Railroad: Cadillac & Lake City Railway Company

The Cadillac & Lake City was organized in 1964 to takeover property owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad. The line owned the former PRR Missaukee branch to Falmouth, and other related branches. Abandonment of these lines began in 1972 with the Missaukee Jct. to Round Lake Jct. portion operated until 1984. [MRL] reports that the line was actually not operated after 1975.

Pennsylvania railroad → Cadillac & Lake City railroad → Abandoned

Acquired: from Penndel (former Pennsylvania RR/GR&I in 1963

Operated for 18 years.

Abandoned: 1981 (service ended in 1975)

Reference: [MRRC]

Photo Info: Top, a view of C&LS No. 2 as it prepares for work. [Dennis Hart collection]. 2nd image, C&LS No. 1 switches near Falmouth in 1967. [Doug Leffler photo]

Notes

From Missaukee Junction to Lake City and Falmouth. Corporation continued railroad ownership outside of Michigan. [MRRC]

For a time table for the line, see the Lake City branch of the Pennsylvania railroad.

Time Line

1964. May 23. The new Cadillac-Lake City railroad company has obtained ICC permission to purchase its right-of-way from the Pennsylvania railroad. Using a temporary headquarters in Lake City, the new short line railroad plans to start freight service from Missaukee Junction and passenger service. They have 3 steam engines in their rolling stock. They also have four wooden coaches and a business car especially equipped for groups riding the railroad's main line. [HDN-1964-0523]

1964. June 14. Rail Buffs Realize Dream as they own steam-powered C&LC railroad. Dreams have come true for 162 rail buffs who have purchased stock in the recently organized C&LS railroad. They own a steam-powered railroad, which will make its inaugural passenger run next Saturday will be a great day took for those other railroad fans who never have been able to transfer their affections to the modern, more efficient diesel locomotives.

There's a lot of excitement being generated in the Cadillac and Lake City areas, where the revival of steam railroading is viewed as a promising tourist attraction. In addition to sightseeing tourists, the C&LC will serve as a freight carrier over its 11½ mile line, which connects with the PRR at Missaukee Junction.

Clifford F. Lenten of Lansing, chairman of the C&LC board said round trip fares are $2.25 and $1.10 for children. Special family rates are also offered. Lenton, an employee of the State Highway Department, caught the railroad bug during World War II Army service with the Austrian Federal Railways.

Another bus line employee, Franklin Patterson of Lansing, is Vice President-Secretary. Ronald L. Richards of Lansing is Vice President and Treasurer, and William K. Viekman of New York City is vice president-eastern division. "A railroad has to have a log of vice presidents," said Lenten jokingly.

Frank Snell of Lansing, who has been a yardmaster with the New York Central will serve in an advisory capacity as superintendent of operations.

Owns No. 11

Carlton Johnson, for many years a C&O roundhouse employee at Saginaw, will be the engineer on Engine 11, an 0-4-0 saddle tank coal-burning engine, which will be used on the inaugural runs. Johnson, a resident of Clio, owns the 30-ton locomotive built by American Locomotive in 1924 and used for some years in quarrying operations at Alpena.

Later this summer, C&LC will put into service Engine No. 2, a 70-ton 2-8-2 Mikado, obtained from Rayonier, a west coast logging outfit at Hoquiam, Washington. No. 2, an oil burner, is being overhauled in the Marquette shops of the Lake Superior & Ishpeming railroad. C&LC also plans to lease Engine No. 18., a Prairie type 2-6-2 wood-burning locomotive, owned by Fred Streck of Reese and once used on a logging railroad in Alabama.

The engine terminal will be located at Lake City. Other rolling stock includes three coaches obtained from the Chicago & Western railroad, a caboose from the Port Huron & Detroit, a business car from the Grand Trunk Western, and an interurban coach acquired from the now-defunct Chicago & Lake Shore Electric railroad.

The Interstate Commerce Commission authorized the sale of 2,000 shares of stock at $10 a share to finance the railroad project. Rail buffs in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, New York, Maine and other states were among the subscribers.

Lenten said passenger service will be provided daily during the tourist season, while freight servicer will be on a demand basis at the start. He expects C&LC will move a considerable amount of farm and forest products later in the year. Two major shippers on the line at the present are Falmouth Co-op and Vans Building supply in Lake City.

There'll be a hobo jungle in the woods bordering the C&LC tracks at Lake City. It will be the scene of a Mulligan stew that will be from 11 to 3 p.m. on Saturday. A hobo king and queen will be crowned during the festivities. Entries of candidates for hobo royalty honors are being taken by the Lake City Chamber of Commerce. [LSJ-1964-0614]