Railroad: Central line (State of Michigan)

Built → Central line (State of Michigan) → Michigan Central Railroad

Built: 1838

Operated for 8 years by State of Michigan.

Became: Michigan Central in 1846

Reference: [MRRC]

Notes

In 1838, the Central line, owned by the State of Michigan, began construction west from downtown Detroit and made it as far as Ypsilanti by the end of the year. This line never prospered and was eventually sold to the newly formed Michigan Central railroad, made up mostly of Boston investors.

The purpose of this line was to open communications with rural areas west of Detroit, transporting passengers and freight from the port of Detroit.

Photo Info: A notice of commencing operations on the Central Railroad in the Detroit Free Press, October 17, 1839. [DFP-1839-1017]

Time Line

1838. Line is built west from Detroit.

1846. State sells railroad to the Michigan Central, a new corporation funded by Boston capitalists.