Time Line - 1957

Last Year | Next Year

• Winter: Fire sweeps through the Detroit & Mackinac Railway property in Tawas City. The fire was reported at 3:15 a.m. by the night hostler. The old coach house and the old woodworking shop were destroyed by fire.  Flames shot 100 feet in the air as gasoline tanks exploded. No one was injured. [RMK]

• July 19: DSS&A train #18 collides with the rear end of train 32 in Hogan Ore Yard in Ishpeming.  There are no serious injuries but caboose 581 is destroyed and Baldwin center-cab 302 is damaged. [RO]

• July: EMD begins testing its Aerotrain, a new lightweight concept in passenger trains. [LTimes/9-16-2003]

• September: Algonac Transit Company closes and tracks removed. [IT-4/81]

• November: The DT&I removes tracks on their Tecumseh branch from Adrian to Sand Creek curve, and will use trackage rights over the Wabash. [MWR-1957-1006]

• November 1: Mackinac Bridge opens to traffic. [DWS][RO]

• December 31: GTW closes its Haslett station. The depot was torn down some years later. [GTWHS 08/01]

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• The Detroit & Mackinac lays track to the new National Gypsum tramway (to Lake Huron) south of Tawas City. [DMHS]

• The state's last logging branch railroad is constructed by the Lake Superior & Ishpeming from Cusino at the border of Alger and Schoolcraft counties, northeast approximately sixteen miles to Sunrise Landing, between Triangle and Hemlock lakes.  During the seven years of operation, a total of 4,884 carloads of chemical wood for the chemical company at Marquette, 1,109 carloads of pulpwood logs and 2,706 carloads of veneer logs were moved.  The branch line ended in 1964. [MH-11/1993]

• Two thirds of U. S. rail is 100 lbs. or heavier. [STOV]

• The Detroit & Mackinac Ry. takes delivery of a Woolery Model WB-2-F three burner Weed Burner. The machine is complete with two engines, one to propel it, and the other to operate the burner mechanism. The unit has an enclosed steel cab, electric ignition and standard accessories. The unit can also be used for melting snow. [RMK]

• According to annual reports filed with the Michigan Department of Transportation, this is the last year that the Copper Range Railroad makes a profit ($19,036 on $630,960 in revenues). It looses money in each subsequent year until it is abandoned in 1973. [CRAR]

• Passenger movement by air exceeds railroads for the first time. [STOV]

• Passenger trains operate over 112,000 miles of U.S. railroads. [STOV]

• The New York Central consolidates the Commordore Vanderbilt with the 20th Century Limited. The extra fare for the 20th Century is eliminated. [LS]

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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