Pere Marquette 1223

Pere Marquette 1223 is a steam locomotive in Grand Haven built in 1941 by Lima Locomotive Works with a 2-8-4 wheel arrangement. It sits at its permanent location along the Grand River with a restored steel boxcar and two cabooses.

This engine was built in 1941 and hauled essential freight between Chicago and Detroit during World War II for the Pere Marquette Railway. It nearly faced the scrapyard after the war until the 1960 rescue effort saved it from that fate.

School children from Michigan saved the locomotive in 1960 by raising funds to prevent it from being scrapped. This grassroots effort shows how the public valued and protected railroad heritage.

The locomotive is located at a public riverside site where it and its companion cars are freely accessible for viewing. The setting provides straightforward access and clear sightlines to all the equipment.

Only two Berkshire-type locomotives from the Pere Marquette Railway survived to today, and this is one of them, still bearing its original 1941 number. This rarity makes it a valuable record of this locomotive class.

Location: Grand Haven

GPS coordinates: 43.06778,-86.23000

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:30