Railroad: Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad Company

Though begun independently, this became one of the first and longest Michigan Central branch lines when it was taken over by the MC in 1871. By 1903, almost all directors were MC appointees. The road, 295 miles in length, also had branchlines to Twin Lakes (Lewiston) and Gladwin.


VariousJackson Lansing & Saginaw railroadMichigan Central railroad


Chartered: 1864.

From: Lansing & Jackson Railroad (1865), Amboy, Lansing & Traverse Bay from Lansing north (1866)

Completed from Jackson to Mackinaw City in 1881.

Operated: 7 years (technically 52 years under lease)

Leased to Michigan Central Railroad - 1871, mereged in 1916.

Reference: [MRRC]


JL&S Stock CertificateNotes

This was one of the longest railroad builds in Michigan history, eventually reaching the Straits of Mackinaw from Jackson. Much of this railroad was built utilizing land grants from the federal and state governments.

At the left is a stock certificate for 50 shares issued to F. O. Waldo, one hundred dollars per share on April 6th, 1909. (The JL&S was leased to the Michigan Central at this time.)

The original JL&S depot was east of their main line at Wesley street. The railroad also had a small roundhouse north of Train, east of the river near the depot facilities. The Grand River railway also used the JL&S depot until Union Station was built in 1873.

It is likely that the J&LS considered joining with the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railway to form a road from the Indiana state line north to at least Saginaw. Early Sanborn maps of Jackson show the J&LS rising up the hill (at Pearl Street) and then running parallel along the MC east to Johnson Street, which was the location of the original FJ&S depot. At the time, the Sanborn map shows no connection with the MC at what later would be called Pearl Street tower. In 1873, passenger operations were moved to the Union Station. In 1879, the FJ&S was reorganized and "Saginaw" was dropped from the name. The FW&J was acquired by the LS&MS in 1882.


Time Line

1865. Line opened north to Lansing.

1866. Line opened north of Lansing.

1871. JL&S leased to the Michigan Central railroad. It was formally merged in 1916.

1873. Opened from Jackson to Gaylord.

1881. Line opened from Gaylord to Mackinaw City. 

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

Contact Us

Invalid Input

Invalid Input

Invalid Input

Invalid Input

Invalid Input

Invalid Input

 
Email: webmaster@michiganrailroads.com

Social