A Triple Crown RoadRailer has been preserved and put on display thanks to the Southern Michigan Railroad Society. 

The RoadRailer was created in the mid-20th century but took off in the 1980s. It allowed a trailer to be moved on the highway and railroad without being put on a flatcar, thanks to a wheelset that was placed between each trailer. Conrail and Norfolk Southern were among the largest users of the RoadRailer concept, but it eventually fell out of style. NS last used RoadRailer trains in 2024.

The RoadRailer at Southern Michigan in Clinton, Mich., includes the RoadRailer trailer, bogie, and CouplerMate. The group hopes to eventually put a display inside the trailer with artifacts and information about these innovative cars. 

The  Southern Michigan Railroad Society was formed in the 1980s to preserve and operate excursions on the state’s oldest branch line between Tecumseh and Clinton.

—Justin Franz