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WEB SITE ©
Copyright |
| Introduction |
The main focus of this Web page is the exact routes of the area’s many physical railroads.
The details of what a railroad did exactly at its starting and end points, how it interchanged with other railroads there and at the crossings and junctions with other railroads. as well as what it did in cities, such as Cadillac, Charlevoix, Kalkaska, Manistee, Petoskey, Traverse City, are not covered well at all. (The focus is on the route outside of any town or city.)
The actual railroad companies involved with any route is less important, for one because they were often purchased by, owned by, or merged with other companies. They are hard to keep track of unless one looks at a specific piece of track at a specific time. Adding to the confusion, some railroad companies leased the rights to use a given section of track from the railroad company that owned the track. So more than one railroad company may run a given section of track.
The history of each railroad company is also less in importance, as is the history of a given section of track. I have provided what was easily found but it’s likely not “the whole story”.
When a railroad was built, stopped being used, or the tracks removed is provided if known.
If the list of stations or stops that were made, and/or the settlements or towns that the railroad passed through on a route could be easily found, that’s also provided.
Not covered are any of the depots or other buildings or structures along a railroad.
| I. Areas Covered |
All of Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, and Wexford Counties, as well as some of Crawford, Emmet, Lake, Mason, Missaukee, and Osceola Counties, and the very southeastern corner of Otsego County.
| II. Definitions |
- Branch – a railroad that diverges from the main line that usually was
long but also (eventaully) a dead end. Some had wyes or turntables at the end.
- Crossing – two railroads crossing each other, sometimes called a diamond
crossing in reference to the diamond-shaped center. In a simple crossing, there are
no switches involved and so the two sets of tracks need not be of the same gauge.
With a more complex crossing there maybe several switches involved – using short
connecting tracks between the railroads. All of this assumes a level crossing (or
grade crossing), which is an intersection where a railroad crosses another railroad,
a road, or a path at the same level, as opposed to the railroad crossing over or
under using a bridge or tunnel.
- Junction – a point where three or more railroads of the same gauge meet.
(Said another way, a place at which two or more rail routes converge or diverge.)
It may involve just a single switch or there may be many switches involved.
- Railroad (RR) (my own) – a physical road made of rails, it’s sometimes
also called a railway or railway line.
- Railroad company – a company that operated trains on specific sections
of railroads. (Sometimes very confusingly called a railroad or railway,)
- Siding – a railroad that switched off of the main track and ran parallel
to it with a switch at each end and usually ran for just a short distance.
- Scissored (my own) – to cross at a slight angle, between 0 and
45 degrees.
- Spur – the same as a branch but usually very short and was a dead end
- Switch – at a junction of one railroad with another, this is a mechanical
device used to route a train onto the tracks of the other railroad, which could be
a spur, siding, branch, or separate railroad company. A switch is “thrown” manually
by a trainman, or electrically at a rail command center.
- Turntable – a large spin-able table for turning railway cars and more
typically locomotives so that they can be taken back in the direction from which
they came.
- Wye – a meeting of three railroads at a triangular junction with a switch at each point of the triangle. This allowed a train to go in either of the two directions regardless of the direction it is coming from and allowed a train to turn around. A turning wye with two shorts spurs was sometimes put at the end of line to allow a train to turn around.
| III. Interesting Facts |
- In 1918 Leelanau County had as many tracks as it would ever have.
- As of 2018 (and likely a few decades before) there are no tracks in Benzie or
Leelanau Counties.
- Some of the railroads, especially those used for logging, had several spurs along
the way or at the end of their line. These came and went as needed.
- There were many smaller, short-lived logging railroads throughout the area, some
lightly built, and some were narrow gauge. Some had ends and spurs that moved around
as the wood ran out. A few examples include:
- Edgewater (Railroad N),
- Glen Haven (Railroad O),
- Watervale (Railroad V),
- The narrow gauge logging railroad that followed what is now Narrow Gauge Road
east of Beulah to the Marshall Road area.
Not a lot could be found about this railroad, but there is strong evidence to suggest that it was built by the Crane Lumber Company, which had a mill in South Frankfort (now Elberta), which laid several narrow gauge lines throughout Benzie County. In this case, it is believed that a narrow gauge railroad was built that accessed the lumber company's timber holdings south of Honor at the east end of the present-day Narrow Gauge Road. It followed the current road west to Crystal City and Beulah Resort (now known as just just "Beulah") and came next to and paralleled the F&SE (later purchased by the AA) at the depot. From there the logs were transferred and then transported by rail to the mill South Frankfort.
This concept. at least, was confirmed by Bruce Catton who wrote about this four-mile-long narrow-gauge railroad in his famous Waiting for the Morning Train book. It was built before the turn of the 20th century and was very short-lived, and all but forgotten by the early 1900s. But it did as mentioned above, it brought logs from the east to Beulah, where they were transferred to the then F&SE (later purchased by the AA) and taken to Frankfort area.
I found one rather questionable source that offered the following information. Please "take this with a grain of salt". This railroad was called the Benzonia, Beulah and Lake Michigan Railroad, but no mention of that could be found online. The railroad operated in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and was originally built to transport lumber and other products from the forests around Beulah to the nearby sawmills and shipping docks. The railroad was first constructed in 1888. The line was built using narrow-gauge track, which allowed for tighter turns and steeper grades than standard-gauge track, making it easier to navigate the hilly terrain around Beulah. In the early 1900s, the railroad was sold to a new owner who attempted to convert it to a standard-gauge line, but the effort was unsuccessful and the railroad was eventually abandoned in the 1920s.
