July 1:  Detroit, Monroe & Toledo Railroad completes its Detroit-Toledo line.  It is acquired in 1856 by the Michigan Southern.  [MDOT/MRRC/AAD]

July 1:  the Detroit & Milwaukee reaches Owosso from Fentonville.  [MCR-75]

December:  The Michigan Central and the Detroit, Monroe & Toledo Railroad reach an agreement which allows the MC to use the west side of the DM&T's route from West Detroit to Milwaukee Jct. for the purpose of building a branch to Bay City.  That option was activated on May 8, 1973.  [EMR4]

December:  The Detroit Free Press reports that rail service between Detroit and Monroe has began.  [EMR4]

The Detroit & Milwaukee  reaches Owosso from Fentonville.  [AAD]

Detroit & Milwaukee RR arrives at Durand.  [MHM]

Charlotteville Lumber Co. builds 7 mile long line in Berrien County (T6S R19W). Abandoned in 1870.  [MRRC]

Bay de Noquet and Marquette Railroad completes line from Marquette to just beyond Ishpeming.  [SSJB]

Michigan receives first federal railroad land grant.  3.8 million acres contributed by Federal government, joined with 1.7 million acres added by State of Michigan.   [MDOT]

The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern builds its first depot in Hudson, west of Adrian.  It is a one-story frame structure.  It was replaced in 1856, and was moved down the road to Cadmus.  [NYC-Q1/1996]

The Central Mining Company begins extraction and stamping of copper in Central, Michigan.  It continues until 1898.  Central reaches a population of 1,200 in 1883.  [BOM]

The Robinson, Russell & Company, freight car manufacturers, build shops on Croghan Street (now Monroe Avenue).  [HWC]

First railroad bridge spans the Mississippi River at Davenport, Iowa.  [STOV]

Railroads begin experimenting with passenger car seats that recline, a for-runner to the sleeping car.  [AAD]

Quincy Mine, on the hill north of Hancock opens.  "Old Reliable" stays open until September 1, 1945.  [MSL]