Station: Galien, MI

Galien (pronounced "Galeen") was founded in 1853 with the location of a mill. The town was incorporated as a village in 1879. [MPN] Galien was located on the Michigan Central main line between Detroit to Chicago, about 14 miles west of Niles.  A Michigan Central branch line from Indiana came through here enroute north to St. Joseph and Benton Harbor.

Around 1911, the branch had two daily except Sunday first class passenger trains in both directions, #401, #402, #403 and #404.

Photo info: Top, the Michigan Central station in Galien. 2nd photo, a steam locomotive switches a box car in front of the depot. Though taken at a different time, the box car appears to be approximately where the box car is located in the top photograph. 3rd photo, the shell of the original depot after being gutted by fire. 4th photo, the "new" depot at Galien. [Alan Loftis collection]

Notes

Time Line

1890. The Michigan Central has about one hundred men at work at Galien raising the track on a bridge over the Vandalia (rail) road. The Vandalia Company has two construction trains with a large force of men at work between South Bend and Galien ballasting the track and also a force of hands building fences. [WPAL-1890-0502]

1911. The St. Joe/Benton Harbor branch had a 2,397' passing siding here.

1917. The MC had an operator-agent here around-the-clock. [TRT]

1920. On the Michigan Central, this is a passenger ticket and freight agency. Interline tickets are kept in stock. It is also joint with the American Railway Express Company. Station agent is Charles Hohman. On the MC St. Joseph Branch, this was also a passenger, freight and express agency. B. E. Steele is the agent. Telegraph call sign is "GO". [MCOAS]