Handicap Railcar Projectof As you read this, much of the early industrial equipment used to build West Michigan is rotting, rusting or being cut up and sold for scrap. The Industrial Heritage Society's goal is to preserve this early heritage for the edification of future generations. The Industrial Heritage Society is an independent, non-profit off-shoot of the Coopersville and Marne Railway. The C&M is an all volunteer, family friendly, recreational railway that runs between Coopersville and Marne Michigan. Railway members realized the railway alone would not be able to raise the funds necessary to renovate structures and rolling stock. At the same time, the C&M was receiving and increasing number of requests regarding the handicap accessibility for the C&M activities, so the WMIHS was formed.
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Braun Corporation Donates Lift In conjunction with Clock Conversions of Grand Rapids, the Braun Corporation Midwest Regional Sales Manager, Tim Hargis announced the donation of the handicap lift for this project. Thank You Tim & The Braun Corporation!
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The Society's goal
is to purchase a suitable rail car, outfit it with a handicap
lift, and provide necessary handicap accessible facilities to
accommodate the special needs of physically disabled individuals.
The Coopersville & Marne Railway has provided a letter of
intent to operate the car and provide educational, historical
and railway safety information to its riders. |
ALL Aboard Campaign
The Western Michigan Society for Industrial Heritage was recently awarded challenge grants from the Steelcase Foundation, Meijer Corporation and Ed & Nancy Hanenburg Community Foundation Fund. These grants bring the fundraising for the Handicap Railcar Project to 90% of the $125,000 project total. The challenge grants also bring a deadline to raise the remaining $11,000 by October 31, 2008!* Donations and memberships are needed immediately to meet these challenge grants. Click the image above for more details on the ALL Aboard Campaign or go to the Handicap Railcar Project. *Matching fund requirements were met with a generous donation from Phil Gordon and his wife, Elizabeth Hekman-Gordon in honor of their son/stepson, Thomas James Gordon. Thank You Gordons! click on the image above to go to the campaign website. |
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California State Railroad Foundation Musuem's renovated St. Hyacinthe (left) is built to the same plan as the Handicap Railcar Project's La Reine (right). | |||||||
| The Society identified a suitable rail car and in November of
2005 purchased a former Pennsylvania Pullman rail car. Built by the Pullman Palace Company in 1929, it was initially
christened, the La Reine and operated on the Louisville and Nashville, Panamerican line. Original construction plans, Floor
Plan No. 3973 A (4.8mb pdf), for this all-steel, heavyweight
rail car were obtained by member Jim Winslow. Member Winslow has
also reconstructed the service history of this car and his article, La
Reine to Live Again (MSWord®) was submitted for publication in
the Pennsylvania Technical & Historical Society's publication, The Keystone. |
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The Society has managed to procure challenge grants from the Steelcase Foundation, Meijer Corporation, and the Ed & Nancy Hanenburg Community Foundation Fund required the balance of the project total to be raised by October 31, 2008. An ALL Aboard Campaign has been initiated to raise the remainder of the $11,000 needed to meet the challenge grants and finalize the total project budget of $125,000. This matching grant requirement was met with a generous donation from Phil Gordon & Elizabeth Hekman-Gordon in honor of their son, Thomas James Gordon. The initial budget and fundraising goal was set assuming skilled trade labor donations from the former GM/Delphi plant and the use of the unoccupied Meijer Corp. warehouse which had an interior siding. Unfortunately, the Delphi plant closed and Meijer is now utilizing the warehouse for new store materials staging. Current plans are to construct a new siding in the C&M railyard and construct a greenhouse-style car shop in which to complete the renovations. Additional donations towards these projects in the form of funds or in-kind services are still appreciated. Anyone wishing to contribute to this project as a principle donor or contributor is asked to contact any of the officers or board members. Any and all assistance will be welcomed and be recognized in a permanent plaque prominently mounted in the finished car. For information about membership, donations, contributions or presentations e-mail, write or call: |
Coopersville Area Community Foundation
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Philip Cok, President, PO Box 273, Coopersville, MI 49404 Jeff DuPilka, Vice-President, PO Box 188, Allendale, MI 49401 Mary Chubinski, Sec/Treasurer, 561 Maryland, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
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| Officers & Board of Directors | Ryan Byle Future Plans | Membership Application Form (pdf) | This page last updated: July 19, 2010 |
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The Handicap Accessible Rail Car Project was the initial impetus for
the development of the Industrial Heritage Society and is written
into the 
We regret to announce that Ed Helzer passed away 23 June 2005 before he could realize the completion of this dream. Please help us ensure others can realize Ed's dream.