- Edgewater (Railroad N),
| IV. Railroad Companies Involved |
Note: The full name for most of these is the name below plus “Railroad Company”
AA C&LC Chessie F&PM GR&I M&GR MNR SOO A&BR C&NE CSX F&C GRK&SE M&L MR TWC BC&SE C&NM D&C F&SE LN M&NE NYC TCL&M BCG&A C&NW DGR&W G&W LSR M&NW PC TCR BF&NE C&O E&SE GBW LSSL MC PM TSBY BL&E C&WM EJ&S GLC LTC ME&W PRR
- AA – Ann Arbor [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Originally the Toledo, Ann Arbor, and North Michigan
- In 1895 it was named just Ann Arbor Railroad
- Railroad A and Railroad P
- Began service from Toledo to Frankfort. 11/25/1889
- In 1925, the Wabash System obtained control of the Ann Arbor Railroad" says Michigan's Railroad History.
- In 1963, "Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad assumed management of Ann Arbor Railroad" says Michigan's Railroad History.
- In 1976, "The Michigan Department of State Highways & Transportation (MDSH&T) acquired the Ann Arbor Railroad, including rolling stock and right of way from Toledo, Ohio, to Ann Arbor, and Ashley to Cadillac" says Michigan's Railroad History.
- In 1977, "Michigan Interstate Railway Co. assumed operation of Ann Arbor
Railroad from Conrail" says Michigan's Railroad History.
- A&BR – Arcadia and Betsie (Betsey) River [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Railroad M
- Connects with the Railroad A just northwest of Copemish
- It started out as a narrow gauge railroad from Arcadia to Malcolm. The rails were wood with strips of steel.
- In 1895 it was replaced with standard guage and extended to Henry.
- In 1896 it was extended to Copemish.
- Owned by the Henry Starke Land and Lumber Co, which was formed in 1893.
- In 1937 the railroad was abadoned and the tracks were torn up.
- BC&SE – Boyne City and Southeastern [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- BCG&A – Boyne City, Gaylord, and Alpena [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- August, 1918 - the RR was completed from Alpena to Boyne City
- Connects with MC at Gaylord
- Stations or stops involved: Boyne City, Doyles Cusfman, Moore (where there was
a short connection over to Railroad C at Boyne Falls),
Project (southwest of Boyne Falls), crossed the Railroad C
just north of North Elmira (overhead crossing), Mosher, Marion (different from the
one by Cadillac), Hallock, Hamiltion, Anderson, Gaylord, and east.
- BF&NE – Boyne Falls & Northeastern [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Operated from 1902 to 1924.
- Also known as the Cobbs & Mitchell logging railroad
- BL&E – Bear Lake and Eastern [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Railroad R
- In 1875 the Bear Lake Tram Railway began operation as a tram railway to haul lumber and freight six miles between Pierport and Bear Lake. The tram's rails were made of maple with steel strapping, and the car was pulled by horses.
- In 1882, the tramway was replaced by the Bear Lake and Eastern Railway, a narrow gauge railway with steel rails.
- The company had a locomotive and forty cars, so the railway could handle far more lumber and fruit products than the old one-horse tram.
- It ran until 1903.
- C&LC – Cadillac and Lake City Railway [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Incorporated Mar. 5, 1963.
- June, 1964 — Began operations using steam locomotives
- Service was discontinued Feb. 2, 1976
- The line was abandoned Aug. 16, 1984
- Traveled on the Missaukee Branch from
Lake City to Sandstown, then to the Missaukee Junction and Falmouth
- C&NE – Cadillac and Northeastern [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Owner and operated by the Cummer Lumber Co. in Cadillac
- Narrow gauge – 36" wide
- It was 13 to 15 miles in length
- In 1878, funds were sought for a projected railroad between Cadillac and Muskrat Lake (Lake Missaukee), so as to remove timber from a large tract of pine.
- The railroad opened in 10/1884, operating as a logging railroad until 12/1885. After that is carried general freight and passengers.
- It may have later been knows as the Cummer & Diggins Railroad
- It operated in Wexford and Missaukee Counties.
- "This railway began in the Harristown section of Cadillac, ran on a straight course toward Haring Road south of the section line where the GR&l tater built a roundhouse. It angled across later what was to be the county fairgrounds, then followed the north bank of Clam River to the Wexford-Missaukee County line. Near this location, a mill and settlement called Crooked Lake was built. From this point a road was extended to the northwestern shore of Muskrat Lake, which later would be named Lake Missaukee." – Michigan's logging railroad era, 1850-1963, Clark Digital Collections.
- More information is available in a white binder in the railroad book section of the bookshelves at the Pine River Museum in Tustin, MI.
- C&NM – Chicago and North Michigan [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- A subsidiary of the C&WM
- A subsidiary of the C&WM
- C&NW – Chicago and Northwestern (or CNW) [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Also known as the Northwestern
- Also known as the Northwestern
- C&O – Chesapeake and Ohio [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Took over the PM in 1947
- Took over the PM in 1947
- C&WM – Chicago and West Michigan Railway [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Became part of the PM in 1899 or 1900
- Became part of the PM in 1899 or 1900
- Chessie System [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Somehow swallowed up the PM.
- Later merged with Seaboard Coast Line Industries to form CSX Transportation.
- CSX – CSX Transportation [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- D&C – Detroit and Charlevoix [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Railroad AA
- It went from the town of South Arm (in 1905 merged with East Jordan) on the shore of Lake Charlevoix to Frederic, where there was a junction with MCs Mackinac Division.
