On the Rails Since 1850

Before Coldwater had highways, before it had storefronts and streetlights, it had rails. And where those rails met the town, stories were born.

Trainwreck Grill & Ale House in Coldwater, Michigan, restored in the historic freight house — The historic wooden freight house at 32 Railroad Street—once built for cargo and commerce—now restored as Trainwreck Grill & Ale House.

When the Trains First Arrived

In December of 1850, Coldwater gathered with anticipation. At noon, the town’s first freight train rolled in, taking on a load of flour. Later that afternoon—around 4:15 PM—a crowd assembled again, this time to witness something even more remarkable: the arrival of the first passenger train.

That moment changed everything. The whistle, the steam, the movement of people and goods marked Coldwater’s transformation from a quiet settlement into a connected community—linked to opportunity far beyond Branch County.

The Old Road to the Midwest

By February 20, 1852, Coldwater became a stop along the Michigan Southern Railroad’s Toledo–Chicago route. For a time, this line—later known as “The Old Road”—was one of the only continuous rail connections between the East Coast and Chicago.

Passengers arrived carrying news, letters, ambition, and hope. Freight cars hauled agricultural goods, raw materials, and supplies that fueled the region’s growth. The rails didn’t just pass through Coldwater— they anchored it.

History of 32 Railroad Street

Early Settlement Era

Before rails or depots, Coldwater began as a trading post—shaped by movement, exchange, and the promise of connection.

1822–1831 Early settlers establish a trading post. The village, first known as Lyons, is platted in 1831 and later renamed Coldwater in 1833 by founders Allen Tibbits and Joseph Hanchett.

The Arrival of the Railroad

The sound of the whistle announced a new future—one that would tie Coldwater to the wider Midwest and beyond.

1850 The Michigan Southern Railroad pushes west. Citizens of Coldwater advocate for a rail line to serve the growing community.

December 10, 1850 Coldwater’s first freight train arrives at noon. Later that afternoon, around 4:15 PM, the first passenger train rolls into town—marking a major community milestone.

February 20, 1852 The Michigan Southern Railroad completes the Toledo–Chicago route via Coldwater, later known as “The Old Road.”

The Depot Years

As rail traffic grew, Coldwater’s depot evolved—from a simple wooden structure to a lasting brick landmark.

Until 1883 A wooden-frame depot serves Coldwater’s passengers and freight during the railroad’s formative decades.

December 20, 1883 The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway replaces the wooden depot with a new brick Italianate-style building—the depot that still stands today.

The Freight & Transition Era

Passenger trains faded, but the depot endured—adapting to freight service as transportation and commerce changed.

1956 The last scheduled passenger train runs through Coldwater. The depot transitions fully to freight service.

Late 1950s–1970s The depot operates as a freight station while rail shipping declines with the rise of trucking. The building begins to show signs of age.

~1973 Private owners purchase the depot from Penn Central and begin restoring its historic architecture for commercial use.

A Place to Gather

The depot’s next chapter transformed it from a place of transit into a destination.

1980–2002 The depot becomes home to Claremont House, a fine-dining restaurant. Stained glass salvaged from a burned Fort Wayne–area church is installed and remains today.

2002–2022 Los Tequilas opens in the depot, offering vibrant Mexican cuisine and becoming a local favorite before relocating to East Chicago Street.

Preservation & Revival

Stewardship returned to the forefront—honoring the past while preparing the building for its next life.

April 2022 A sibling ownership group and proud Branch County locals purchase the historic depot, committing to preservation and renewal.

March 11, 2023 Trainwreck Grill & Ale House officially opens after extensive renovations, bringing fresh energy, craft food, and drinks to 32 Railroad Street.

Today Trainwreck Grill & Ale House continues the legacy—honoring more than 170 years of history while creating new memories every day.

Coldwater brick depot building established in 1883 — The brick depot, completed in 1883, still stands as a sentinel of Coldwater’s railroad era.

Coldwater original passenger house depot building from the 1850s — Coldwater’s original passenger house—first built in the 1850s and lovingly restored—preserves the earliest days of rail travel.

The Freight House

While passengers waited across the tracks, the freight house was where work happened. Crates were unloaded, wagons lined up, and the steady rhythm of commerce filled the air. This wooden structure was built for strength, function, and endurance—never for show.

Its beams absorbed decades of movement and labor. It stood through economic booms, world wars, and the slow fading of passenger rail. Long after the trains stopped carrying people, the building remained—quiet, patient, and still full of stories.

Interior of Trainwreck Grill & Ale House with exposed wood beams and warm lighting — Inside the freight house, original structure and warm light create a space built for gathering.

A New Kind of Gathering Place

Today, the freight house lives again as Trainwreck Grill & Ale House—a place where conversation replaces cargo, and where meals and memories move through the space instead of railcars.

We didn’t try to erase the past. We leaned into it. The exposed wood, the proportions of the room, the sense of movement and warmth—all remain. What’s changed is the purpose.

Trainwreck exists for the same reason the railroad once did: to bring people together. Every visit adds another chapter to a story that began more than 170 years ago.