RRHX - Railroad History Time Line

1970 Overview	Early: SNAPSHOT: The C&NW and Milwaukee Road pool power on the Randville-Escanaba mine run using two C&NW and 1 Milwaukee Road H-16-66 "Baby Trainmasters". [R&R-3-1980] Mid 1970's: CSX ceases to use its Bascule draw bridge over the Black River at Port Huron. [MRC-10/1987] Late 1970's: Soo Line pulls up the rail from Raco to Soo Jct when the DOD Bomarc base closes. [IT-5/81]

1970	January: The I.C.C. authorizes the Ann Arbor RR to abandon 80.52 miles of its car ferry route between Frankfort and Menominee, and its switch yard and dock facility at Menominee. [MDOT] March 4: `Penn Central petitions the Interstate Commerce Commission to discontinue all passenger service in Michigan, save for some Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter trains. [MT]` May 17: `Three young bandits boarded a freight train as it entered Detroit, held a conductor at gunpoint and broke into two freight cars. The robbery, which was believed to be Detroit's first train robbery, netted the thieves baby strollers, bassinets and rattles. [MT]` June 21: Penn Central RR enters into bankruptcy. Railroad is loosing $1 million each day. [MDOT/STOV] March 31: Wabash Railroad purchased by Norfolk and Western. [MRRC] October: Congress establishes Amtrak. Formally called the National Railroad Passenger Corp., Amtrak is a federally supported corporation that will operate nearly all intercity passenger trains in the U.S. Assumes control of passenger service from the nation's private rail companies the next year. [DWS] December 31: Michigan railroad mileage totals 6,140 miles. [MDOT] Passenger trains cover 49,000 miles of U.S. railroads. 500 passenger trains currently exist. [STOV]

1971	April 30: Privately-operated railroad passenger service in Michigan comes to an end on the C&O, GTW, The Milwaukee Road, Penn Central and the Norfolk & Western RR as Amtrak is formed. The "Wabash Cannonball" operates for the last time between Detroit and St. Louis. April 30: The last regularly scheduled passenger trains, #206 and 208 operate between Muskegon via Grand Haven to Holland on the Chessie. [MRC-4/1988] April 30: The GTW ends inter-city passenger service. The "Mohawk" was the last passenger train in and out of Brush Street Station. Detroit to Pontiac commuter trains continue to use the station. [MRC-6/1973] May 1: Fort Street Union Depot is closed. [IT-4/81/DPH] May 1: The C&NW ceases passenger train operation (a Sunday-only operation) from Chicago to Menominee in Wisconsin. [MSL] May 1: Amtrak trains cover 21,000 miles nationally, begins operations in Michigan. [MRRC/STOV] Amtrak closes the 1886 Ann Arbor depot. It is sold to the Chuck Muer organization and reopened as a highly regarded eatery. [BWC-4/1990] Amtrak discontinues operating passenger service from Detroit east through Canada. [MRC-12/1974] The C&O abandons branch lines between Port Huron and Croswell, and between Harbor Beach and Port Hope. [AB] The Copper Range Railroad takes up rail between Mill-Mine Jct. and Freda. [CRH]

1972	January: The Ann Arbor Railroad completes installation of its Traffic Control System (TCS) between Alexis and Diann. The interlocking at Federman was automated in this process, and the shanty and lever frame was removed. [AATHA-W/1990] February: The Lancaster Dispatcher, a newsletter of the National Railway Historical Society, reports that more mileage of the nation's railroad trackage is currently in bankruptcy, than during the depression in the early 1930's. [IT-10/1972] May: The New York Central abandons more of its "Old Road" from Osseo west to Hillsdale, about 5 miles. [GM] July 12: The Cadillac and Lake City Railroad, a former branch line of the GR&I/PRR, is officially abandoned. [IT-10/1972] November 3: The final Copper Range train comes back to Houghton from McKeever with one car and a load of wood products out of the Northwoods facet at South Range. [CRH] Late: Chesapeake & Ohio and Baltimore and Ohio announce the new name of their coordinated operations: The Chessie System. [IT-10/1972] The Electro-Motive Division of General Motors celebrates it's 50th anniversary. [IT-10/1972] The Penn Central Railroad's tax burden for 1970 was cancelled by the United States Supreme Court. [IT-10/1972]