- It began as the Frederic and Charlevoix RR Company and was used to haul harvested timber to sawmills.
- In 1901 it became the D&C and was incorporated as a common carrier. A sawmill and supporting structure were build in Deward near the Manistee River. In 1912, after clearcutting all of the forested holdings of the company, the sawmill was dismanteld and sold, and Deward began its journey to becoming a ghost town.
- In 1912 it merged with the MC, and became known as their East Jordan Branch.
- In 1930 it stopped operating and in 1933 the line was abandoned.
- "At one time, the D&C was reputed to be the longest railroad in Michigan owned by one person (David Ward)" said Michigan's Railroad History.
- There were plans to extend the railroad to Charlevoix but it never actually went
there..Nor did it ever reach Detroit.
- DGR&W – Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Western [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Became part of the PM in 1900
- Became part of the PM in 1900
- E&SE – Empire and Southeastern [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Railroad U
- Originally called the T. Wilce Co. Railroad
- It was known by the locals as the Empire - Slow and Easy.
- Abandoned in 1921 or 1923
- The line ran 12 miles from Lake Michigan at Empire to the Empire Junction where it connected to the Platte River Branch of the M&NE.
- The connection with the M&NE at Empire Junction provided
the people of Empire and the surrounding area a reliable year-around access to the
outside world.
- EJ&S – East Jordan and Southern [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Railroad Y
- Established in 1901
- Went 19 miles from East Jordan to Bellaire at a junction with the PM
- The depot is on the east side of East Jordan on Depot Street just south of State Street.
- Primarily a logging railroad. With World War II, all the forests were depleted and the era of freight movement by railroad ended. However, this railroad line continued as a tourist attraction and the owners established the Swan City Express using Locomotive #6.
- Locomotive #6 for this RR company, a 45-ton, coal-fired Pittsburgh built in 1909, is on display at the Sportmen’s Park — on the west side of East Jordan on the west side of the river off of Mill Street.
- Because of the many struggles encountered on this EJ&S railroad it was nicknamed:
"Every Journey a Struggle"
- F&C – Frederic and Charlevoix [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Began in 1893.
- In 1901 become the D&C
- F&PM – Flint & Pere Marquette [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Became part of the PM in 1900
- Became part of the PM in 1900
- F&SE – Frankfort and Southeastern [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Operated on a part of Railroad A
- Built in 1888,
- Was purchased by the AA in 1892
- Was 24 miles long and ran from Frankfort, through Crystal City (now Beulah),
to Copemish
- G&W – Genesee & Wyoming [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Railroad K and Railroad L
- 2018: currently in operation
- Purchased MR
- From Wikipedia – "An American short-line railroad holding company, that
owns or maintains an interest in 120 railroads throughout five countries: the United
States, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. It operates
more than 15,500 miles (24,900 km) of owned and leased track, with more than
3,300 miles (5,300 km) under track-access arrangements. The company had its
roots in the Class III Genesee and Wyoming Railroad, which began in 1899."
- GBW – Green Bay Western [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Served central Wisconsin for almost 100 years before it was absorbed into the
Wisconsin Central in 1993. For much of its history the railroad was also known as
the Green Bay Route.
- Served central Wisconsin for almost 100 years before it was absorbed into the
Wisconsin Central in 1993. For much of its history the railroad was also known as
the Green Bay Route.
- GLC – Great Lakes Central [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Originally the TSBY
- As of 2018 this company operates the:
- former AA track from Ann Arbor to Cadillac (part of Railroad A),
- former GR&I/PRR from Cadillac to Petoskey (Railroad C),
- former GR&I/PRR Walton to Traverse City (Railroad D),
- former C&O from Grawn to Williamsburg (east part of Railroad H: Grawn to Traverse City, and west part of Railroad E: Traverse City to Williamsburg),
- and many more in other areas.
- GR&I – Grand Rapids and Indiana [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Was the first railroad company into the northwestern lower Michigan region going to Clam Lake (Cadillac) in 1871 and Traverse City in 1872.
- The line between Paris and Petoskey, Michigan, was completed November 25, 1873. (Another source said 1874.)
- The railroad was opened to Mackinaw City, Michigan, and the Straits of Mackinac on July 3, 1882.
- On July 2, 1896, the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad reorganized as the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway.
- Later became the PRR.
- Their main line was from Kalamazoo to Mackinaw City (Railroad B & Railroad C)
- A branch ran from Walton Junction to Traverse City (Railroad D)
- A branch ran from Petoskey to Harbor Springs.
- The Manistee Branch, which went west from Milton Junction (a.k.a. Orono Junction) two miles north of Reed City. The branch split at Deer Lake, with one spur heading southwest toward Lake Junction (the end of this line is called either "Raiguel" or "Ralguel"), while the other line went through Luther to Carey (Carrey).
- The Missaukee Branch:
- The “Missaukee Branch” was started in 1882 It’s route is from Missaukee Junction
(north of Cadillac) east through Round Lake Junction, Wagner, Lake City Junction
(at Sandstown), Falmouth Junction (Veneer), Mynnings, Ardis Junction (where there
was a short spur north to Missaukee), Ardis, Merritt, and northeast to Michelson,
then NNE to Michelson Mill (in Roscommon County) – that last part completed in 1912.
