Railroad: Detroit and Pontiac Railroad Company, The

Built → Detroit & Pontiac Railroad →  Detroit & Milwaukee Railway

Built: 1838 from Detroit to Pontiac.

Operated for 17 years.

Became: Detroit & Milwaukee Ry in 1855.

Reference: [MRRC]

Notes

Opened from Detroit to Royal Oak in 1838, and to Pontiac in 1848, This was one of the first steam railroads in Michigan.

Time Line

1913. The Michigan College of Mines has an interesting relic in the form of a rail from the first railroad laid down in the state.  It was a gift of the pioneer John Senter just before his death. The rail is fourteen feet long and was first laid down in 1835 between Pontiac and Detroit. Later it was part of the track of the car line operated by horses running into Detroit. Finally it was laid in a tram track on the dock at Eagle River, where it served until it came into the possession of John Senter. [DD-1913-0426]