Port Huron & Detroit 52 Fund

Help move history!

The Port Huron & Detroit Railroad Historical Society is made possible because of supporters like you!

The Port Huron and Detroit 52 Fund is a drive for the PH&D Project 52, centering on locomotive 52, a unique piece of equipment. 52 was one of two American Locomotive Works “switcher class” or S-1 diesel locomotives erected at ALCO’s Schenectady, New York, USA shops. These locomotives were powered with an ALCO-designed 539 diesel engine, capable of producing 660 horsepower. Both locomotives 51 and 52 were delivered to the Port Huron & Detroit Railroad in 1945, making it the FIRST railroad in the State of Michigan to be completely dieselized, and one of the first in the country (there were other smaller railroads that dieselized as early as the late 1920s). For the next 25 years or so, locomotive 52 was the secondary use locomotive, with locomotive 60 (an S-2 that was acquired in 1948 to replace 51 once it was realized more horsepower was needed). Later, a used Baltimore & Ohio Railroad ALCO S-4 was purchased, which made 52 strictly a yard switcher and back-up power. When the PH&D was sold in 1984 to the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (also known as Chessie System by then), locomotive 52 was subsequently sold to Coe Rail of Walled Lake, MI, where it remained until 2008 when the successor company, Railmark, Inc. sold locomotive 52 to Knoxville Locomotive Works. In 2012, negotiations were started between the Port Huron & Detroit Historical Society and Knoxville Locomotive Works which led to the sale of locomotive 52 to the Society.

The Society’s primary interest here is to move PH&D 52 from Knoxville, TN to the PH&D office campus, which the Society purchased in 2007 (likewise also when the Society was established). The Society is looking to move locomotive 52 on flat car, which will involve a crane lift at Knoxville, TN, the rail move itself, then another lift at the wye and final placement. Once placed at the wye, the Society will need further funding to restore the locomotive.

The Society already has over $14,000 in pledges from gracious anonymous donors. This is where you come in. With your financial support of buying our fundraiser T-shirt, you too can take part in preserving this unique piece of Port Huron & Detroit Railroad history, TODAY!

So far, because of supporters like you, we have raised $4,400 for our $7,000 goal. Help us close the gap!

Please view our website for further information:

http://phdrailroad.com/