Location: Richland Junction, MI

Richland Junction in northeast Kalamazoo County, was the crossing of the Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw railroad and the Detroit, Toledo & Milwaukee railroad. The DT&M was later converted to an interurban railroad. Later, it again became a steam railroad but was truncated at Doster and Richland and became a short branch of the CK&S which was absorbed by the Michigan Central.

Photo Info: Top, the station and interlocking tower at Richland Junction. [Joe Chadderdon collection, submitted by Michael Lueck]

Notes

The Chicago, Jackson and Mackinaw (later DT&M) came through in 1883. The CK&S came through Richland in 1889 creating the crossing and interlocker.

This was known as Kalamazoo Junction on the CJ&M in 1898. [MCR-1889]

Time Line

1903. This was reported to be a "single lever” interlocking provided by the Gravitt Signal Company. [MCR-1904] Note: This may have not been a capstan style interlocker. Capstan interlockers used wire control and the photo of the tower indicates that it was pipe operated.