1973	January: The GTW's Taylor Street freight house in Chicago, adjacent to the Dearborn Street Station, is torn down. It was the last of the three downtown GTW freight houses in Chicago. [MRC-7/1973] March 2: Copper Range Railroad abandons all remaining operations. [MRRC] March 13: Governor Milliken issues an executive order reorganizing the State Highway Department giving it jurisdiction over all state transportation programs. The department's responsibility was expanded to include aeronautics, railroads, buses, water transportation and port development. [MDOT] March 31: The Copper Range Railroad abandons its entire line of railroad. The rail is pulled up in the Spring of 1974. [CRAR/CRH] March: Penn Central abandons 10 miles of the "Old Road" from the west side of Adrian to Clayton. [GM] See also The ICC gives permission to abandon the Cadillac and Lake City Railway between station 18352 and the end of the Falmouth branch in Clam Union Township (the unincorporated community of Falmouth), 8.32 miles. [MRC-11/1972] June 29: The last passenger train, No. 999 (a Detroit-Pontiac commuter train), leaves the Brush Street Depot in Detroit. Because tracks had been removed from the depot yard to make way for the Renaissance Center, passengers had to walk 1 1/2 blocks from the depot concourse to board it. The Brush Street station was 106 years old, built in 1867. [MRC-8/1973] Mid: The ICC approves the abandonment of Penn Central trackage between Kalamazoo and South Haven, a distance of 37.45 miles. [MRC-8/1973] August: The C&O station at Erie, Michigan was destroyed by fire. [MRC-12/1973] Summer: The DSS&A Calumet passenger station is sold to a Detroit businessman. This station was once the headquarters for the Mineral Range Railroad. [MRC-9/1973] September 12: The GTW dedicates a 76.8 mile microwave network, connecting Detroit, Pontiac and Port Huron. The system eliminates the need for wire-on-pole communications along the railroad right of way. [MRC-10/1973] Fall: The Penn Central completes a mile mile long spur to serve Detroit Edison's new Monroe Power Plant. [MRC-12/1973] October 15: Ann Arbor RR enters into bankruptcy. [MDOT] According to MPSC Commissioner William R. Ralls, 21 railroads in Michigan are seeking to abandon 1,960 miles of track - 29% of the state's total trackage. [MRC-7/1973] Ann Arbor razes office at Durand (a couple of blocks north of the GTW diamond). A crossover is being installed in its place. [IT-2/1974] The Chicago & Northwestern purchases a fleet of high-hood Alco Century 628 locomotives, purchased second-hand from the Norfolk & Western. These units retire the C&NW's Fairbanks-Morse H16-66 "Baby Train Masters" on the Upper Peninsula lines. [R&R-3/1980] Within a few weeks of tearing down C&O's Trowbridge Tower in East Lansing, a derailment occured at the tower's former location. Had the tower been standing, it would have been demolished by the derailment. [MRC-7/1973] D&M removes the Au Gres Branch, from Omer to Au Gres (removal estimated between 1971 and 1973. Not confirmed by another source. [DB] Penn Central discontinues operations on the Kalamazoo-South Haven branch. [IT-12/79] Penn Central removes the remainder of CK&S-former Michigan (interurban) Railroad track. [NYC-2/1989] The ICC approves the abandoment of the C&O line from Edmore to Lakeview, 12.46 miles. [MRC-4/1973] The ICC approves the abandonment of the Penn Central between Fort Wayne Jct. and Bankers. They also approved abandonment of 5.4 miles between Horton and Haires, and 38.8 miles between Byron Center and Wentworth, MI. [MRC-4/1973] The ICC approves the abandonment of 6.26 miles of track between Parchland and Richland and Doster, on the former CK&S. [MRC-3/1973] The ICC approves the abandonment of 7.07 miles of the Penn Central from Hillsdale to North Adams. [MRC-2/1973]

