The charter that was received in 1833 granted them the ability to create a 46-mile-long (74 km) railway that would run through Clinton, Michigan and finish in Jacksonburgh (which is now known as Jackson).
However, starting in the 1930s the use of the train began to dwindle due to increasing automobile ridership.
In 1963 and 1965 the tracks between Clinton and Jackson were removed, cutting the branch off from businesses.
The society continues to preserve, restore, and to educate the public about the first railroad in Michigan.
They offer various trips on the remaining tracks of what used to be an operating railroad, and work on a volunteer basis.