Location: Negaunee, MI - Negaunee Junction

Negaunee Junction was a location on the north side of the village of Negaunee. Originally, this was a single crossing of the C&NW and the DSS&A between their respective Negaunee depots and Ishpeming. When the C&NW gave up their Negaunee depot (converting it to a freight house) and used the South Shore union depot, they built another line parallel to the DSS&A line (former M&W) to this point, rejoining their original line.

This branch to the northwest was also known on the DSS&A as the Teal Lake branch. It was known on the C&NW as the Bessemer Branch Jct.

Image info: A map of the crossing, junction and the Jackson Tunnel Mine spur about 1917. This was based on a C&NW valuation map from 1917. The line indicated as the Mine Lead was removed by 1917. The C&NW had a branch off the branch near the interurban car barn which curved around and under the DSS&A and C&NW main lines and entered an adit tunnel into the Jackson Mine, called the Jackson Tunnel Mine. [CNWV][Dale Berry map]

Notes

This location was also a junction with the joint DSS&A/C&NW Bessemer Branch to Hartford and Cambria mines near Teal Lake. Also near by was the Ishpeming-Negaunee street car line power house, called the "Gas Light and Traction Plant", and the interurban line crossed the Bessemer Branch northwest of the Crossing.

The traction line crossing was owned and maintained by the Power Company under a 1905 agreement. The power house also had two tracks off the Bessemer branch for delivery of coal. These tracks were maintained by the C&NW.

The traction line had their four track yard car house next to the power plant.

Another spur track off the Bessemer branch, a few feet north of the diamond was a line to the Jackson mine. That line curved south and crossed the main lines under bridges, and then into a tunnel at the mine.

In the late 1800's this was a busy crossing. It was not interlocked and maps indicate there was a DSS&A "signal shanty" at the crossing, likely manned by a signal tender.

Time Line

1865. The C&NW is the first road to build through here on their original main line from their downtown Negaunee depot. [MRL]

1874. The C&NW creates a junction and builds northwest to the Cambria Mine and other mines along Teal Lake. The branch is called the "Bessemer" branch. [CNWV]

1884. The Marquette & Western builds through here, installing a crossing with the C&NW. They then head west to Ishpeming along side the Northwestern line. This crossing was apparently never interlocked. The DSS&A, which bought the M&W a year later, staffed the crossing with a switch tender/signalman. [CNWV]

1884. The M&W also builds a parallel branch to the Teal Lake area, called the "Teal Lake" branch. These branches are combined over the years, perhaps operated as double track to this busy area.

1893. The Negaunee & Ishpeming Street Railway lays their main track, crossing the branches to Teal Lake. They also build a power house and car house here. [MRL] The line operated until abandoned in 1927.

1930. The Teal Lake branch is abandoned. [MRL]

1956. Both C&NW and DSS&A lines are closed here, moving to a new consolidated main line along M-41.