The Missaukee Branch “complex” (of lines) included a number of branch lines that
stemmed from the main branch. Three of those were:
- Falmouth Branch (a.k.a. Veneer Branch) – finished in 1908, left the Missaukee Branch at Falmouth Junction (Veneer) and went south to Falmouth
- Jennings Branch – left the Missaukee Branch at Round Lake Junction and went north 3.7 miles to Jennings
- Lake City Branch – a short branch built in 1894 that left the Missaukee Branch at Lake City Junction (at Sandstown, aka Sands Junction, aka Sands Town Junction) and went north a little over a mile to Lake City.
- In later years the main part of the Missaukee Branch between Missaukee Junction
and Lake City was operated by the C&LC, from 1964 to 1971.
This remaining section was finally abandoned in 1984. This Web
page shows the route.
- The “Missaukee Branch” was started in 1882 It’s route is from Missaukee Junction
(north of Cadillac) east through Round Lake Junction, Wagner, Lake City Junction
(at Sandstown), Falmouth Junction (Veneer), Mynnings, Ardis Junction (where there
was a short spur north to Missaukee), Ardis, Merritt, and northeast to Michelson,
then NNE to Michelson Mill (in Roscommon County) – that last part completed in 1912.
The Missaukee Branch “complex” (of lines) included a number of branch lines that
stemmed from the main branch. Three of those were:
- GRK&SE – Grand Rapids, Kalkaska, and Southeastern
[
back to RAILROAD
COMPANIES ]
- Railroad AB
- It seems odd that they used Grand Rapids in the name as it never went anywhere near there. A better name would have been the Rapid City, Kalkaska, and Stratford.
- Founded on August 30, 1897.
- Operated at the end of the 19th century and into the early 20th century.
- It was leased and operated by the C&WM and later in 1899 by the PM (when the C&WM became part of the PM).
- In 1903 the PM bought the capital stock of the GRK&SE and gained financial control of the line.
- When all of the timber in the area was harvested, the need for the rail line went away.
- In 1908, the last of the logs were hauled away from the end point at Stratford village and that site became deserted
- In 1916, the PM cut the line back to Spencer, eliminating 14 miles of the line.
- In 1918, the line was pulled back to Kalkaska — another 7 miles.
- Finally, in 1921, the stretch between Kalkaska and Rapid City was abandoned,
removing the last vestige of the railroad.
- LN – Ludington Northern [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Began in 1896 as the Epworth League Railway.
- In 1901 it became the Ludington Northern.
- In Ludington it joined with the Ludington Division of the PM, a subsidiary of the C&O, just southeast of Ludington proper.
- A single-track line from Ludington to Hamlin Lake.
- It ran for two miles between Ludington and Mt. Epworth and another two miles to the southeast side of Hamlin Lake.
- This was primarily a tourist line.
- Later it transported sand for the glass industry in Ohio.
- Its main commodity was sand: The Sargent Sand Company operated numerous sand mines north of Epworth, near Ludington State Park, to which the Ludington Northern provided shipping service. The sand company soon purchased the Ludington Northern outright, and extended the line northwards to access other sand mines within Ludington State Park.
- At Weimer there was a ferry to Piney Ridge on the west side of Hamlin Lake. Also, at Hamlin Lake, a ferry embarked from there to North Bayou at the north end of Hamlin Lake.
- The entire line was abandoned in 1982 after Sargent Sand discontinued mining
operations in the area. The C&O line to which it connected
is still active today, however, operated by CSX.
- LSR – Leelanau Scenic Railroad [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Existed from 1989 to 1995
- Operated by a group of local railroad enthusiasts
- They ran on tracks from Greilickville to Suttons Bay, most of that is part of Railroad G.
- In 1994 they "went out of business as a truck hit one of the line’s bridges".
- The right-of-way was turned into bike a trail.
- LSSL – Louis Sands Salt and Lumber Company Railroad
[
back to RAILROAD
COMPANIES ]
- The Louis Sands Salt and Lumber Company built the first railroad in the Sharon area.
- It was built in 1895.
- It operated until a few years after the turn of the century.
- It is known to be gone before 1909 when the Manistee River Branch of the M&NE (Railroad J) used some of its abandoned grade to reach Sigma.
- It ran from north of Sigma (which was at Sigma Road and Kniss Road) straight south, then went southwest following “Number 16 Railroad SE” Road, crossed North Sharon Road, turned SSW, crossed Willow Creek Lane (Railroad AB) 783 feet east of Thayer Road, was likely what is now the eastern part of Nagle Road in Sharon. It continued southwest a little and ended along the north bank of the Manistee River
- A portion of the former LSSL grade was used by the M&NE
for Railroad J. It started just south of Kniss Road where
Railroad J turned east and went south to where Railroad
J turned to the west (east of Sigma Road and north or Mecum Road).
- LTC – Leelanau Transit Company [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Railroad G
- Was originally the TCL&M
- Was incorporated in 1919.
- M&GR – Manistee & Grand Rapids [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Railroad AC
- Narrow gauge
- Became the ME&W in 1913.
- Became the PM soon after World War I.
- It ran from Manistee east to Marion where it connected with the AA (Railroad A).
- From Filer City it ran below (south of) Manistee Lake
- M&L – Manistee and Luther [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Railroad AD
- Narrow gauge
- Tracks were frequently laid hastily which led to numerous accidents and fatalities.
- It actually started in East Lake (east of Manistee) and ended in the Hoxeyvillle area, OR, just past the Langworthy stop in Osceola County, quite a ways east of Luther. In never went through Luther.
- So, the railroad never really went to Manistee or Luther.
