Electric Railroad: Benton Harbor-St. Joe Railway & Light Company (E)

The Benton Harbor-St. Joe Railway and Light Company operated an electric railway from Benton Harbor to Watervliet with branches to Paw Paw and Dowagiac between 1906 and 1928. Some of their line was leased from the Benton Harbor, Coloma & Paw Paw Lake Train Railway.

Consolidated: 1906

Operated for 22 years.

Became: Twin City Railway in 1928

Reference: [MRRC]

Notes

This was originally a horse-drawn line which was electrified in 1892. The line, between the two major cities in Berrien County, expanded with routes to Fairplain, South St. Joseph and to the House of David. In 1906, a line was opened to Eau Claire and reached Dowagiac in Cass County in 1911. A second line was built to Watervliet in 1910 with a branch from Coloma to Paw Paw (Van Buren County) over Pere Marquette track. This branch also connected with the Kalamazoo Lake Shore & Chicago, extending from Toquin on that line.

The Graham & Morton steamship line from Chicago to Benton Harbor provided a connection for passenger interchange both for the city and interurban lines. The line was used for hauling produce from the "Fruit Belt" to Chicago. Cars were placed at sidings along the line, loaded during the day, to be picked up by fruit trans leaving Watervliet at 4:40 pm or Dowagiac at 4:15 pm. These trains reached Benton Harbor in time to transfer their loads to the 8:00 pm Chicago boat, for delivery to the Chicago market the next morning.

Time Line