Station: Pigeon, MI

Pigeon is a town in western Huron County which was settled about 1888. It is 13 miles west of Bad Axe. It was the crossing of the north/south Pontiac, Oxford & Northern (later GTW) and the east/west Pere Marquette. Both railroads used the same depot, making it a "union" station. Note that the depot had agent/operator windows on both sides. The town became a village in 1902.

Photo Info: Top photo, the Pigeon Union depot with approaching train. [CMUL]. 2nd photo, the union station at Pigeon in 1974. [Charles Geletzke Jr. photo]. 3rd photo, a photo of the Pigeon depot in 1912. 4th photo, GTW 4542 arrives at Pigeon with the local train in 1972. [Charles Geletzke Jr. photo].

Notes

Time Line

1907. The state railroad commission orders the Pontiac, Oxford & Northern and the Pere Marquette to construct a joint depot here. [RA-1907-1025:593]

1909. The PM built a new station here in 1909. [PMAR-1909]

1960's. GTW operates an annual train from Caseville to Brush Street Station in Detroit as part of a Boblo excursion. The train typically was pulled by two diesel locomotives (brought up from Pontiac Yard) and nine passenger cars. Ticket holders were picked up along the way at Pigeon, Owendale, Cass City, North Branch and Imlay City. The train returned from Detroit the same evening. [GTWHS-2002-Spr]

1917. The GTW had an agent here during the day shift. [TRT]