- M&NE – Manistee & Northeastern [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Was organized in January 1887 at a meeting at the Buckley and Douglas Lumber Company in Manistee, Michigan. William Douglas and Edward Buckley were the principals behind the railroad. The M&NE was proposed to extend 75 miles from Manistee to Traverse City. The primary purpose of the railroad was to bring logs and lumber from northwestern lower Michigan to the big Buckley and Douglas saw mills in Manistee.
- Edward Buckley and William Douglas constructed and controlled the railroad company during nearly all its lifetime. They also operated one of the largest sawmills and salt plants in Manistee.
- Tracks were extended to Interlochen by June 1890.
- First made it to Traverse City in 1892.
- In 1910 the company was at its peak. It owned 355 miles of track, 15 steam locomotives, 2 snow plows, and numerous other pieces of equipment.
- Still at its peak in 1915, the M & NE carried 190,000 passengers.
- 1930 — The company was leased to the PM.
- The company was turned over to the PM who took control of it in 1931.
- For many years, from 1892 to 1934, the railroad connected Traverse City to Manistee and numerous towns in between.
- Some parts of the M&NE’s tracks were removed by October 1934 (maybe those to Traverse City).
- Some part of the line was used to haul freight until 1982.
- From the Platte River Junction one could get to Traverse City in two ways. 1) By taking the M&NE north to Solon then around and down to Traverse City, or 2) By taking the M&NE south to Interlochen then taking Railroad H to Traverse City.
- Besides the main line (Railroad I) it included several
branches, such as:
- The Bear Creek Branch went from Bear Creek that went eight miles southeast through Conger to Canfield's (lumber) Camp. It crossed Railroad H two miles south of Kaleva.
- Two versions of the Betsie River Branch (Railroad W and Railroad X)
- The Filer Branch, which started at Filer’s Switch – at roughly 280 feet
northwest of the crossing of Mud Lake Road. (Not to be confused with Filer's Switch
on Railroad AC in Filer City down by Manistee.) This branch
went straight north following what is now Camp Trail, going past the dam for Lake
DuBonnet. According to the map from A. G. Hudley, along the way there were two spurs....
- Spur #1: About 2000 feet north of the dam was a switch for a spur going northwest – it went about 4300 feet total along the northwest side of the lake then to its northern tip. (Most of that is an existing two-track.)
- Spur #2: About 200 feet later was another spur going to the northwest. (It;s called Buckley Road and DNR Foot Trail on Google Maps – it’s an existing two-track.) It went northwest about 5000 feet following what is now Buckley Road, then turned north, crossing “Foot Trail” after 3400 feet, then went north another 1400 feet to end south of Ransom Lake.
- The "central" part of this branch continued north past those two spurs then turned east a bit for a total length of a mile, following what's now called Lake DuBonnet Trail and ending on the north side of a former little lake.
- About the Filer Branch – In 1897, a four mile long branch was built north from Filer’s Switch (three miles northwest of Interlochen), to a Buckley and Douglas camp. A year later, the branch was extended another two miles to tap new stands of timber, west and northwest of Lake DuBonnet. It was a short-lived adventure and was removed in 1900.
- The Glen Arbor Branch, which was surveyed and mapped in 1894, but NEVER built. It would have run from Cedar, through Maple City and Burdickville, along the south side of Glen Lake, through the Glen Lake Narrows, along the east side of Glen Lake to Glen Arbor. Here is a map of the proposed route thanks to the Empire Museum. In fact, the M&NE had initially named their line north from Solon the "Glen Arbor and Omena Branch", but later they renamed it the "Provemont Branch". Because after the Panic of 1893, by the time they were able to build again, the TCL&M already went through Omena. Also, by then, Leelanau County was no longer a priority, so they "set their sites" on their other, more profitable, branches. Also, I assume much of the timber in the area was processed through D.H.Day's mill then taken via Railroad O to the docks on Lake Michigan at Glen Haven, thus not needing a logging railroad to Glen Arbor. As for passengers and freight into and out of Glen Arbor, being so close to the lake, I assume most of that was handled by boat, this lessening the need for a railroad here. (Thanks to M.B for doing the research on some of this and sharing it with me.)
- The Long Lake Branch, which was built in 1899, extended a mile in 1900,
and abandoned in 1901. Based on the map from A. G. Hudley, the route was a follows:
- From just south of US-31 and just west of M-137, the RR ran northeast, crossed Rogers Road roughly 2170 feet north of US-31,
- passed by Ellis Lake roughly 1100 feet on its northwest side,
- passed by a huge beaver pond roughly 450 feet on its northwest side,
- a little later turned east on the northeast side of Saunders Lake,
- went ESE to the southern tip of Bass Lake, at which point was a switch — one part went ENE about 0.5 miles, another part went ESE about 0.5 miles.
- The Manistee River Branch (Railroad J),
- The Onekama Branch (Railroad Z),
- The Platte River Branch (Railroad T), also called the Honor Branch on some maps.
- The Provemont Branch (Railroad Q),
- The Twin Lakes Branch that went from Twin Lakes Junction, which was just southeast of Twin Mountain and 1 or 2 miles southeast of Karlin, about 2.4 miles NNW to Twin Lake. Some claim it went as far as Grass Lake or maybe even Bendon.
- M&NW – Mancelona & Northwest [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- The Antrim Iron Company was founded in 1886 and for many years was the main employer in Mancelona. During its heyday, the company possessed its own railroad, the Mancelona & Northwest Railroad.
- The M&NW tracks went about two miles to the west of Mancelona from the iron works. The main purpose of the railroad was to transport lumber to the iron works for harvesting.
- The Antrim Iron Works closed in 1945, and was demolished in the mid-1980s.
