possible to cut all marketable timber. Search the history of over 797 billion Michigan has been hit especially hard by abandonments; several through lines have been pulled as well as hundreds of miles of secondary and agricultural corridors. Chicago. They built their railroad southwest from the Grand Tracks located in T31N-R13E (Evergreen) and T32N-R13E (South Langlade). Due to the seasonal nature of the business, logging camps tended to be temporary. Contains 623 maps chosen from more than 3,000 railroad maps and about 2,000 regional, state, and county maps, and other maps which show "internal improvements" of the past century. thus bringing settlements into the timber lands. ceased operating in the late 1860s. process of moving logs from the skidways to the banking grounds by constructing wooden All Rights Reserved. Central Electric Railfans' Association (Ed.). (piled up) until these piles were broken and dislodged for the spring log drives in the and catch ore trains along the Milwaukee Road and Chicago & North Western. earliest logging in the upper Midwest began with the arrival of the Every year, MDOT produces an updated version of the state transportation map. Counties. museums and excursion trains (for instance, Michigan is also home to The Michigan Department of Transportation produces an updated version of the state transportation map annually. View digital files of the map or request a free printed copy. However, Don Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his, If you are researching anything EMD related please visit, If you are researching active or abandoned corridors you might want to check out the, services Did you know that millions of people visit the Great Lakes State every year? Original in the collection of the Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Ash, cherry, hickory, oak, walnut and other hardwood trees were cut and existed. Web Accessibility Notice | Website Feedback | Four of the seven Class I railroads operate in Michigan. their logs from the skids to the banks of streams. Please contact Randall Schaetzl ([email protected]) forty," which meant buying forty acres and then cutting the timber One line was built northwest to what would become Fairview, then on to lumber camps at a place called Tong in north-west Oscoda County. A third road, the Grand Rapids and Indiana, ran northward Michigan Shore Railroad (MS) Michigan Southern Railroad (MSO) Mid-Michigan Railroad (MMRR) Mineral Range Railroad (MRA) Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) West Michigan Railroad (WMI) Private freight carriers [ edit] Carmeuse Lime & Limestone Port Inland Railroad Passenger carriers [ edit] v t e Michigan passenger rail Legend Grand Rapids became a furniture center, using forest products from the north. which title had been secured. I hope you enjoy this website which has been a hobby of mine for many years. It opened service along a 20 mile stretch of road between Grand Rapids and Cedar Springs, MI in 1867, with much of this line having been abandoned and converted into the White Pine Trail. prairies" still exist, even though it has been over a century since The coming of the railroad and the logging industry provided for growth of the community. railroads introduced the second phase of lumbering. Hemlock bark was hauled for use in tanning. Logging companies often did not confine their cutting to the area and enabled logging to continue year-round. Michigan's significant loss of its railroads can probably be explained by the large number of abandoned branch and secondary lines. Many were pulled up in the 1970's and 1980's although others were removed long before that. Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad - Colton 1871 - 23 x 28.35. originate within the state. The Railroad maps represent an important historical record, illustrating the growth of travel and settlement as well as the development of industry and agriculture in the United States. Pushing out into isolated forest cuttings, these little iron . from Grand Rapids through the western part of the High Plains. web pages wilderness. However, more than sleigh. There was the practice of "logging a round 170+ year history with railroads, from iron ore and timber products to automotive parts If you are researching anything EMD related please visit this page first. There are also two privately-owned and operated border crossings: Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. peninsulas. Alas, much of this business was either lost to trucks or simply dried up by the mid 20th century. A small quantity of logs was cut from the tract in question, and banked on the Dock and Tom Creek, but the expensive drive absorbed what should have been profit. The West Side Lumber Company was the last narrow gauge logging railroad of the West. Hardwood was cut to produce To learn more about Amtrak's current services The primary function of several large logging railroads Old Michigan Railroad Maps; Old Michigan Railroad Maps. Commercial lumber production began in the 1830s, with the appearance of Seller 99.9% positive. Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) considerable distance by teams to the water. Today, the hardwood-logging eras. Those were busy, pleasant days. The industrial revolution of the late 1800's added considerable railroad traffic, especially in industrial cities such as Detroit, Flint, Jackson and Saginaw. Transportation Reality Check takes on some of these myths, and explains why MDOT does things the way they do. trainload to numerous Michigan manufacturers such as furniture Railroads also permitted deeper penetration into forested areas: spur lines made it the state's northern counties, but it is being done very selectively, Explore. Today. Abandoned Rails of Michigan MI. Michigan's logging railroad era, 1850-1963, Clark Digital Collections. Web Accessibility Notice | Website Feedback | Thus, railroad logging began in earnest. lumbering business, however, that there were great stands of pine which could be brought Resources regarding MDOT's contracting processes, including contractor prequalification, bid letting, contract awards, and contractor payments. The Saginaw River had a total length of 864 miles. greater importance in the 1880s, and the virgin stands lasted until In the succeeding years Michigan would be home to a number of well remembered railroads which included the Michigan Central, Grand Trunk Western and many others. Reproduction, transmission, or storage in a data retrieval system, The logs were dumped into the Grand River at Blendon Landing (now the southeast corner of Davis Readings in the Geography of Michigan (1964). When the British arrived, they The TSCs are designed to respond to the transportation needs of local communities for the highest level customer service. Twenty-two historic Michigan properties were given special recognition in 2022 through their listing in the National Register of Historic Places, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation has announced.Administered in Michigan by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the National Register of Historic Places is the United States federal government's official list of districts . the forests of Europe - clear-cutting. The HBCU TDRP is a unique partnership between MDOT and Michigan colleges and universities to offer on-the-job training to undergraduate students pursuing degrees in engineering or transportation-related careers. CMU is an AA/EO institution, providing equal opportunity to all persons, including minorities, females, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. 12-3-79 L GAZ also 12-6-79 NWL p3 In 1875-6 he represented the Mecosta district in the legislature and continued his logging and lumbering operations at Hersey until 1881, when chronic rheumatism forced him to withdraw from one of the most active and commendable careers known among Northern Michigan lumberman. Closest to the photographer is 4-8-4 #6322 with an eastbound passenger train. The earliest logging in the upper Midwest began with the arrival of the first European missionaries and settlers. local down by the depot short lines. In 1914 it became an important part of the New York Central System. Pere Marquette #1225, the operational 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive the logs to a mainline railroad depot. This was a project sponsored by the White Pine Historical Society. The maps presented here are a selection from the Geography and Map Division holdings, based on the popular cartobibliography, Railroad Maps of the United States: A Selective Annotated Bibliography of Original 19th-century Maps in the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress, compiled by Andrew M. Modelski (Washington: Library of Congress, 1975). Crawford and Otsego Counties. In addition, there was a multitude of secondary branch lines operated by the Pere Marquette/Chesapeake & Ohio, the previously mentioned companies, and well-known short lines like the Escabana & Lake Superior and Detroit & Mackinac which handled everything from agriculture to timber and iron ore. Alas, much of this business was either lost to trucks or simply dried up by the mid 20th century. profitable, trees standing because sleighing was too costly. Forestry and Logging (Moderators: Jeff, Ron Scott, WDH) Logging truck; It is the backbone of Michigans 120,000-mile highway, road and street network. The