1974	January: The Durand diamond is now CTC controlled from Pontiac yard. This ends the ancient manual gate/flagman system. The gates and shanty have been removed. [IT-4/1974] January 31: The Ann Arbor Railroad begins using the GTW between Pittsburg Road (Pitt) to a new track at Oak Street. Their track is removed between MP 94 and MP 96. Pitt is controlled via CTC by the GTW dispatcher in Pontiac. [IT-4/1974] February: Penn Central begins installing 2-way CTC signalling on both main tracks between Town Line tower (in Dearborn) and Jackson. Two high speed crossovers are installed east and west of Wayne Jct. tower. [IT-4/1974] February: Demolition of the Fort Street Union Depot in Detroit is finished. [IT-4/1974] Summer: Tracks are removed on the former "Old Road" (LS&MS) between the west side of Adrian and Cadmus. [IT-4/1974] August: The Popular Furniture building on Ypsilanti's Michigan Avenue - a former carbarn and powerhouse for interurban lines - was razed. During demolition, rails embedded in the floor were observed. [IT-10/1974] August: The Chessie System (ex-PM) depot at Erie is destroyed by fire. [IT-2/1974] September 13: Amtrak runs inaugural Chicago-Port Huron trip via Lansing and Flint, the "Blue Water Limited". [MDOT] Fall: N&W's Sumner Street Yard (ex-Wabash) is closed. All operations are transferred to ex-NKP Homestead yard. [IT-12/1974] Fall: Delray Connecting Railroad purchases the rotary car dumper from Detroit Edison's Delray plant and moves the dumper to Zug Island. [IT-12/1974] October 31: After a lapse of 3 1/2 years, Amtrak restores passenger service between Detroit and New York City. The first passengers were treated to the sounds of music by the Detroit Fire Department Band, inside the MCRR depot in Detroit, under the direction of Lt. Alex Meldrum. [MRC-12/1974] November: GTW closes station agencies in Fenton and Ionia. [IT-2/1975] Grand Trunk depots at Middleton and Perrington on its "orphan" line from Ashley west to Greenville have been removed. [IT-10/1974] The CSX cross river operation in Port Huron is converted from a self contained steam powered ferry, to a barge/tug operation. The eleven crew members were cut to five as a result. [Port Huron Times Herald-10/8/1994] Penn Central abandons a portion of its Waterloo Branch from Fort Wayne Jct. to Horton, Michigan, 14.7 miles. [MRC-10/1973] The former GR&I branch from Kendallville, Indiana to Sturgis, Michigan is agandoned. [MRC-9/1973] LS&I completes construction of a line between the Empire and (new) Tilden Mine. Construction had been started in 1972. [MRC-10/1987]

1975	January 20: GTW razes its Port Huron depot, also known as Tunnel Station. [IT-4/1975] February 3: Chessie System closes stations at South Lyon and Fowlerville. Also closing this month are agents in Alto, Belding, Gera, Marlette, Vasser, Hart, Fremont, Newaygo, Sparta, Scottville, Breckenridge, Hemlock Alma, Charlevoix, Petoskey and Ellsworth. [IT-4/1975] February 14: GTW makes last run over their Lakeland to Jackson line. Generally, no trains run west from South Lyon after this time. [IT-4/1975] Spring: Chicago & Northwestern retires its fleet of Fairbanks-Morse H16-66 "Baby Train Masters" which were used in ore operations out of Escanaba. These units were eventually replaced by ex-Norfolk & Western high-hood Alco Century 628's. [R&R-3/1980] April 10: `Amtrak begins using French-built RTG trainsets between Detroit and Chicago, the first new equipment on the line since at least 1968. [MT]` April 30: GTW is granted permission by the I.C.C. to use the Detroit-Windsor tunnel and includes all track between West Detroit and the Essex Terminal Railway in Windsor, 5.2 miles. [MRC-7/1975] May 16: GTW closes agencies in Cass City, Pigeon and Imlay City. [IT-12/1975] July 29: Fort Wayne crossing is automated by the GTW with operation now handled by the dispatcher in Battle Creek. The tower is razed. [IT-12/1975] July: The American Freedom Train, visits the state with displays of the nation's treasured documents, touring southern Michigan. [MDOT] July 5: Penn Central closes the station agency at Chelsea. [IT-2/1975] August 21: Griffith, Indiana station is closed by the GTW. [IT-12/1975] August 29: Durand is eliminated as a train order station by GTW. Order boards were removed. [IT-12/1975] September 14: The PC team track west under the Broadway Bridge in Ann Arbor is removed to make room for passenger parking. [IT-12/1975] September 20: The City of Detroit opens a narrow-gauge Washington lvd. trolley line from Clifford to West Larned. The line should be completed from Grand Circus Park to Cobo Hall by November. [MRC-11/1976] September 22: The AARR/GTW diamond at Lakeland is removed from service, and the GTW main line is shortened from MP 70.3 to 69.7. [IT-2/1976] December 15: GTW closes its agency at Richmond. [IT-2/1976] December: The GTW roundhouse in Battle Creek, unused since 1959, is razed by a private contractor. [IT-12/1975] December: The Richmond station agent is eliminated by the GTW. Other agencies closed in the last year include Lapeer, Schoolcraft, Edwardsburg, Owosso, Carson City, Fraser, Mt. Clemens and New Haven. [IT-12/1975] The former Penn Central line between Cement City and Bryan Ohio is abandoned. [MRC-2/1983] Penn Central abandons the Ida Branch, between Ida and Lenawee Jct., a distance of 19.8 miles. [MRC-2/1975] The Cadillac and Lake City Railway is granted permission to abandon its line from Round Lake to Lake City, a distance of 8.12 miles. [MRC-2/1975] GTW Roundhouse in Jackson is abandoned. [IT-2/80] N&W Summer Street yard in Toledo is closed. [IT-4/1975] The diamond at Federman, south of Diann, is removed. It was an interlocked crossing of the Ann Arbor and the Penn Central. [IT-12/1975] Cadillac and Lake City Railway ends service on branch from Penn Central to Lake City. Abandoned in 1981. [MRRC] Since lightweight "Turboliner" passenger trains have been put in service between Detroit and Chicago, some delays have occurred due to signal malfunctions. The new lightweight passenger trains are not heavy enough to shake off rust accumulation. Penn Central has solved the problem by running one of their hot shot freight trains over the line, the first mainline freight trains to operate west of Kalamazoo on the old MCRR in a number of years. [MRC-8/1975] The American Freedom Train, powred by a former Reading steam locomotive No. 2101, arrives in Detroit for a visit. The train, with 25 cars, visited the 48 contiguous states with stops in 80 cities. The train came into town via the Norfolk & Western's line from Montpelier to Oakwood Yard. [MRC-7/87]