- MC – Michigan Central [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Their main line went from Mackinaw City through Cheboygan, Gaylord, Frederic, Grayling, Roscommon, West Branch, Standish, Pinconning, Bay City, and beyond.
- Their East Jordan Branch ran from Frederic to East Jordan. That section
was also the D&C and is covered in Railroad
AA.
- ME&W – Michigan East and West [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Railroad AC
- Narrow gauge
- Until 1913 it was the M&GR
- A short time after 1913, the company constructed an extravagant depot located on Water Street near Spruce Street in Manistee.
- Soon after World War I the company failed and all of their assets were taken
over by the PM which liquidated the operation.
- MM&N — Manistique, Marquette & Northern [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- October 1903 — initiated car ferry service between Northport and Manistique with ferry Manistique, Marquette & Northern No. 1.
- June 1904 — The 75-mile route was abandoned
- (So says Michigan Railroad History.)
- MNR – Michigan Northern Railway [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- MR – Marquette Rail [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- The company was founded in November 2005 by Kevin Ruble, a nationally active railroad consultant, who purchased a CSX line running north from Grand Rapids to Ludington and Manistee.
- On 2/8/2012, RailAmerica, a national short-line operator, announced that it planned to purchase Marquette Rail for $40 million.
- RailAmerica and Marquette Rail were subsequently purchased by G&W.
- NYC – New York Central [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- PC – Penn Central [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- PM – Pere Marquette [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Railroad E, Railroad F, Railroad H, Railroad K, Railroad L, and Railroad S
- In 1900 this company was created by the merger of the C&WM, the DGR&W and the F&PM.
- Around 1924 when the PM took control of the M&NE, Railroad H from Baldwin to Traverse City was downgraded, and so from Baldwin Railroad K was used to Manistee, then Railroad I to Traverse City. One reason for the downgrading then abandonment was because the High Bridge north of Wellston and south of Brethren needed to be rebuilt.
- In 1947 it became part of the C&O
- Later became part of owned by Chessie System, CSX, and TSBY
- Through multiple consolidations and reorganizations, it provided local passenger service for 80 years and freight service for over 125 years.
- The Manistee Branch (Railroad K) built in 1881
from Wallhalla to Filer City continues to provide service to Manistee today (2018),
in an era when few railroads are left in northern Michigan.
- PRR – Pennsylvania Railroad [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- SOO – Soo Line Railroad [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- The primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) one of seven U.S. Class I railroads controlled through the Soo Line Corporation.
- Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad,
which was commonly known as the Soo Line after the phonetic spelling of Sault, it
was formed in 1961 by the consolidation of that company with two other CP subsidiaries
— the Duluth, South Shore, and Atlantic Railroad, and the Wisconsin Central Railroad.
- TWC – T. Wilce Co. Railroad [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Railroad U
- The original name of the E&SE, which it become known as in 1900.
- They originally built the railroad from Empire to Empire Junction as a logging
railroad to supply their mill with raw logs.
- TCL&M – Traverse City, Leelanau, and Manistique
[
back to RAILROAD
COMPANIES ]
- Railroad G
- Was incorporated in 1901 to build a line from Traverse City to Northport in order to support a carferry service to Manistique in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
- This line was a project of the GR&I and completed a connection from Northport to the main north-south line (Railroad C) at Walton Junction via the TCR (Railroad D).
- Existed in 1914, we know for sure.
- Was later bought by the LTC.
- TCR – Traverse City Railroad Company [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Railroad D
- Was built in 1872
- Sold to the GR&I in 1917
- TSBY – Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway [ back to RAILROAD COMPANIES ]
- Became the GLC
| V. Towns with Railroads Involved |
Notes:
- A few of the "towns" below were just stops or stations, but they may have been a community or settlement.
- There were no railroads at the following towns:
- Maple City, Burdickville, and Glen Arbor – but there was the proposed but never built Glen Arbor Branch of the M&NE through these locations.
