Time Line - 1971

Last Year | Next Year

• April 30: Privately-operated railroad passenger service in Michigan comes to an end on the C&O, GTW, The Milwaukee Road, Penn Central and the Norfolk & Western RR as Amtrak is formed. The "Wabash Cannonball" operates for the last time between Detroit and St. Louis. 

• April 30: The last regularly scheduled passenger trains, #206 and 208 operate between Muskegon via Grand Haven to Holland on the Chessie. [MRC-4/1988]

• April 30: The GTW ends inter-city passenger service. The "Mohawk" was the last passenger train in and out of Brush Street Station. Detroit to Pontiac commuter trains continue to use the station. [MRC-6/1973]

• May 1: Fort Street Union Depot is closed. [IT-4/81/DPH]

• May 1: The C&NW ceases passenger train operation (a Sunday-only operation) from Chicago to Menominee in Wisconsin. [MSL]

• May 1: Amtrak trains cover 21,000 miles nationally, begins operations in Michigan. [MRRC/STOV]

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• Amtrak closes the 1886 Ann Arbor depot.  It is sold to the Chuck Muer organization and reopened as a highly regarded eatery. [BWC-4/1990]

• Amtrak discontinues operating passenger service from Detroit east through Canada. [MRC-12/1974]

• The C&O abandons branch lines between Port Huron and Croswell, and between Harbor Beach and Port Hope. [AB]

• The Copper Range Railroad takes up rail between Mill-Mine Jct. and Freda. [CRH] 

 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