Time Line - 1931

Last Year | Next Year

• Depression continues.

• April 25: The DUR Pontiac and Flint divisions are abandoned.  City operations in both cities continue.  [EMR4]

• April: The Michigan Public Utilities Commission orders a refund of $15.70 to the H. J. Heinz Company of Pittsburgh, PA due to unreasonable charges for the transport two carloads of pickles (cucumbers in brine) from Shelbyville, Michigan to Holland, Michigan in August, 1929. The amount charged exceeded the tariff. [MUC-1931]

• May 7: Ontonagon Railroad is abandoned.  (6.6 mile branch off the Milwaukee Road to Halfway Creek).  [MRRC]

• Summer: GTW begins commuter passenger service between brush Street and Royal Oak Birmingham and Pontiac.  [MRC-6/1973]

• Summer: GTW opens a new Birmingham Station with high-level platforms.  [MRC-6/1973]

• December 22: Pere Marquette RR acquires control of the Manistee & North Eastern Railroad.   [PMHS][PM45]

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• Car ferry City of Milwaukee is built for the Grand Trunk Milwaukee Car Ferry Company. It is 347 feet and holds 30 railcars on four tracks. It is later utilized by the Ann Arbor Railroad. - [MRC-09/88]

• Rochester Jct. interlocking tower is closed and the crossing is remoted from the Rochester depot. 1931 or 1932. [CW]

• The New York Central discontinues passenger service on the Monroe Branch, from Monroe to Adrian. [MRC-5/1973]

• The Baltimore & Ohio introduces the first air conditioned passenger train. [SAM]

• The ARA adopts the Type "E" coupler as a recommended practice. [SAM]

Time line Key:

• Railroad event in Michigan
• Event relating to mining
• Event related to car ferries
• Event outside of Michigan
• Improvement in Technology
• Railroad built or extended
• Railroad abandoned and/or removed
• Economic panic or depression