- Leland — and yet Leland was connected to the railroad at Provemont (Lake Leelanau) via steamers crossing Lake Leelanau
| • Acme — | Railroad C | |
| • Alba — | Railroad C + Railroad AA = crossing | |
| • Alden — | Railroad E | |
| • Arcadia — | Railroad M = end point | |
| • Ashton — | Railroad B | |
| • Baldwin — | Railroad H + Railroad L = diamond • The PM also goes east through Reed City • The PM also goes south through Bitely and Brohman to White Cloud |
|
| • Barker Creek — | Railroad C | |
| • Bear Creek — | Railroad I • This was community or station southwest of Kaleva. • There was a very short branch from here called the Bear Creek Branch. |
|
| • Bear Lake — | Railroad R | |
| • Bellaire — | Railroad E + Railroad Y = junction | |
| • Bendon — | Railroad H • It was also the end of the line of the Twin Lakes Branch of Railroad I |
|
| • Benzonia | Railroad A • The RR skirted the east border down by Case Road |
|
| • Beulah — | Railroad A • The town was originally called “Crystal City and Beulah Resort” • At the depot here, there was a parallel but not-connected "siding" that was the narrow gauge logging railroad — it went east from here along the present-day Narrow Gauge Road towards the Mashall Road area. |
|
| • Big Rapids — | Railroad B | |
| • Boon — | Railroad A | |
| • Boyne City — | See BCG&A | |
| • Boyne Falls — | Railroad C • Also, a branch of the BCG&A came here from Boyne City. |
|
| • Brethren — | Railroad H | |
| • Buckley — | Railroad J | |
| • Burdickville — | The proposed but never built Glen Arbor Branch of the M&NE | |
| • Cadillac — | Railroad A + Railroad B + Railroad C + Railroad AE • There’s a stubby wye south of Wright Street, a junction just north of Wright Street, and another junction by downtown at Cass and Lake Streets |
|
| • Carrieville | Railroad AC went through here, AND, this was the west
end of the north fork of GR&I’s Manistee Branch off
of Railroad B. • Also known as Carey and Carrey • Just east of Luther on Kings Highway |
|
| • Cedar — | Railroad Q • The proposed but never built Glen Arbor Branch of the M&NE • Originally called Cedar City |
|
| • Central Lake — | Railroad E | |
| • Charlevoix — | Railroad E | |
| • Chief — | Railroad I | |
| • Clarion — | Railroad C | |
| • Collision — | See Honor | |
| • Copemish — | Railroad A + Railroad I = 3/4
of a full diamond • Also, Railroad M northwest of town = junction with Railroad A • Plus Railroad W southwest of town = junction with Railroad I |
|
| • Crystal City — | See Beulah | |
| • Custer — | Railroad L | |
| • Deward — | Railroad AA | |
| • Dublin — | Railroad H + Railroad AD = crossing • Was also called Florence |
|
| • East Jordan — | Railroad Y and Railroad AA (South
Arm) = NO crossing • There may have been a branch going east on what is now C-48, the East Jordan Boyne City Hwy, over to Deer Lake. |
|
| • East Lake — | Railroad K and Railroad AD | |
| • Edgewater — | Railroad N | |
| • Elberta — | Railroad A + Railroad P = junction • The car ferry here that carried railroad cars from here to Wisconsin. • Was originally called South Frankfort. • In 1899 there was a siding from Railroad A to a mill owned by the Crane Lumber Company which was in the Cabbage Shed/Betsie Bay Marina area. |
|
| • Elk Rapids — | Railroad F = end point | |
| • Ellsworth — | Railroad E | |
| • Elmira — | Railroad C and BCG&A = overhead crossing | |
| • Empire — | Railroad U = end point | |
| • Falmouth — | See GR&I’s Missaukee Branch | |
| • Fife Lake — | Railroad C | |
| • Filer City — | Railroad K + Railroad AC | |
| • Fountain — | Railroad K | |
| • Frankfort — | Railroad P = end point | |
| • Frederic — | Railroad AA and MC main line | |
| • Free Soil — | Railroad K | |
| • Glen Arbor — | The proposed but never built Glen Arbor Branch of the M&NE | |
| • Glen Garry — | Railroad J | |
| • Glen Haven — | Railroad O | |
| • Grass Lake area
— (Benzie County) |
Railroad H + Railroad S = junction | |
| • Grawn — | Railroad H | |
| • Grayling — | Railroad J and the MC (its main line)
= junction • There was also a branch of the MC going to the northeast to Lovells, then split and went to Lewiston and Johannesburg. |
|
| • Grielickville — | Railroad I | |
| • Harbor Springs — | The end of the Harbor Springs Branch off of Railroad C | |
| • Harrietta — | Railroad A | |
| • Hatch’s Crossing — | Railroad G + Railroad I = junction | |
| • Henry — | Railroad H + Railroad M + Railroad W / Railroad X = crossing | |
| • High Bridge — | Railroad H | |
| • Honor — | Railroad S + Railroad T = a possible
junction • Originally Honor was called Collision. (Collision Creek runs from north to south on Honor's east side.) |
|
| • Hoxeyville — | Railroad AD | |
| • Interlochen — | Railroad H + Railroad I = crossing | |
| • Irons — | Railroad H | |
| • Isadore — | Railroad Q | |
| • Jacktown — | Railroad U • Now a ghost town on Oviatt Road |
|
| • Jennings — | See GR&I’s Missaukee Branch | |
| • Kaleva — | Railroad H + Railroad I = crossing
with one wye • Also, northeast of town, Railroad J branches off of Railroad I heading east |
|
| • Kalkaska — | Railroad C + Railroad AB = crossing | |
| • Karlin — | Railroad I | |
| • Kingsley — | Railroad D | |
| • Lake Ann — | Railroad I • South of Lake Ann a few miles and just west of Lake Ann Road was the Platte River Junction where Railroad T went west through Honor to the Empire Junction. |
|
| • Lake City — | See GR&I’s Missaukee Branch | |
| • Lake Leelanau — | Railroad Q = end point • Originally called Provemont |
|
| • Lemon Lake — | Railroad I + Railroad X = junction | |
| • LeRoy — | Railroad B | |