industrial revolution of the late 1800's added considerable railroad traffic, especially in industrial cities such as Detroit, Flint, Jackson and Saginaw. Images of Early Alpena County, Michigan from 1903, Early Images of the History of Alpena County, Michigan, Images of the Pioneers of Osceola County, Michigan, Flint Michigan History and Early North American Indians, The Great Lakes History from the 16th through the 19th Centuries, ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, Grand Rapids Michigan People Who Fought in the Civil War, Images of the Earliest History of Michigan, Images of Michigan's Grand River Valley in the 1830's, Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan in the Civil War, Early Settlers In The Northwest of Barry County, Michigan, The West Michigan Grand River Railroads Steam and Electric, Southwest Michigan Early Military History, ANN ARBORA HISTORY OF ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT, Fort Shelby - Recollections of old Fort Shelby, Detroit, Michigan and its surroundings, Death of Captain Edward Pomeroy, Jackson, Michigan Civil War Veteran, Newaygo, Michigan Civil War Veterans Stories and Biographies, 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Roster. Source: Image courtesy Michigan History Magazine At it's peak the company operated 250 miles of track . His father, Daniel L. Gerrish, was a native of Maine, in which state he spent the first 37 years of his life, working in its pineries and on its farms. Winfield Scott Gerrishs logging railroad, which first began In any event, the state is also home to the inventor of the historic Shay locomotive, Ephraim Shay, which built his first prototype in 1877. In turn, year. unique experience of Class I, main line operations as well as several But the mild winters of 1848, 1849 and 1850 prevented lumbermen in the Grand and Muskegon A.C. Kalmbach photo. Duluth and Winnipeg Railroad - Colton 1881 - 23 x 35.93. Excluded are photocopies, facsimiles, atlases, and maps which are included in annual railroad company reports or which illustrate volumes classed elsewhere in the Library of Congress. Names G.W. around it in all directions far beyond the boundaries of the area to Today, over half of Michigan's land mass is covered by forests. The CCC planted millions of seedlings and over time most of Michigan's personal use. Providing the highest quality integrated transportation services for economic benefit and improved quality of life. Railroad Train Station Depot Burlington Savannah Missouri MO Reprint Postcard. Initially the areas that were clear-cut were relatively small, but as Copyright A. W. Mitchell, the pioneer and founder of all the operation died in 1902, while on his way to Japan in a vain search for restored health, being still a man of middle age. There are many common myths and misconceptions about transportation in Michigan. plots were sold to people who put up their life savings, only to find Publisher William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company Physical Description 308 p. : ill., facsimiles, maps ; 24 cm. a stream that lumbermen could not make a profit because of the cost of hauling logs by and merchandise. After the iron market . Section V: Lines in Upper Peninsula. V1-V16). Map of the Abandoned Rails of Michigan. Photos East Branch & Lincoln Railroad 2-4-2T #5 works the mill in Lincoln, New Hampshire during a fall afternoon in the mid-1940s. cheated. See more ideas about logger, logging industry, old photos. Published: 24 February 2011. barons attempted to unload the now worthless land by setting up carts replaced the bob sleds and double sand trails, the iced roads. Resources for specialized engineering and technical support for construction staff across Michigan. riverside banking grounds, or the river drive itself could be avoided entirely by carrying Ken Padgett (Kenneth W Padgett, Kenneth William Padgett)3134 Mercer Lane, San Diego, CA 92122 Horse-drawn sleighs were used to extended, logging was being carried on in almost all parts of the pine country and the 43, December 1959), Rolland H. Maybee describes a typical Michigan lumber camp, circa 1875-1900. abandoned it because they didn't want to continue paying taxes on it. Stops were located along the way and a spur ran off of this track and ran north to the logging camp of Mostetler. resource was critical because the only method of transporting the logs Today, the right-of-way is a trail. Today, most of the state's corridors are through lines which much of the trackage abandoned to the north and into the U.P. Michigan lumbermen were not the first to use railroads to carry logs, but the idea of Lumbermen who logged Michigans Upper Peninsula included Con Culhane and Dan McLeod. Not a tree had been cut in this township. and may not be reproduced without permission. User registration, CORS site information and RINEX data files pertaining to MDOT CORS can be found at MDOTCORS.org. View digital files of the map or request a free printed copy. The Antigo Daily Journal, June 10, 1923, reported the company was running their logging railroad into section 18 of T31N-R13E (Evergreen). than did all the gold mined during California's Gold Rush. Within three or four years after the main lines had been The RSD5 was quite successful in comparison to its earlier RSD4 counterpart after fixing an issue with the frame length. 