July 1: Detroit, Monroe & Toledo Railroad completes its Detroit-Toledo line. It is acquired in 1856 by the Michigan Southern. [MDOT/MRRC/AAD]
July 1: The Detroit & Milwaukee reaches Owosso from Fentonville. [MCR-75]
December: The Michigan Central and the Detroit, Monroe & Toledo Railroad reach an agreement which allows the MC to use the west side of the DM&T's route from West Detroit to Milwaukee Jct. for the purpose of building a branch to Bay City. That option was activated on May 8, 1973. [EMR4]
December: The Detroit Free Press reports that rail service between Detroit and Monroe has began. [EMR4]
The Detroit & Milwaukee reaches Owosso from Fentonville. [AAD]
Detroit & Milwaukee RR arrives at Durand. [MHM]
Charlotteville Lumber Co. builds 7 mile long line in Berrien County (T6S R19W). Abandoned in 1870. [MRRC]
Bay de Noquet and Marquette Railroad completes line from Marquette to just beyond Ishpeming. [SSJB]
Michigan receives first federal railroad land grant. 3.8 million acres contributed by Federal government, joined with 1.7 million acres added by State of Michigan. [MDOT]
The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern builds its first depot in Hudson, west of Adrian. It is a one-story frame structure. It was replaced in 1856, and was moved down the road to Cadmus. [NYC-Q1/1996]
The Central Mining Company begins extraction and stamping of copper in Central, Michigan. It continues until 1898. Central reaches a population of 1,200 in 1883. [BOM]
The Robinson, Russell & Company, freight car manufacturers, build shops on Croghan Street (now Monroe Avenue). [HWC]
First railroad bridge spans the Mississippi River at Davenport, Iowa. [STOV]
Railroads begin experimenting with passenger car seats that recline, a for-runner to the sleeping car. [AAD]
Quincy Mine, on the hill north of Hancock opens. "Old Reliable" stays open until September 1, 1945. [MSL]
Time line Key:
The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]: