Timetable: C&NW - Crystal Falls Branch - Stager to Amasa

The Crystal Falls branch was built in 1882, at the same time that the C&NW line was built west from Stager to Watersmeet. This line was built primarily to serve the mining towns on the Menominee Range, as well as to bring iron ore from the mines to the port of Escanaba. 

This branch was usually served by trains from Powers to Crystal Falls which went up and down the nine mile long branch from the wye at Stager. After the C&NW purchased the Ore Line (EIM&W) loaded ore trains used the new route from Antoine to Escanaba, returning empty via Powers.

This branch had many spurs and mining branches, with the three largest being the branch to Alpha (built in 1882), Mansfield Mine (in 1882) and Amasa (in 1891). The Mansfield and Amasa branches were removed in 1937. The entire branch from Stager to Crystal Falls was removed in 1982. [MRL]

Key:  C=Coal | D=Open during the day | DN=Day and night | EH = Engine House. | F=Fuel | H=Half Interlocked | I=Interlocking | J=Junction | N=Open at night | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | S=Scales | SB = Switch back | TC=Telegraph call | T=Turntable | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

Notes

The C&NW stopped using the branch to Amasa after an ore pooling agreement was made with the Milwaukee Road, which also served Amasa. The MILW continued to switch the mine at Amasa.

See also the C&NW Mansfield Spur time table for additional information.

Time Line

1881. April. A party of surveyors last week left Florence, WI, the present terminus of the Menominee River Railroad (a division of the C&NW) to look out a route for the extension of the railroad to the west and north of that place. There is every reason to believe that the route chosen will be to run west in Wisconsin and cross the Brule river into Michigan, about the center of T42N-R33W, following up the Armstrong Creek, thence by the Mastodon in Section 13 of the same township and thence to Crystal Falls. It will be practically impossible to go direct to the Falls as the country is too rough. [DFP-1881-0415]

1882. Line completed from Stager to Crystal Falls Junction, and the Alpha branch completed from Mastodon Junction to Alpha. [MRL]

1883. A washout occurred on the railroad near Crystal Falls last Thursday. A small lake close by the track overflowed and carried away the roadbed, and on the day noted, passengers were obliged to walk from Florence (WI) to the Falls. [DFP-1883-0501]

1887. Branch extended from Alpha to Dunn Mine. [MRL]

1890. The branch to Hemlock mine is begun. [DD-1890-0719]

1895. The C&NW installed a turn table at the Dunn mine, located on the main spur near the mine warehouse. [DD-1895-0518]

1900. Branch extended from Dunn Mile to MP 8.7 and connection with the MILW. [MRL]

1907. A special train will leave Crystal Falls at 1:00 for Iron River (via Stager). The fare for the round trip is 90¢ and allows return until the following Monday. The train is run to accommodate the Odd Fellows who are going to Iron River for the annual anniversary celebration. Immediately upon the arrival of the special, a street parade will be formed led by Pelo's band and the Menominee Range Canton. [DD-1907-0420]

1911. A bad wreck occurred on the Amasa branch of the C&NW last Thursday afternoon at Holmes creek bridge. The crew was on a run to Amasa as a special ore train. They took out a heavy load from the Hemlock mine and as they rounded the curve north of the bridge they were going at a pretty fair gait in order to make the hill. The second car from the caboose broke the east rail about two feet from the north end of the bridge letting the trucks of the car and the following car and caboose onto the timbers of the bridge. The three cars went over the long trestle on the ties and it is a miracle they did not go through the bridge to the ground below, about 30 feet. No one was injured. A wrecking crew was rushed to the scene and the track was put in condition for service the following day. [DD-1911-0711]

1911 September. The C&NW changes freight operations on their Watersmeet line. Going forward, Crystal Falls will be served by the freight originating at Powers. A different freight, leaving Iron Mountain will serve Iron River. Freight from Powers to Iron River will need to transfer to the Crystal Falls freight at Iron Mountain, causing a day's delay. C&NW has also raised freight rates which the Commercial Club is not happy with. The newspaper also notes that passenger service is no better "than a train in Africa". [EDP-1911-0902]

1918. March. Fred Olin was at the Alpha station wanting to get to Florence on the evening train. He telephoned to Crystal Falls depot and found that the train would not run to Alpha that day. He was anxious to get home miles in a winter storm and walked six miles to Stager, only to find that train No. 122 from Iron River had also been annulled. He then took the branch train to Crystal Falls. There were several ladies and children from Alpha on the train who also could not get to Alpha. They had no place in Crystal Falls to stay during the storm. He spoke with the conductor assuming he would take care of their accommodations for the night. The conductor seemed to think it was none of his business, so Olin provided for them. He took the ladies and children to the Lockwood House at Crystal Falls and saw that they were supplied with rooms and breakfast. Olin sent the bill to the C&NW claim department in Chicago and they reimbursed him in the amount of $13.75 and thanked him for helping. [DD-1918-0316]

1932. Michigan railroads since 1932 have quit using the following tracks, which continue to exist but are not in use: Crystal Falls to Amasa. [DFP-1949-1009]

1937. The C&NW asked the ICC for authority to abandon 27 miles of track in Iron County. The portions affected are 12 miles of the Amasa branch and 15 miles of the Mansfield branch, leading from Amasa to a point near Crystal Falls. The railroad also requested authority to operate under a trackage rights over the main line of the CMStP&P between Crystal Falls and Amasa. [EDP-1937-0523]

1937. C&NW line from mp 9.8 to Crystal Falls Junction (Stager branch) was sold to the Milwaukee Road. Part of the ore pooling agreement between the two lines. C&NW likely continued to have trackage rights. [MRL]

1943. There are no passenger trains on this branch. [ETT-1943]

1945. Dunn Mine branch removed from end (mp 8.7) south to Alpha. [MRL]

1971. Dunn Mine branch abandoned between Alpha and Mastodon Junction [MRL]

1982. The Crystal Falls branch from Stager to Crystal Falls is abandoned and removed. [MRL]