Station: West Bay City, MI

West Bay City Depot

West Bay City was a combination of small communities which were consolidated into West Bay City on the west bank of the Saginaw River. The area ultimately was annexed into Bay City proper. The Michigan Central had a passenger station here, near a wye branching off southeast across the river to the other MC Bay City station, known as "Bay City East Side".

Bay City west side had freight yards as well as a major roundhouse. You can still visualize the footings of this roundhouse on the west side of the current railroad track using Google Maps.

Photo Info: The MC depot at Bay City west side in the 1910's. 


Notes


Time Line

1870. Five hundred tons of railroad iron arrived at Wenona (West Bay City) for the extension of the J&LS road north of that place. [LSJ-1870-0804]

1889. The CS&M installs a 60' turntable at West Bay City. This is a deck girder turntable made by the D.B. & Iron Works. [GTBB]

1903. September 13. Two rail workers are killed and eight are injured by a dynamite explosion in a freight car during switching. [DFP-1903-0914]

1891. A locomotive on the Michigan Central going around a curve of West Bay City tipped into a ditch on account of the curve being too short. No one was hurt. The main track was built around the engine and in four hours traffic was resumed. [LDP-1891-1231]

1907. L. S. Mason, a switchman in the MC yards, slipped while attempting to board the front end of a switch engine this evening and was caught under the wheels. One leg was cut off between the knee and ankle, and the other badly mangled. He was also injured about the body. Chances for recovery are said to be about even. He came to Bay City only two days ago from Chesaning, where he has a wife and family. [DFP-1907-0414]


Industry

  • W.D. Young Company - (xxxx ← 1906 → xxxx) - Manufacturer of  maple flooing. [AML-1/6/1906]

Bibliography

The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:

  • [AAB| = All Aboard!, by Willis Dunbar, Eerdmans Publishing, Grand Rapids ©1969.
  • [AAN] = Alpena Argus newspaper.
  • [AARQJ] = American Association of Railroads Quiz Jr. pamphlet. © 1956
  • [AATHA] = Ann Arbor Railroad Technical and Historical Association newsletter "The Double A"
  • [AB] = Information provided at Michigan History Conference from Andrew Bailey, Port Huron, MI

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