Location: Lansing, MI - LS&MS / MC Transit Railroad Crossing

This was a crossing of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Lansing Branch along the east side of the Cedar River, and a Michigan Central spur (Belt Line) which crossed this line enroute to the power plant on the west side of the river.

The crossing of the spur and the LS&MS Lansing branch was a stop and proceed crossing.

Notes

Traffic on the Lake Shore and Belt line were minimal and within yard limits. This crossing was apparently unprotected.

This was originally a Michigan Central (JL&S) spur which left their main line north of the Lansing depot and curved across the LS&MS Lansing Branch, across the river, and ultimately to the E. Bement Manufacturing company which made agricultural instruments and stoves in 1898 on the west side of the river. The Bement plant became a Reo Truck plant by 1913. Other industries on the west side of the river also received rail service on this line. According to Sanborn maps, a wye connection allowing the LS&S to access the spur was put in between 1898 and 1906. At a later date, a Lansing Board of Water and Light plant was built here and received coal from rail cars.

Time Line

1889. A LS&MS freight train collided with a MC engine on the Belt railroad in Lansing (east of the bridge) the other night. Both engines and three cars were wrecked but the trainmen escaped by jumping. The loss will exceed $20,000. [LDP-1889-1024]