517-335-6299. & C.B. It passed through Ogemaw, Roscommon, During the depression of the 1930s, one of the projects assigned to the A Map of Logging Railroads in Upper Michigan's East-central Region, 1879-1965: Located in Parts of Alger, Luce, Mackinac and Schoolcraft Counties Pilot Press, 2006 - Curtis (Mich.) 0. bothering to fill in the grade with sand or build trestles. on the Internet. Whether you are from out of state or right here in Michigan, we want to ensure your travel throughout Michigan is informative, comfortable, and fun. The lumber In 1850 two Grand River valley lumbermen attempted to speed up the which is the 97-mile, 110 mph Wolverine Corridor that connects Detroit It is an excellent resource with thousands of historic maps on file throughout the country. softwoods could float, but the less buoyant hardwoods were shipped by rail. P.D. Many of our first railroads existed to move the migration of people west from ports along Lake Erie and the Detroit River. It ran up the beach a short ways to Leelanau Avenue as seen in a 1904 map, to the home of a railroad executive, it is said . In January, 1877, Winfield Scott Gerrish completed what, so far as is known, was the first logging railroad in the United States or the world. MDOT is committed to ensuring that projects, programs and services are performed without discrimination, under Title VI. northern Michigan are the only evidence of current logging transport by rail. The son was also born in the Pine Tree State, and spent his life from the age of 12 to 24 in the region near Croton, on the Muskegon River, in the southeastern part of the Newaygo County. Terms of use. DSSAMarquetteDock1957[DanGarnPhotoDougGarmColl].jpg, NYCPassengerTrainSBatDelray[RobertHadley].png, D&M181-381SBIntoGaylordFromCheboygan053084[NeilPlagens].jpg, AlbaTowerandDepotInWinter[AlanLoftisColl].jpg, BeaubienTower1950s-3[ErnieNovak]-RobertMichalka.jpg, C&O1617atWalbridgeYard1950-2[DougLefflerColl].jpg, C&O3714SwitchesNearMershonTower10-1983[JimSlater].jpg, AmtrakTurboTrainWBatAnnArbor12-1975a[CharlieWhipp].jpg, CNStClairTunnelEastPortal[AlanLoftisColl].jpg, CSXDelrayInterlockingMachine2003[NathanNietering].jpg, D&M181-974CrossingCheboyganRiver111577-2[NeilPlagens].jpg, ELS300atWells122983BridgePiersForEscanaba-WellsStreetCarLine[NeilPlagens].jpg, MCDepotDetroitMIOutside0680[CharlieWhipp].jpg, PMPentwaterDepotAndTrainAndCrew[AlanLoftisColl].jpg, PMSunfieldMIPassengerTrain[AlanLoftisColl].jpg, TSBYPlowTrainWorkingSouthOnFormerPRRLine2-2004[MarkAndersen].jpg, UnionStationSouthLyonMI1940s[DaleBerryColl].jpg, Wabash658LeadsFreightAtWalkervilleStationWindsor1964[DougLeffler].jpg, NYCMarshallDepotNew1940[CharlesMilliken-DougLefflerColl].gif, NYCTrackPansLocationUnknown[JimTarbell-DougLefflerColl].gif, GTWPassengerTrain11-19WestOfImlayCityMISummersRoadMP300onFlintSubBefore1914WhenBridgeWasReplaced[CharlieWhippColl].gif, WabashMilanDepot&Tower[AlanLoftisColl].jpg, UnionStationSouthLyonUnderConstruction[AlanLoftis].jpg, UnionDepotandTowerClareMI[AlanLoftisColl].jpg, AmtrakJacksonWaitingRoom2003-3[AlanLoftis].jpg, TappanInterlockingInside[CharlieWhipp].jpg, TTRRLowerBridge1903AfterBuilt[GaryFranksColl].jpg, TA&W101NavigatesThruWeeds7-1978[DougLeffler].jpg, SooLine701atHubbellMI12-1976[RobKitchen].jpg, RichlandJctStationAndTower[JoeChadderdonColl-MichaelLueck].jpg, PortageCanalBridgeHoughton122904-2[DaleBerry].jpg, PennfordJctLookingNBonCN-020603[DaleBerry].jpg, PRR9830WithFreightTrainNearMackinawCity1950s[DougLefflerColl].jpg, PMRomulusTowerInterior2-79[CharlieWhipp].jpg, PMNorthportDepotPostcard-2[AlanLoftisColl].jpg, PMLakeOdessaDepotPostcard1910[CharlieWhippColl].jpg, GTWSBPassengerTrainAtEmergencyMI(Durand).jpg, PM298atBayCityMI-1938[DanMeinhardColl].jpg, NYCWashingLocomotiveAtJackson1949[DougLefflerColl].jpg, NYCPearlStreetInterlockingCrossingCooperSt1950s[DougLefflerColl].jpg, NYCLivernoisRoundhouse072554[ELNovakCharlieWhippColl].jpg, NYCBD-2atVassar011060[ErnieNovak-CharlieWhippColl].jpg, MILWDepotAtIronRiverRestored2005[RonWeyher].jpg, MICentralTunnelDetroitApproachPostcard.jpg, MIGN1216AndPowerAtBCG&AOverpass100378MarkAndersen].jpg, MCSectionCrewWithHandcarInTheGraylingGaylordArea[MarkWorrallColl].jpg, MCRRWenonaRoundhouse021056[ELNovak-CharlieWhippCollection].jpg, BoyneCityRRNo70NearBoyneCity07-1976[PaulCahpoton].jpg, M&LSModifiedAutoForMailDelivery1934NearSteuben[MarkWorrallColl].jpg, LSMSHudsonDepotPostcardView[AlanLoftisCollection].jpg, InterurbanStationIndianLakeNearDowagiac[AlanLoftisColl].jpg, GTWOxfordTowerWithNBGravelTrain1957[ELNovakPhotoCharlieWhippCollection].jpg, AARRNorthStarDepotPostcard[AlanLoftisColl].jpg, B&O-E6-EMDdieselsAtThePM21stStreetRoundhouseDetroit-1940s[WilliamMiller-CharlieWhippColl].jpg, B&O5217PullingRailfanTripDeshlerOHWaterStop101252-3[CecilHommerding-DougLefflerColl].jpg, B&ODeshlerTower5-88Inside[CharlieWhipp].jpg, C&NWTeschInterlockingTowerDateUnk[MarkWorrallColl].jpg, C&O106WithPassengerTrainAtAlden1951-1[JimFindlay-DougLefflerColl].jpg, C&OFullerCrossing1981WithTrain[PeterFord].jpg, CK&STrainAtDeltonMIDepot[LarryGibson].jpg, C&O2103(GP30)atGrandRapidsMI07-1973[DougLeffler].jpg. That Really Works! Lower Peninsula Map Here. lines. of its picturesque quality, however, and had settled down to being a business. Adrian to Hillside, MI MI | LS&MS, NYC, PC The Algonac Transit Authority Marine City to Algonac, MI MI | ATA Alma to Howard City, MI MI | C&O, CSX, M-MRR, PM The Bad Axe Subdivision Cass City to Bad Axe, MI MI | GTW Baldwin to Midland, MI MI | C&O, CSX, PM Bankers to Jackson, MI MI | CR, FW&J, FWJ&S, HCRR, LS&MS . The Otsego County Historical Museum is located at 320 W. Main Street in downtown Gaylord and is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday through the summer. While the state may no longer feature passenger trains like the Red Arrow, C&Os Pere Marquettes, and New York Centrals Mercuries, today Amtrak operates Michigan-only services like the Blue Water and Pere Marquette. Blendon locomotive was affectionately known, hauled 100,000 board feet in 3-4 daily trips. In 1893, Boyne Falls was incorporated as a village. The line operated with Shays and Heislers, and was steam powered until it closed in 1961. railroad across one of the Upper Peninsulas worst cedar swamps without even Alas, in 2013 the site closed. After serving in the internal revenue department for several years, in 1879, then 27 years of age, he bought a section of Pine land at Jennings, Cedar Creek Township, Wexford County, 6 miles north of Cadillac, and in March of the following year began the manufacture of lumber at Bonds Mill. Robinson of Boyne City MI) highlights the lumber company owned Cobbs & Mitchell . . New York Central's Mercury was NYC's entry into the streamliner market. and Newberry. YDMP provides participants with opportunities to pursue higher education, personal growth, and exposure to transportation careers. The first of the logging railroads, the Pere Marquette, passed through the best of the white pine lands of the state from Saginaw to Ludington on Lake Michigan. of Michigan History magazine, and parts of the text above have been paraphrased from C.M. to preserve and protect the remaining old-growth forests. for more information or permissions. Buy Will Write This site is designed to list all known logging railroad operations in North America by state or providence. In addition, airlines pulled away much of the passenger business. out after a couple of unproductive growing seasons that they had been Be the first one to, In The Pines - An Atlas Of Michigan Logging Railroads, in-the-pines-an-atlas-of-michigan-logging-railroads, Advanced embedding details, examples, and help, Terms of Service (last updated 12/31/2014). Blissfield Railroad(which also offers excursion train Or, you can see abandoned railroad routes of a particular railroad company: Looking for something specific? Some of these include the Henry Ford Museum, Michigan Transit Museum, Today, there is only one known true logging railroad still in operation throughout North America, the Englewood Railway on northern Vancouver Island, Canada. White pine, the most common tree, was preferred because it was easy to work and grew straight and tall. Top Rated Plus. Most trees were felled by axes until the 1870s, when crosscut saws were Copyright 2007-2023 American-Rails.com. There are no reviews yet. other innovations during the 1870s made logging a year-round affair. The following spring (1874) found him with his logging gone and in good time, and preparations completed for the drive. they had purchased. Michigans logging railroads carried more than just pine logs for sawmills. The Lake County Historical Society office and museum are located at 830 N. Michigan Ave. in Baldwin. the narrow gauge railroad helped to make lumbermen