Railroad: Michigan Air Line Railway Company, The

Editor's Note: The Michigan Air Line corporate structure was very complicated. It included local ownership, out-of-state bond holders, speculation as a GT route to Chicago, a lease to the MC which was contested, and fragmented construction. The line was built east from Niles, and west from Macomb County but never actually connected. I am still sorting this out. Until it is better understood, we are showing this line in two segments, west from Jackson and east from Jackson.

This company was formed by the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada to purchase the eastern half of the Michigan Air Line Railroad, from Jackson east to Ridgeway in Macomb County. (The western half was purchased by the Michigan Central - See Michigan Air Line Railroad Company).

Michigan Air Line Railroad → Michigan Air Line Railway → Grand Trunk Western

Chartered: 1868

Acquired: 1875 - Ridgeway to Romeo. Control at incorporation by the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada.

Line completed: 1884 - Ridgeway to Jackson.

Operated for about 100 years under GTW control.

Merged: 1828 - into Grand Trunk Western.

Reference: [MRRC][MRL]

Notes

Time Line

1865. Line built from Richmond to Romeo by the MAL. [MRL]

1872. We understand that the Michigan Air Line Railroad, now completed from Ridgeway to Romeo, has been leased to the Canada Southern (or Michigan Midland) upon a contract to complete the road from St. Clair to Jackson within one year from this time. The Air Line passed into the hands of its new managers today. [PHTH-1872-0415]

1875. April 9. Addison Mandell, Master in Chancery, sold at auction that portion of the Michigan Air Line Railroad extending from Ridgeway, Macomb County, to its point of crossing the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad, in Oakland County, a distance of 35 miles. The sale also included rolling stock, buildings, grounds and all other franchises, and was made under foreclosure of a mortgage. William Young, of Valparaiso, IN was the purchaser, for $25,000. [DFP-0409] At time of purchase, the road is equipped and running from Ridgeway to Washington, 22 miles. Much of the remaining distance is graded. There are two locomotives, three or four passenger coaches and about 100 freight cars. [PHTH-1875-0409]

1875. A meeting of the Directors of the Michigan Air Line Railroad was held here at Jackson yesterday. The Eastern Division of the road, running from Jackson to Ridgeway was reconveyed by the St. Clair and Chicago Air Line Road to the M.A.L. railroad. It will be remembered that some time ago a company organized at Pontiac for the purpose of completing this portion of the road, but failing to perform their contract, the property comes back to the Michigan Air Line Company. The old company, with some reinforcement, will now endeavor to complete the line. It is claimed, and on good authority, that the municipal bonds voted to this company will have to be paid. [HOM-1875-0714]

1877. November. The Michigan Air Line railroad has been purchased by the Grand Trunk railroad company of Canada, and measures will at once be taken to proceed with the opening of the road from Romeo westward. [LCS-1877-1101] Track to be laid is 60 pound steel rail.

1879. January. A contest over the title to that portion of the Michigan Air Line lying between Ridgeway and Pontiac is in progress before the Unites States Circuit Court at Detroit. [PHTH-1879-0123]

1879. Line extended from Romeo to Rochester, and to MAL Crossing near Pontiac in 1880.

1880. The Michigan Air Line has broken ground some ten rods inside the Pontiac city limits. The Toledo, Ann Arbor & Pontiac railroad company has purchased the right of way through the city and will have its depot in conjunction with the Michigan Air Line. The work of construction will be commenced immediately and the road finished, if possible, before January 1, 1881. [DFP-1880-0821] Editor's Note: This railroad only built north to South Lyon. The GT was built through South Lyon in 1883 and connected.

1883. Line extended from MAL Crossing (Pontiac) to South Lyon, by way of Walled Lake, Wixom and New Hudson.

1884. Line completed from South Lyon to Jackson, by way of Whitmore Lake, Pinckney and Stockbridge.

1903. SNAPSHOT. Line complete from Lenox (Ridgeway) to Jackson of 105.6 miles. The road operated 20 stations and employed 6 engineers, 6 firemen, 5 conductors, 7 brakemen, 1 baggageman, 32 laborers (section hands), 6 yardmen and 57 others. The top five categories of freight hauled by ton were: lumber (34%), merchandise (14%), fruit and vegetables (9%), bituminous coal (9%), other commodities (8%), and logs (5%). [MCR-1904]

1975. The Jackson branch is abandoned east of Jackson to Lakeland.

1983. The branch is abandoned east of Lakeland to South Lyon.

1884. March. The line is further abandoned between South Lyon and Wixom, with the line between Wixom and Walled Lake sold to Coe Rail for use primarily as a dinner train line. The line is also abandoned east of Coe Rail to Sylvan Lake, and the remainder becomes a industrial spur served out of MAL Junction (Pontiac) until 1998 when it is also abandoned.