Timetable: Grand Trunk Western - Grand Haven Subdivision - Durand to Grand Haven

This is the original Detroit & Milwaukee main line to Grand Haven on Lake Michigan opened in 1858. As of 1935, the route uses the Pennsylvania Railroad between Conklin and Shaw.

See the Holly Subdivision for the remainder of the original main line to Detroit.

Key: BB=Bascule Bridge | C=Coal | CS=Car Shop | D=Open > Day | DN=Open Day and night | DS=Dispatcher | DT=Double Main Track | EH=Engine house | F=Diesel Fuel | HI=Half Interlocked Crossing | I=Interlocked Crossing | J=Junction | LB=Lift bridge | N=Open at night | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | Q=Quarry | RH=Roundhouse # stalls | RT=Railroad Resort | S=Scales | SB=Swing bridge | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

References = GTW employee timetable #107 6/23/1935, plus additions.

Notes

Time Line

1858. The line is opened from Detroit to Milwaukee via Grand Haven.

1860. September. After the magnificent reception and entertainment of Governor Seward at Detroit, his progress to Lansing was a triumphant march. At every point upon the D&IM railroad where the train made any stop, hundreds crowded up to the cars eager to get a shape of the head or a glance of recognition from the man whom they love and honor. At Owosso, citizens turned out en masse, a salute of artillery announced his arrival, and the Owosso Brass Band played patriotic pieces in fine style. Gov. Seward, though much fatigued, climbed upon a platform car and addressed the crowd. [LSJ-1860-0912]

1866. December. The Western Union Express company have opened offices along the entire lines of the D&M railroad, and also on the roads from Holly to East Saginaw. [PCR-1866-1220]

1868. SNAPSHOT. The Detroit & Milwaukee operates six trains on this line in each direction. One round trip to Holly, two round trip to St. Johns, and two round trip to Grand Haven which are met by steamers to Muskegon. Another round trip runs from St. Johns to Grand Rapids. [ORG-1868-06]

1871. November. 46 miles of fencing were destroyed by (forest) fire between Spring Lake and St. John's in Clinton county last month, on the D&M railroad. It will require $42,000 to replace the same. [PHT-1871-1123]

1871. November 20. A young man named Dennison, one of the porters of the D&M railroad station at Hudeon (location not identified) while assisting in unloading a trunk from the baggage car, narrowly escaped the contents of a shot gun, which was inside the trunk, through his body. As one end of the trunk was thrown down, the jar exploded the cap, the gun going off, part of the shot passing through his clothes, just cutting the surface of skin below the ribs on his right side. One gentleman, upon hearing of the accident, declared that hereafter that chap would handle baggage with more care, and that every baggage-man would be benefited by being shot about once. [JCP-1871-1207]

1873. November. The D&M pushes the work of steel railing. It expects to have steel rails down between Detroit and Holly, and Grand Rapids and Ionia by November 20. The work is 3/4 done already. [LCS-18873-1113]

1877. June. The D&M has a gang of men at work at Grand Rapids, building a stone pier in Grand River, preparatory to placing the new iron bridge in position. [JCP-1877-0608]

1888. August 10. The TS&M is now being operated by the GT's DGH&M commencing this week and it is probably that some day Muskegon will be made their lake terminus instead of Grand Haven and that a line of boats will be run across the lake from that point. The Muskegon harbor is open through the severest winter weather, while Grand Haven navigation is often blocked by ice. A branch line may also some day be built to connect the Muskegon with the main line between Grand Rapids and Grand Haven. [GRP-1888-0810]

1971 - Yard limits at Grand Rapids extend from milepost 154.0 (Lafayette) to 164.4 (near Penn Jct.). Train movement by ABS (automatic block signal) from west of Dewey to Fuller. Car weight limited to 263,000 lbs. Speed limit 57 mph for passenger trains, 45 mph for freight trains. 6 mph over both drawbridges. Train order offices are open 24/7 at Durand and Fuller. Other train order offices are open M-F during the day at Coopersville, Fowler, Grand Rapids, Ionia, Lowell, Ovid, Owosso, Pewamo and St. Johns.

1971 - Joint trackage from Fuller (159.0) to Penn Junction (165.3) with Penn Central.

1980. Five derailments in as many weeks along a three mile stretch of track in Owosso between Corunna Road and Chipman Street have raised questions about safety. One derailed car struck a building owned by Pumping Systems, Inc. sustaining $100,000 in damages. These incidents have again aggravated the feelings between the Michigan Interstate (operators of the AARR) and the GTW which actually owns the trackage and leases it to the Ann Arbor as a segment of their main line. Both companies claim the other should assume responsibility for the condition of the track. Trains are now restricted to 5 mph on this section of track. [IT-1980-2]

2006. No traffic has moved over this line since December, 2006. Frigidaire was the major shipper and closed their Greenville plant in March, 2006, moving their manufacturing to Mexico. Business in Ionia has also dried up. [MRF-2008-04]

2008. April 4. The Mid-Michigan receives permission to abandon 15.83 miles of line between Lowell and Ionia. [MRF-2008-08]

Additional Information

• Crossing The Mitten - The Race To Chicago and the West