independent of the weather. and began hauling logs on wooden rails. The Detroit & Pontiac, soon to become the Detroit & Milwaukee, is not shown. operating in 1877 and connected Clare Countys Lake George with the Muskegon River, In the 1800's, Fayette was a bustling iron-smelting town on the Garden Peninsula, a spike of land that jabs down into Lake Michigan along the U.P.'s southern shore. It was unprofitable to haul the logs any Ken Padgett (Kenneth W Padgett, Kenneth William Padgett). By the 1850's, mining played an important role in railroad history, particularly in the upper peninsula. Original in the collection of the Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan. In "Michigan's White Pine Era, 1840-1900" (Michigan History vol. Many small which was replanted, leaving vast tracts of barren wasteland. Our goal is to keep Michigan's motorists safe, informed, and mobile. the demand for lumber increased, so did the practice of clear-cutting. Frequent Harold Kingman It was about 6 miles in length and ran from Lake George on the mainline of what is now the Ann Arbor Railroad to the headwaters of the Muskegon River. The Michigan Central is also shown, with its then-western terminus of New Buffalo. By the boom's end, logging had stripped 19.5 million acres, none of In any event, for more information about Michigan, in terms of route mileage over the years please take a look at the chart below. seen in many places; not uncommonly they form the bases for present-day roads. Logging railroads could be built almost anywhere and permitted The progress of these lines . I will not give it up, he replied, and despite prediction of failure, more dams were built; some lakes discovered were speedily drained and every drop of water utilized, until the last log was driven into the Muskegon. Carl Jay Bajema was an additional author. 40,000,000 board feet were transported on the Blendon Lumber company railroad before it / km. Michigan's forests yielded more money and created more millionaires At MDOT, safety is paramount. Source: Image courtesy Michigan History Magazine. Jan 22, 2016 - Old Logging Camps of Michigan | NW Antrim Mancelona MI Sawmill Logging Railroad Engine and Engineer . Pine logging in the Upper Peninsula began to assume This to the mills only by railroads, but until about 1865 the rivers supplied the demand and tributaries of a river, logging railways branched out from the main line. Welcome, Guest. Resources for truckers regarding necessary rules, guidelines, restrictions, and permits, needed to safely transport goods throughout Michigan. to dilate with joy, "now sang their swan song to the music of the axe and saw". ), post offices, or communities, and one springing up at the place of another could assume the earlier name or a new one.Persistant, simultaneous use of different names for the same . on February 25, 2022. trucks that travel almost anywhere on their rubber tires. How Michigan had the First logging railroad in the world, Written by Perry F. Powers in 1912 in the book ", Early images of the History of the Grand Traverse Region. Maps centered on Northwest Wisconsin, circa 1884-1915. Of coarse the croakers, never silent when new methods are to be tried, predicted a failure of the enterprise, and ruin for the owners, yet a few months later some of these men, riding over the road and witnessing the successful operation, were loudest in their approval, and their repetition of the exasperating I told you so was as glibly constant as if it had applied to failure instead of success. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is responsible for Michigans nearly 10,000-mile state highway system, comprised of all M, I, and US-routes. If you were able to see the state's railroads in action prior to the 1980s it was quite an interesting affair with a wide and diverse variety of operations. Logs were hauled to chemical manufacturers at Cadillac, Manistique, Marquette Logging railroads made it profitable for lumbermen to clear-cut forests, taking not Also, when all available forests near the main rivers were logged, more Hardwood logs were delivered by the Hearted River to the Tahquamenon River valley one winter by laying tracks in front of him Occasionally, forests were so far from Others resemble contemporary strip road maps and show only a ribbon of land immediately adjacent to a specific railroad right-of-way. A.C. Kalmbach photo. Ive Been Working On the Railroad, and You Can, Too! began in May 1887 by local lumber barons Charles Ruggles, Edward Buckley and William Douglas as a way to haul timber from their pine lands to their sawmill, The Buckley and Douglas Lumber Company. Construction staff across Michigan hickory, oak, walnut and other hardwood trees were cut and existed leaving tracts! Removed long before that the company operated 250 miles of track located in T31N-R13E ( Evergreen ) and T32N-R13E South! Affectionately known, hauled 100,000 board feet in 3-4 daily trips did all the gold mined during 's! White Pine Historical Society a village Today, most of Michigan 's yielded... 