1976	Early: President Ford signs the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 which creates Conrail, a private, for-profit 34,000 mile freight railroad. [STOV] Early: GTW opens a new car shop in Flint. [IT-10/1976] Early: The Nichols interlocker at Battle Creek is redesigned, merging the PC and GTW into one line through Battle Creek. [ITT-2/1976] March 26: Penn Central runs its last train on the Bay City branch. It is abandoned from Utica 9MP 26.8) to Millington (MP 7.6), except for a small piece of track near Lapeer. The Penn Central train, pulled by Geep #7311 with 15 cars, was sent to clean up cars on the line north of Rochester. [CW] April 1: Conrail begins operations in Michigan. [MDOT] April 1: GTW purchases Conrail line Denmark Spur and other lines north to Kawkawlin. [IT-4/80] April 1: State subsidy program begins with Michigan Northern Railway offering Comstock Park-Mackinaw City service including Traverse City branch. [MDOT] National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) purchases Kalamazoo to Indiana state line route from Penn Central Transportation Corporation. [MRRC] April 1: Hillsdale County Railway Co. starts subsidized operations in Hillsdale County. [MDOT] April 1: Penn Central RR ceases operations and 200 miles of Michigan track is abandoned. [MDOT] April 1: The State acquires the Ann Arbor RR including rolling stock and right-of-way from Toledo, OH to Ann Arbor, and from Ashley to Cadillac. [MDOT] April 1: State purchases Kawkawlin to Sallings portion of the Penn Central and leases it to the Detroit & Mackinac Railway. [DJB] April 30: Conrail sells Canada Southern Railway and Detroit River Tunnel Co. to Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific jointly. [MRRC] Spring: The very new Michigan Northern Railway suffered its first major derailment at Walton Jct., while turning on to the Traverse City branch. Someone had removed 30 tons of rail at the curve. One trainman suffered injury and damage was done to the engine. [MRC-7/1976] July: The Huckleberry Railroad begins operation as a narrow-gauge passenger line on the ex-PM trackage northeast of Flint (PM's former Otisville sub). [IT-4/1976] Summer: GTW opens a new 3-track car shop in Battle Creek. [IT-10/1976] Summer: The former Michigan Central depot at Saginaw West Side is razed. [IT-10/1976] Summer: The "Witch's Hat" depot at the C&O/GTW diamond in South Lyon is being moved to a new location in a South Lyon city park. Although distinctive, the conical roof on the building isn't unique - similar roofs are on GTW depots at Fowler and Saranac on the GTW's Owosso-Grand Rapids line. [IT-4/1976] Summer: The Milwaukee Road and Chicago & Northwestern are operating a joint unit ore train between Groveland Mine near Iron Mountain and Granite City Steel Co. near St. Louis. Joint use of locomotives is made with the C&NW unit always in the lead due to signal requirements. [MRC-9/1976] September: Chessie System installs new $7.8 million microwave system which replaces pole lines running along trackside. [IT-12/1974] Fall: Chessie System has its third major derailment at the C&O/GTW diamond at Trowbridge in East Lansing. Cars smash through CTC equipment buildings controlling the C&O main line from Ensel to Plymouth. Emergency 24-hour train order stations are established at South Lyon, Fowlerville and Trowbridge. 75 train orders a day were issued during the 1-week period while repairs were made. [IT-12/1974] GTW is authorized to abandon the Grand Rapids subdivision from Marne to Grand Haven. The line has not been used for some time due to lack of traffic. [IT-4/1976] The Penn Central closes the AA Owosso engine shops, transferring all engine maintenance to the Stanley Yard engine house in Toledo. [IT-10/1976] October: The stone and brick depot at Lenawee Junction (LS&MS) is razed. [IT-10/1976] Late: The winter of 1976-1977 was one of the most severe of the century. [MRC-6/1977] The City of Detroit lays 3/4 mile of narrow-gauge (2' 11 7/16") track from Grand Circus Park south along Washington Boulevard to Cobo Hall in a rebirth of the Detroit Citizen's Railway. [BWC-4/1990] D&M donates former Michican Alkali #8 (now painted as D&M #8) to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, along with a baggage car, and two passenger cars. [HI] Conrail removes Eaton Rapids to Vermonville segment of Jackson to Grand Rapids branch. [IT-12/80] Conrail removes remainder of the CK&S north of Kalamazoo. [NYC-2/1989]

