Time Line - 1971


Last Year | Next Year


  • April 30: Privately-operated railroad passenger service in Michigan comes to an end on the C&O, GTW, The Milwaukee Road, Penn Central and the Norfolk & Western RR as Amtrak is formed. The "Wabash Cannonball" operates for the last time between Detroit and St. Louis. 

  • April 30: The last regularly scheduled passenger trains, #206 and 208 operate between Muskegon via Grand Haven to Holland on the Chessie. [MRC-4/1988]

  • April 30: The GTW ends inter-city passenger service. The "Mohawk" was the last passenger train in and out of Brush Street Station. Detroit to Pontiac commuter trains continue to use the station. [MRC-6/1973]

  • May 1: Fort Street Union Depot is closed. [IT-4/81/DPH]

  • May 1: The C&NW ceases passenger train operation (a Sunday-only operation) from Chicago to Menominee in Wisconsin. [MSL]

  • May 1: Amtrak trains cover 21,000 miles nationally, begins operations in Michigan. [MRRC/STOV]


  • Amtrak closes the 1886 Ann Arbor depot.  It is sold to the Chuck Muer organization and reopened as a highly regarded eatery. [BWC-4/1990]

  • Amtrak discontinues operating passenger service from Detroit east through Canada. [MRC-12/1974]

  • The C&O abandons branch lines between Port Huron and Croswell, and between Harbor Beach and Port Hope. [AB]

  • The Copper Range Railroad takes up rail between Mill-Mine Jct. and Freda. [CRH] 


 Time line Key:

  • Railroad event in Michigan
  • Event relating to mining
  • Event related to car ferries
  • Event outside of Michigan
  • Improvement in Technology
  • Railroad built or extended
  • Railroad abandoned and/or removed
  • Economic panic or depression

 

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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