World War II continues.

June 15:  The Defense Plant Corporation opens a Dow-operated magnesium plant at Ludington.  It is a companion plant to that at Marysville, Michigan.  [PM45]

December:  Willow Run bomber plant in full operation.  [DWS]

U.S. railroads jammed with passengers due to wartime gas rations.  [DWS]

PM abandons its line between Remus and Big Rapids, 19.02 miles.   [IT-12/80/COHS-8/1997]

The New York Central abandons part of its Air Line Branch, between Three Rivers and East End (Air Line Jct.), Niles.  [GB]

Pere Marquette RR abandons line from Barryton to Mecosta, 11.23 miles.   [PMHS/COHS-8/1997]

Pere Marquette RR abandons line from Beaverton to Coleman, 10.5 miles.   [PMHS/COHS-8/1997]

Pere Marquette RR abandons line from Lakeview to Howard City.   [PMHS][IT=2/1974]

Pere Marquette RR abandons line from Ionia to Kidd.  [IT-2/1974]  Note: COHS reports this abandonment as of 1941.

SNAPSHOT:  The volume of traffic handled in 1943 on the Pere Marquette between Wyoming Yard (Grand Rapids) and Baldwin, measured by net ton-miles per mile of road, was 49.0% of the average volume of traffic handled on the entire Pere Marquette system.  This 74-mile section is used as a connecting link for traffic moving between the Ludington Division on the north and the Detroit and Chicago Divisions on the south.  [PM45]

The I. Stephenson Mills in Wells is closed, ending 45 years of logging on the Escanaba & Lake Superior.  [EDP-12/27/1950]

Production of tongue and groove maple flooring is discontinued by the Wisconsin Land and Lumber Company in Hermansville because modern methods of  maufacturer made the old plant obsolete.  The town continues to ship other wood products via the Soo Line and C&NW, which cross here.  [SOO-S/2006]