1977	Early: GTW has installed 2 hot bearing detector systems in southwest Michigan. The railroad now operates 26 scanner units at 9 locations to reduce accidents caused by overheated axles. [MRC-2/1977] July: "Chessie Steam Special" operates in the state commemorating the 150th anniversary of American Railroading. [MDOT] Summer: The former Cincinnati Northern line is removed between the Indiana line and Hudson. [IT-10/1977] September: Chessie System places a new switching yard in service at Burton, a suburb of Flint. The $3-4 million project will improve service to Fisher Body and other local industries. [IT-10/1977] October 1: Michigan Interstate Railway Co. assumes operation of the Ann Arbor RR from Conrail. [MDOT] October 1: Lenawee County RR begins service in Lenawee County. [MDOT] October 1: Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railway starts operation in the Vasser area. [MDOT] October 1: `Michigan Interstate Railway Company takes over operation of the Ann Arbor from Conrail. [MT]` MCRR Station in Kalamazoo reopened as the Kalamazoo Intermodal Transportation Center. [IT-12/79] Footboards on all engines are eliminated under FRA order. [IT-4/1975]

1978	February: LS&I finishes new repair shops at Eagle Mills. Shops move to this location from Presque Isle. (The Presque Isle site is used for a coal unloading facility. [MRC-10/1987] March 31: The interlocking plant located in the GTW depot at Charlotte, is removed. Until this time, it protected the Penn Central/Conrail crossing at that location. The plant was installed in 1923. [MSAI] May: N&W assumes operation of the DT&I's Adrian-Tecumseh branch. [IT-2/80] May: DT&I track between Lear and the Ohio state line is abandoned. [IT-2/80] August: The Menominee (iron) Range closes its last underground mine. [MSL] October: Grand Trunk Western's Muskegon-Milwaukee car ferry service is abandoned. The state acquires the car ferry "City of Milwaukee" for remaining Ann Arbor RR routes. [MDOT] October: The last iron mine closes in Stambaugh, MI. C&NW traffic west of Iron Mountain (through Stambaugh to Watersmeet is now described as "light". [R&R-3/1980] Boyne Valley Railroad ends operations between Boyne Falls and Boyne City. Abandoned in 1982. [MRRC] The Milwaukee Road and Chicago & Northwestern agree on a joint venture to ease congested grade crossings in downtown Iron Mountain and remove the C&NW line through town. Both roads now use the Milwaukee Road line through the City. [R&R-3/1980]

1979	April 27: Lapeer Junction tower is closed at 15:00 hours by F. Stilley, the last operator on duty. The building was raised in May, 1979. [CW] July 23: The Lake Superior & Ishpeming abandons all lines east of Marquette, except for the short connection between the Soo Line at Munising Jct. and the City of Munising. [MRC-10/1987] July 15: Kent-Barry-Eaton Connecting Ry. first black-operated railroad in U.S. begins Grand Rapids-Vermontville service. [MDOT] September 30: Romulus Interlocking Tower closes. [IT-12/1979] Fall: Ex-PM depot at Kinde is burned. [IT-4/80] October 23: Dearborn Amtrak Station opens. [IT-12/1979] [DPG] December 15: Chessie Elk Rapids Subdivision is abandoned between Williamsburg and Elk Rapids. [IT-2/80] December 31: Penn Central closes its Town Line train order station in Dearborn. The shanty is torn down on June 5, 1981. [MRF-7/1981] Conrail line from Utica to Lapeer is dismantled. [MRC-12/87] The Detroit & Mackinac Ry. donates steam locomotive #8, an 0-6-0,, early passenger cars and a caboose to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. [DRK]