Time Line - 1952

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• January 4: C&O car ferry "Spartan" launched.  Along with sister-ship "Badger", these are the largest, best-equipped and last coal-fired passenger-carrying steamships built in the U.S. [MDOT]

• September 17: DSS&A RS-1's 100 and 101 fall into a deep washout near Munising Jct. Traffic is detoured by using the LS&I and the M&LS to Shingleton. During the detour period, poor dispatching results in a fatal wreck at Onota (on October 3rd). Engine 203, running light, collides with a motor car in a rock cut, killing one section crew member. [RO]

• October 30: A shaft explosion at an exploratory gold mine at Herron in Alpena County kills five. The operation is owned by the Herron Alpena Enterprises.

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• The DSS&A begins construction of their White Pine branch. [RO]

• DSS&A tracks are relocated in Negaunee to reach the J&L Tracy Mine. [RO]

• The C&NW line from Escanaba to Negaunee is moved to avoid development of the Tracy Mine. At Partridge Junction the line turns north, and then follows parallel to the DSS&A west into Negaunee. Ann Street interchange yard is expanded as a staging area for ore cars. The DSS&A Negaunee and Palmer branch is also relocated over this new route, which continues to exist today under control of the LS&I in 2024.

• Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train service is discontinued between Grand Rapids and Cadillac. [MDOT]

• The DSS&A constructs a new diesel house at the roundhouse in Marquette.  The DSS&A has only 2 steam locomotives operating. The others remain stored. [RO]

• A steel strike lasts for 63 days. President Truman considers nationalizing the steel industry. [RO]

• The LS&I/C&NW completes tracks from Duncan to the Humboldt and Republic Mines. [MRC-10/1987]

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