamazoo, Michigan North-West to Woodbury, Michigan for about 44 miles. It operated from about 1886 to 1942.

Click here for map of Michigan Railroads, circa 1921.

Click here to view some articles from The Hastings Banner, July 21-28, 1909 (in PDF format).

Festival Contacts

Mike Madill 269-623-6225
cksrailroad@hotmail.com

John Conor 269-671-5011
jandeconor@tds.net


CK&S Depot Photos

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Woodbury Depot

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Woodbury Depot

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Woodland Depot

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Woodland Depot

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Coats Grove Depot

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Hastings Depot

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Shultz Depot

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Cloverdale Depot

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Delton Depot

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Delton Depot

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Delton Depot (1908)

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Cressey Depot

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Richland Junction Depot

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Kalamazoo Depot

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Pavilion Depot

Michigan Central Depot Photo’s in Barry County, MI

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Michigan Central Depot
Hastings, MI

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Michigan Central Depot
Middleville, MI

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Michigan Central Depot
Nashville, MI

Barry County Railroad Maps

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All Railroads Map
Barry County, MI

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1913 Map
Barry County, MI

More Photos

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Box cars at Shultz

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No. 10 at Woodbury

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No. 10 at Woodbury

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Snow Plow & No. 12

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No. 16 at Woodbury

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No. 16 at Woodbury

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No. 18 at Woodbury

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No. 21 at Woodbury

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Long Lake (Cloverdale)

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CK&S Tracks at Shultz