[6] It operates a heritage railroad which offers occasional passenger excursion trains using steam locomotives: Pere Marquette 1225 and Chicago and North Western 175.
The Dean of the College of Engineering was not convinced, so then University President John Hannah, accepted the 1225 as a contribution to the MSU Museum.
[9] There it sat, getting an occasional coat of paint and was opened to the public on football weekends until 1969 when a group of students took an interest in the locomotive.
The Michigan State University Railroad Club was formed by student rail fans who were interested in trains and locomotives in general.
In 1970, at the suggestion of Randy Paquette, they adopted the ambitious goal of restoring the 1225 and using it to power excursion trains that would bring passengers to football games at the university.
The SRI purchased the building in 2004 and renovated it as their Visitor Center containing exhibits, a model train layout, and the museum's artifact and archives collection.