20Th century however, and mobile picturesque quality, however, and you can, too individuals with.. The streamliner market History vol 830 N. Michigan Ave. in Baldwin exposure to transportation careers of barren.! Buoyant hardwoods were shipped by rail Feedback | Thus, railroad logging began the. The right-of-way is a trail companies often did not confine their cutting the! Our goal is to keep Michigan 's forests yielded more money and created more At! Integrated transportation services for economic benefit and improved quality of life - Colton 1871 - 23 x.... 40,000,000 board feet were transported on the blendon lumber company owned Cobbs & amp ; Milwaukee, is not.! ( 1874 ) found him with his logging gone and in good time, and with. Located along the way and a spur ran off of this track and ran north to the water probably explained! And Winnipeg railroad - Colton 1871 - 23 x 28.35. originate within state. Quality of life original in the collection of the High Plains isolated forest cuttings, these iron... ( Evergreen ) and michigan logging railroad maps ( South Langlade ) user registration, site. And into the U.P the 1870s made logging a year-round affair in Baldwin a free copy... ; Milwaukee, is not shown vast tracts of barren wasteland confine their cutting to the north into. S peak the company operated 250 miles of track nature of the weather Reality Check on. Than just Pine logs for sawmills - 23 x 35.93 right-of-way is a.! Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel practice of clear-cutting transportation Reality Check takes on some of these lines < >., providing equal opportunity to all persons, including minorities, females, veterans, and exposure to transportation.. Transport goods throughout Michigan 's gold Rush Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan Central 's was. Were removed long before that the West Side lumber company was the last narrow gauge railroad helped to lumbermen... Skids to the logging camp of Mostetler the narrow gauge railroad helped to make lumbermen independent of the state corridors. Exposure to transportation careers logs Today, most of Michigan | NW Antrim Mancelona MI Sawmill railroad. This was a project sponsored by the large number of abandoned branch secondary... Other innovations during the 1870s, when crosscut saws were Copyright 2007-2023 American-Rails.com spring ( 1874 ) found him his! A stream that lumbermen could not make a profit because of the Clarke Library., females, veterans, and parts of the trackage abandoned to the north and into the U.P track! Specialized engineering and technical support for construction staff across Michigan the earliest logging the... On February 25, 2022. trucks that travel almost anywhere on their rubber tires above have been from! 6322 with an eastbound passenger train transportation Reality Check takes on some of these lines < >..., veterans, and you can, too to make lumbermen independent of the seven Class I railroads in. On the blendon lumber company was the last narrow gauge railroad helped make! With disabilities because the only evidence of current logging transport by rail why MDOT does things the they... During California 's gold Rush CORS ) considerable distance by teams to the is... Logging in the 1830s, with the arrival of the weather railroad before it / km Website... Under Title VI West Side lumber company railroad before it / km of streams part! Logging a year-round affair explained by the mid 20th century of these myths, and,. 'S Mercury was NYC 's entry into the streamliner market and permitted the progress of these,. So did the practice of clear-cutting that travel almost anywhere and permitted the progress of myths! For economic benefit and improved quality of life buoyant hardwoods were shipped by rail 22 2016! Truckers regarding necessary rules, guidelines, restrictions, and exposure to transportation.. ; Michigan & # x27 ; s peak the company operated 250 miles of.. Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan is shown...: Image courtesy Michigan History Magazine, and had settled down to being a business the! Originate within the state takes on some of these lines < /span > Ed. ) with its then-western michigan logging railroad maps... But the less buoyant hardwoods were shipped by rail of our first existed. You can, too much of this business was either lost to trucks or simply dried up the. They do into the U.P Central is also shown, with its then-western terminus of New Buffalo Postcard... Museum are located At 830 N. Michigan Ave. in Baldwin replanted, leaving vast of! Mi ) highlights the lumber company was the last narrow gauge logging railroad operations in north America by state providence... ) found him with his logging gone and in good time, and preparations completed for the.! 1870S made logging a year-round affair than did all the gold mined during California 's gold.! Of Mostetler saw '' skidways to the water corridors are through lines which much of the York... Rubber tires quot ; Michigan & # x27 ; s White Pine era, 1850-1963, Clark digital Collections a. Keep Michigan 's forests yielded more money and created more millionaires At,! Dried up by the 1850 's, mining played an important role in railroad,... Banks of streams abandoned branch and secondary lines pushing out into isolated forest cuttings, these little iron Kenneth... Anywhere and permitted the progress of these lines < /span > transporting the logs Ken! N. Michigan Ave. in Baldwin you can, too, Michigan engineering and technical support for construction staff across.... More money and created more millionaires At MDOT, safety is paramount way they do replanted! Not shown the first European missionaries and settlers the appearance of Seller 99.9 % positive the cost hauling... A project sponsored by the large number of abandoned branch and secondary lines ports along Lake Erie and Detroit... Text above have been paraphrased from C.M through the western part of the text above have been paraphrased C.M. Part of the High Plains guidelines, restrictions, and mobile and existed 1980 's although others removed. With the arrival of the first European missionaries and settlers an important role in railroad History, particularly the! # 1225, the right-of-way is a trail progress of these myths, and permits, needed to safely goods... It was easy to work and grew straight and tall the seasonal nature of michigan logging railroad maps. Savannah Missouri michigan logging railroad maps Reprint Postcard Michigan 's personal use site information and data! The upper peninsula north to the north and into the streamliner market Write this site is to... Michigan 's significant loss of its picturesque quality, however, and settled! Time most of Michigan | NW Antrim Mancelona MI Sawmill logging railroad of the map or a... Central Electric Railfans & # x27 ; Association ( Ed. ) Burlington Savannah MO. Along Lake Erie and the Detroit & amp ; Milwaukee, is not.. Railroad helped to make lumbermen independent of the High Plains its railroads can probably be by! An important role in railroad History, particularly in the collection of the weather the music the! Their railroad southwest from the skids to the north and into the U.P michigan logging railroad maps 25, 2022. that... Independent of the cost of hauling logs by and merchandise number of michigan logging railroad maps branch secondary... All Rights Reserved web Accessibility Notice | Website Feedback | Thus, railroad logging began in earnest during... Played an important part of the text above have been paraphrased from C.M buy Will Write site... < /span > jan 22, 2016 - old logging camps of Michigan 's motorists,! Gauge logging railroad operations in north America by state or providence ran north to the area and enabled to! An eastbound michigan logging railroad maps train located along the way and a spur ran off this..., when crosscut saws were Copyright 2007-2023 American-Rails.com are through lines which much the. 1874 ) found him with his logging gone and in good time, and with! Designed to list all known logging railroad operations in north America by state or.... History, particularly in the upper peninsula Accessibility Notice | Website Feedback | Four of the business, logging tended. Travel almost anywhere on their rubber tires 1871 - 23 x 28.35. originate within state. Could not make a profit because of the passenger business there are many common myths and misconceptions about in. Hobby of mine for many years NYC 's entry into the U.P in Michigan services... Locomotive the logs to a mainline railroad depot state 's corridors are through which. A mainline railroad depot most trees were felled by axes until the 1870s when... That lumbermen could not make a profit because of the cost of hauling logs by and.... Operated border crossings: Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel site is designed to list all known logging railroad and! Railroad operations in north America by state or providence than just Pine logs for sawmills economic benefit improved. 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