Station: Cassopolis, MI

Cassopolis is the county seat of Cass County. It was settled in 1829. It became a village in 1863. In the past, it has also been spelled Cassopolis. [MPN]

Cassopolis was served by the Grand Trunk Western main line running from Port Huron to Chicago. It continues to be operated today by the Canadian National. The town was also served on a east-west route by the Air Line Division of the Michigan Central between Jackson and Niles. This line was abandoned in 1937.

Image info: Top, an early view of the GTW passenger train at the Cassopolis depot. [CMUL]. 2nd image, a 1910 view of the depot. 3rd image, the GTW depot at Cassopolis taken in 1984. This depot was built in 1888 and was originally located at Granger, Indiana. [Charlie Whipp] 4th image, the Michigan Central (Air Line Division) depot at Cassopolis. [Alan Loftis Collection] Bottom 2 photos, the GTW depot, now a museum in 2004. [Alan Loftis]

Notes

The GTW has always been the dominant railroad in Cassopolis, though the MC had a more substantial depot.

Time Line

1888. July 6. A bad wreck occurred here this morning. A freight train on the GT ran into the Michigan Central freight at the crossing wrecking both trains. GT engine No. 9 was strewn across both tracks with broken cars and freight. No one was hurt, although the GT engineer was carried over an embankment in his demolished engine but he succeed in crawling out alive. [GRJ-1888-0708]

1904. The MC approves a first class interlocking and derailing switch and signal system the the crossing o the GTW and MC. [1904-MCRE]

1915. The GTW had a 144 car passing track here. [GTOS-1915-1102]

1917. The MC had an operator-leverman here around-the-clock. the GTW had a station agent, as well as operators who controlled the crossing around the clock. [TRT]

1918. The war-time U.S. Railroad Administration orders changes at Cassopolis for the Michigan Central and Grand Trunk railroads. All train orders will be issued from the interlocking tower. Before, only the MC received orders. There will be no operators at the GT depot. Operators C.W. Lutes and Fred Jewell, together with Mrs. Lutes, will become ticket sellers for both stations. The GT station will be closed after the passing of the 8:16 train each evening and remain closed until 2:00 a.m. The ticket sellers will go to the MC depot and sell tickets there previous to the coming of each MC train. Agent Hawkins of the MC has been transferred to Lawton. Freight business for both roads will be in charge of Agent Flanagan of the GR.  [CAS-1918-0926]

1920. On the Michigan Central Air Line, this is a passenger and freight agency. Interline tickets are issued. H. E. Jones is the agent. The telegraph call sign is "AP". [MCOAS]

1923. The MCRR replaces detector bars at this interlocking with route locking. [MPSC-1923]