Railroad: Manistee & Grand Rapids Railroad Company

The Manistee & Grand Rapids railroad was built between Manistee to Marion in Osceola County and a connection with the Ann Arbor railroad between 1892 and reaching Marion in 1906. The line was reorganized as the Michigan East and West in 1913 and abandoned in 1912.

Built → Manistee & Grand Rapids Railroad → Michigan East and West

Chartered: 1889.

Road Operated: 11 Years

Built: 1892

Operations Ended: 1913 - Foreclosure sale to Michigan East & West.

Reference: [MRRC]

Notes

Time Line

1902. This is a forest road, not much used for public traffic. There are no stations along this line. [MCR-1902]

1902. SNAPSHOT. The main line from Manistee to Hartwick Switch was 63 miles. They also had a 2.3 mile branch from FiIer City to Sands. The road operated five stations on the line. It employed 6 engineers, 6 fireman, 6 conductors, 17 brakemen, 31 laborers (section hands) 14 shopmen and 1 hardman, and 53 others. It had 5 locomotives, 4 box cars, 100 platform cars and 2 conductor way cars. All locomotives and 17 cars were equipped with power air brakes. Top three categories of freight by tonnage includes: logs, lath, wood, bars, poles, posts, tires (83%); lumber (8%) and salt (2%). The road owned 6 miles of telegraph line.

1910 - In 1910, the M&GR ran one passenger train each way between Manistee and Marion via Tustin. This was likely a mixed train. [OGR]

1913 - Renamed Road is to Issue $1,000,000 Bonds. The Manistee & Grand Rapids railroad is a thing of the past and the Michigan East & West is the name o the line, 72 miles long, which runs through territory near Manistee. The state railroad commission today authorized a stock issue of $1,000,000 to the new company. The old road went through a receivership and has been reorganized under the new name and $200,000 will be used for the conveyance of assets of the road. [St. Joseph Daily Press - 1913-1226]