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]
Opened from Detroit to Royal Oak in 1838, and to Pontiac in 1848, This was one of the first steam railroads in Michigan.
As we quickly flew along the D&M rail from Pontiac to Detroit, we called to memory a ride from Detroit to Pontiac on the D&P railroad in the olden time. At an uncertain time in the morning we left the depot shed, near the old Railroad Hotel, in a single passenger car, drawn by an institution which as nearly resembled the crazy man's "cook stove on wheels" as anything else. It was a rickety rackety old tank engine, carrying its own wood, and watered with a wooden bucket, like a wheezy old stage horse. With much sputtering and ado we got off, and went slowly jogging over the humps in the old strap rail toward Pontiac. About half way there we were surprised by the gradual cessation of the monotonous joggling, and, on taking an observation, by a tree outside, we found ourselves at a dead stand.
Continued... On inquiry it was learned that the engine was out of steam. After exploring the country in the neighborhood to our satisfaction, while the engineer was getting a fresh boil, as the machine started off again, we accompanied it on foot until we got tired of walking and concluded that, as our ride was paid for, we might as well have it. At length dinner time and Pontiac were reached. After dinner we set out on our return, which was accomplished in much the same way as our journey out. We noticed that no freight or passenger depots were necessary, as passengers hailed the train, which waited for their accommodation at any place along the road, and one old farmer stopped us to put a dressed hog aboard to be taken to market. We succeeded in reaching Detroit by evening, making it a good day's work to go to Pontiac and back by railroad. [GHP-1862-0108]
1842. Ben Briscoe, the inventor of the signal bell, came to Detroit in 1837 from the celebrated locomotive works of Baldwin & Company in Philadelphia. He entered the service of the Detroit & St. Joseph, now the Michigan Central railroad company. After five years of service he took charge of the Detroit and Pontiac, then a strap railroad, with pony engine and one little car, and performed the duties of master mechanic, engineer, fireman, and sometimes of conductor. In those days signal bells were unnecessary because the train did not run fast enough to hurt cattle.
Ben always carried his rifle on the engine, and if a deer or a wild turkey came too near the track, time was allowed for a shot, and while he looked at the screws and joints the stoker [fireman] gathered the game. The "gentlemanly conductor" of the Central always stopped between Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor to allow his passengers time to examine an overly flowing spring, and to explain to them how the weight of water was made to do duty by forcing itself up through a pump to irrigate a farm and quench the cattle's thirst.
Mr. B. has been in the service of the Detroit and Pontiac, and Oakland and Ottawa, now the Detroit & Milwaukee (D&M) for 27 years. At present, as master mechanic, he has charge of their extensive locomotive works. The first "spark-catcher" was the product of his brain, and while his genius has been of great service to the railroad interests of the country, his administrative tact has always been appreciated. [GRE-1869-0819]
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]
The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:
