Isabella was a station on the Soo Line railroad between Gladstone and Manistique, about 16 miles west of Manistique in Delta County. It was settled around 1887 and called New Minneapolis, but was changed to Isabella shortly thereafter. [MPN] In 1961, the railroad had a 68 car passing track here.
1907. 13 freight cars on the Soo Line went into the ditch, 15 miles west of Manistique. Train crews didn't know the properties of calcium carbide, with which the cars were loaded. With the first dash of water, the cargo burst out in flames and nine cars burned. [PHTH-1907-1004] 300 feet of track was demolished when the train left the railroad delaying traffic 18 hours. [DFP-1907-1003]
2005. June 16. A eastbound CN train 411 derailed 14 loaded ore cars at the curve on the grade near Isabella. The derailment severed fiber optic lines along the right of way causing some disruption to local 911 and long distance telephone lines in the community of Garden. Hulcher crews cleared the wreckage dismantling a number of mangled cars on-site, while SBC Michigan made repairs to the severed phone lines. The railroad was re-opened two days later. The cause is believed to be a heat-related gap in the rail.
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