Railroad: Boyne City and Southeastern Railroad Company

The Boyne City and South Eastern railroad was built in 1893 by the White family lumber interests east from Boyne City into the forest and a connection with the Grand Rapids & Indiana at Moore near Boyne Falls. The line became the Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena in 1905.

In 1935, most of the railroad was abandoned except for the original portion from from Boyne City to Moore (near Boyne Falls) which was reorganized in 1935 as the Boyne City Railroad. In 1976 it became the Boyne Valley Railroad before abandonment in 1982.


BuiltBoyne City and Southeastern Railroad → BCG&A railroad

Built: 1893 from Boyne City to Boyne Falls. Other territories added.

Operated for 12 years.

Became: Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena in 1905.

Reference: [MRRC]


Notes


Time Line

1894. November 12. Road extended from White's Junctin to Camp No. 2 and then to additional camps in 1895 and 1896. [MCR-1903]

1899. Road extended from Thumb Lake Junction to Guerin, and from Maple Slope to White Headquarters Camp in 1899 and then an extension of the main line in 1900. Main line is 19.6 miles and branches are 17.3 miles. [MCR-1903]

1898. In 1891, an act was passed exempting railroads to be constructed north of parallel 44 of latitude from taxes for ten years. Under this act as of 1898, the Boyne City & Southeastern, having 14 miles, have been paying no taxes whatever. [DFP-1898-0323]

1902. All five board members of this company were in the White family with the same last name. Four from Boyne City and one from Buffalo, NY. [MCR-1903]

1902. SNAPSHOT. The railroad employed 55 people, including 1 station agent, four enginemen and firemen, 4 conductors and 4 other trainmen. 18 section foremen and section men. Road crosses the GR&I and the Boyne Falls & Northeastern railway at Boyne Falls with a National Switch and Signal Co. interlocker (Easton, PA). There were 12 stations along the line. Three locomotives had Westinghouse air brakes, and two had American steam brakes. A passenger car was heated by a Spear's car heater. 96% of freight it carries are shingles, ties, posts, lumber, logs, wood and bark. The company had an arrangement with the Adams Express company. [MCR-1903]

1905. April. The BC&SE orders 40 flat cars from Western Steel Car & Foundry Company. [RG-1905-0407]

1905. Railroad became the Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena railroad.

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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