| • Ludington — | Railroad L and the LN • The car ferry here used to cary railroad cars from here to Wisconson |
|
| • Luther — | Railroad AC + GR&I’s north fork of the Manistee Branch off of Railroad B = crossing | |
| • Mancelona — | Railroad C | |
| • Manistee — | Railroad I + Railroad K + Railroad AC | |
| • Manton — | Railroad C | |
| • Maple City — | The proposed but never built Glen Arbor Branch of the M&NE | |
| • Marilla — | Railroad J | |
| • Marion — | Railroad A + Railroad AC = junction | |
| • Mayfield — | Railroad D | |
| • Mesick — | Railroad A • Plus an overpass west of town: Railroad A crossing over Railroad J |
|
| • Nessen City — | Railroad I | |
| • Northport — | Railroad G • There was a ferry from here to Manistique |
|
| • Norwalk — | Railroad I | |
| • Oakhill — | Railroad K + Railroad AC | |
| • Omena — | Railroad G | |
| • Onekama — | Railroad Z | |
| • Peacock — | Railroad H + Railroad AC = crossing | |
| • Peshawbestown — | Railroad G | |
| • Petoskey — | Railroad C + Railroad E = junction | |
| • Phelps — | Railroad E | |
| • Pierport — | Railroad R • It was called Turnersport before 1871 |
|
| • Provemont — | See Lake Leenanau | |
| • Rapid City — | Railroad E + Railroad AB = junction | |
| • Reed City — | Railroad B (going north/south) + PM (going east/west) = crossing | |
| • Sauble — | Railroad AC | |
| • Scottville — | Railroad L | |
| • Sharon — | Railroad J + Railroad AB = crossing
NNW of town a ways • Also, Railroad AB + LSSL = crossing |
|
| • Smeltzer — | Railroad V | |
| • Solon — | Railroad I + Railroad Q = junction | |
| • South Boardman — | Railroad C | |
| • South Arm — | Railroad AA • On the shore of Lake Charlevoix and in 1905 merged with East Jordan |
|
| • South Frankfort | See Elberta | |
| • Stratford — | Railroad AB | |
| • Stronach — | Railroad K | |
| • Suttons Bay — | Railroad G | |
| • Thompsonville — | Railroad A + Railroad H = crossing | |
| • Traverse City — | Railroad D + Railroad E + Railroad H + Railroad I | |
| • Turnersport — | See Pierport | |
| • Tustin — | Railroad B + Railroad AC = crossing | |
| • Twin Lake area
— (Benzie County) |
End of the Twin Lake Branch from Twin Mountain off of Railroad I | |
| • Twin Mountain — | Railroad I = a stop somewhere between Nessen City and Karlin where there was a junction with the Twin Lake Branch | |
| • Walhalla — | Railroad K + Railroad L = wye | |
| • Wallin — | Railroad H • Also, southwest of Wallin there was junction for the short the Weldon Lumber Company Branch going northwest to West End. • The area was called Wallen on some early maps. |
|
| • Walloon Lake — | Railroad C | |
| • Walton — | Railroad C + Railroad D + Railroad J • There is a wye (Walton Junction) just to the north of town — Railroad C + Railroad D |
|
| • Watervale — | Railroad V | |
| • Wellston — | Railroad H | |
| • Williamsburg — | Railroad E + Railroad F = junction • The tracks end here (2018) for Railroad E |
|
| • Yuma — | Railroad A • The tracks end here (2018) |
| VI. Physical Railroads |
Notes:
- The letter designation for each railroad is arbitrary and for use only in this document.
- The railroad companies listed in the title were the builders and/or primary users of the railroad “back in the day”.
- Route — some routes are fairly easy to follow via satellite view, such as on Google Maps, Google Earth, or similar.
- Stations or stops involved:
- Stop 1 <-> Stop 2: The “<->” symbol indicates these two stops may be the same, or they may be separate and are possibly be in the wrong order.
- Stations and/or stops were added or removed over time by a railroad company on a specific route.
- Sometimes just the towns, communities, or settlements that the railroad passed through are given.
A.
Railroad A – Ann Arbor to Elberta – AA B.
Railroad B – Cadillac to Grand Rapids – GR&I’s Mackinaw Branch, part 1 C.
Railroad C – Cadillac to Mackinaw City – GR&I’s Mackinaw Branch, part 2 D.
Railroad D – Walton to Traverse City – TCR, GR&I, etc. E.
Railroad E – Traverse City to Petoskey – PM main line, part 2 F.
Railroad F – Williamsburg to Elk Rapids – PM’s Elk Rapids Branch G.
Railroad G – Hatch’s Crossing to Northport – LTC, TCL&M, LSR H.
Railroad H – Traverse City to Baldwin – PM Main Line, part 1 I.
Railroad I – Manistee to Traverse City – M&NE’s main line J.
Railroad J – Kaleva to Grayling – M&NE’s Manistee River Branch K.
Railroad K – Filer City to Walhalla – PM's Manistee Branch L.
Railroad L – Baldwin to Ludington – PM M.
Railroad M – Arcadia to Copemish – A&BR N.
Railroad N – Edgewater to Lake Michigan – Logging O.
Railroad O – Day’s Mill Pond to Glen Haven – Logging P.
Railroad P – Elberta to Frankfort – AA's Frankfort Branch Q.
Railroad Q – Solon to Provemont (Lake Leelanau) – M&NE’s Provemont Branch R.
Railroad R – Pierport to Bear Lake and northeast – BL&E S.
Railroad S – Clary to Honor — PM’s Honor Branch T.
Railroad T – Platte River Junction to Empire Junction – M&NE’s Platte River Branch U.
Railroad U – Empire and Southeast – E&SE V.
Railroad V – Smeltzer to Lake Michigan west of Watervale – Logging W.
Railroad W – Copemish through Henry to the Betsie River – M&NE’s Betsie River Branch, 1901 X.
Railroad X – Lemon Lake to Henry – M&NE’s Betsie River Branch, 1910 Y.
Railroad Y – East Jordan to Bellaire – EJ&S Z.
Railroad Z – Onekama Junction to Onekama – M&NE’s Onekama Branch AA.
Railroad AA – Frederic to East Jordan – MC’s East Jordan Branch AB.
Railroad AB – Rapid City to Stratford – GRK&SE AC.
Railroad AC – Manistee to Marion – M&GR/ME&W AD.
Railroad AD – East Lake to Hoxeyville – M&L AE.
Railroad AE – Cadillac to Meauwataka Lake
