Timetable: Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena Railroad - Main Line - Boyne City to Alpena

Key: BB=Bascule Bridge | C=Coal | CS=Car Shop | D=Open > Day | DN=Open Day and night | DS=Dispatcher | DT=Double Main Track | EH=Engine house | HI=Half Interlocker | I=Interlocker | J=Junction | LB=Lift bridge | N=Open at night | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | RH=Roundhouse # stalls | S=Scales | SB=Swing bridge | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

Notes

This line was built east from Gaylord to Alpena. Most histories indicate that the line to Alpena was completed in August 15, 1918.  But a book titled Alpena Dates of Early Events published in 1915 [ADEE] states that there was a fire along the line at Spratt on May 26, 1914. They also noted that the line reached Atlanta from Gaylord on October 27, 1914. This would indicate that when the decision was made to extend the BCG&A between Gaylord and Alpena, it was done from both directions. The line was built west and ultimately both were connected somewhere near what is now the junction of M-33 and M-32. This would also make sense because a number of Alpena lumberman were bringing logs from the Hillman area into Alpena.

This line went through what is now Fletcher Floodwaters in western Alpena County. At the time, the floodwaters did not exist. The Thunder Bay River was dammed after the abandonment of the railroad and it covered the right of way for several miles. The raised roadbed continues to exist under the water and it has been said to be a good spot to fish.

Time Line

1900. A log train consisting of an engine and twelve cars left the rails on White's log road, on the Valentine division of the Alpena & Northern railroad, and ran into a ditch. The accident was caused by rails spreading. [DFP-1900-0220]

1923. May. The peaceful quiet of the Boyne Falls hill district was disturbed yesterday afternoon by a wild train of 12 flat cars on the BCG&A railroad, that went through an open derailer and switch at North Elmira and shot down the 900-foot drop down the hill at something like 90 miles per hour. The roar of the train was heard at a considerable distance as it took the 20 miles around sharp curves in a cloud of dust.

The wild journey came to an end in the lake at Boyne City, word having been wired ahead so that the string of cars was switched off into the water. [BCE-1912-0514]

1931. Temporary discontinuance of service between Alpena and Atlanta by the BCG&A railroad has brought threats by shippers that they will attempt to force the concern to run trains between the two cities. The railroad company has replaced the trains by trucks to handle mail and express because tracks are submerged in water due to the opening of the Alpena Power company's dam in the upper south branch of the Thunder Bay river. The shippers contend that the railroad should continue its operation between the two cities because the power company warned of its contemplated action a year ago. They further state that when the railroad accepted the right of way deed in 1912, reservation was made by the power company for such flood conditions. [SJH-1931-0310]

1931, The BCG&A has given notice to shippers that trains will cease operation on December 1 between Gaylord, Atlanta and Alpena. Depots involved are Atlanta, Spratt, Herron and Alpena. [DFP-1931-1129]

1932. Michigan railroads since 1932 have quit using the following tracks. Some continue to exist but are not in use: BCG&A from Boyne Falls to Alpena. [DFP-1949-1009]

1935. The BCG&A receivership has been settled in Circuit Court in Charlevoix with acceptance of the $100 bid of Earl Straghtead and Henry Lee of Boyne City for the property. The railroad, now operating between Boyne City and Boyne Falls, formally extended across Upper Michigan to Alpena. [Sebewaing Blade - 1935-0125]