Although this is not directly related to steaming other than you can do this
while attending the Shay Days Steam-up. I felt it may be of interest to
everyone. I believe this is the first tour of this type to be made available.
GPS Tour of Ephraim Shay's Hemlock Central Railroad
History meets technology! The Harbor Springs Area Historical Society, a
non-profit historical organization, is pleased to announce that they have
published a Global Positioning System (GPS) Tour of Ephraim Shay's Hemlock
Central Railroad. Visit over forty-five historical locations on this tour by
using a GPS receiver. The locations have been carefully picked-out by Bruce
Gathman, Shay Historian, Charles Conn and Jon Phillips. An overall picture of
the railroad's fifty plus miles of trackage, some of Shay's more notable
endeavors in the area, and other historical logging and railroad spots are
highlighted.
The tour booklet includes a map of the area covered, a how-to guide on
identifying old railroad grades, a list of titled Latitude and Longitude
waypoints, and a brief historical description of each location being visited.
Additionally there have been five caches placed at key points on the tour.
These caches include a log book to record each visitor and his comments, a more
complete historical description of the spot, a photograph of Shay historical
scenes, and a "treasure" that can be collected to prove that you visited each
cache.
Using the tour booklet and starting at the waypoints provided the family can
spend many hours of enjoyable time exploring the remote northern areas of Emmet
County, Michigan and Shay's Hemlock Central Railroad and other historical
logging operations. Most of the waypoints can be reached by your vehicle but
some do require a 4-wheel drive vehicle or a short walk. The entire tour covers
about sixty road miles and can be done in small segments as time permits.
This tour is a great way to see and understand how a narrow gauge logging
railroad operation was laid out utilizing the topography of the area to the
builder's advantage. It is unique in that it makes use of the GPS satellites to
locate the old grades. You may also use the tour at home on your desktop
computer with a suitable mapping program, such as DeLorme Topo USA or similar
programs. You may plan your route using the waypoints or add your own research
from your visit to the railroad.
The booklets may be obtained for a donation of $10.00 plus $2.50 shipping, by
check or money order to the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society, P.O. Box ,
Harbor Springs, Michigan 49740 or from Bruce Gathman, 6200 South State Road,
Harbor Springs, Michigan 49740. Copies are also available at the annual "Shay
Days" festival held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the third weekend of July
annually. The festival programs are conducted in Shay's house, "The Hexagon",
at 398 East Main Street. For further information contact Bruce Gathman at
231-526-0174 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Doing Research on Ephraim Shay; the Man, His Inventions, and His Railroad!
Bruce G.Gathman
6200 State Road
Harbor Springs, Michigan
231.526.0174
