Timetable: D&M - Indian River Branch - Tower to End of Rail

Time Line

1906. The D&M railroad announced today that a branch would be built west toward Boyne City. The preliminary survey will begin at once and a grading crew will start operations early next week. The new road may join the BCG&A railroad now in operation as far as Gaylord. The new road will be a good thing for Alpena, as large tracts of timber will be opened. [DFP-1906-1106] Editor's Note: The road was not built west of the end of the rail near Le Grand, other than forest branches.

1907. The railroad removed 2.4 miles of the Marston Branch near LeGrand. [DMAR-1907\

1924. In the Matter of the Application of the Detroit and Mackinac Railway Company for Authority to Abandon. Its Line of Railroad Known as the Indian River Branch. D-1943. September 18, 1924.

The petition was filed in this matter on April 8, 1924, by the Detroit and Mackinac Railway Company, asking this Commission to make an order authorizing it to abandon that portion of its railroad known as the Indian River Branch located in the County of Cheboygan, which leaves the main line of the Detroit and Mackinac Railway Company at Tower, and extending in a westerly and northwesterly direction to LeGrande, a distance of about 9.1 miles: -

The matter was brought on for hearing before the Commission in the courthouse at Tawas City, Michigan, on August 19, 1924, at nine o'clock A. M. This branch of road was built some twenty years ago for the purpose of bringing out from the territory through which it was built forest products. These products have all been shipped out with the exception of some timber owned by Lobdell-Emery Company of Onaway, Michigan. This branch has always been used for hauling freight, and passenger trains have not been operated on it for a number of years.

Prior to this hearing and in accordance with the law of Michigan, the Detroit and Mackinac Railway Company published the notice required and all proceedings leading up to the hearing were regular and as required by law and the order of this Commission. No one appeared at the hearing in opposition to the abandonment of this railroad except the Lobdell-Emery Company. Mr. Lobdell, President of the Lobdell-Emery Company, testified that all of his company's forest products would be shipped out within three years and that although his company owned a large tract of land tributary to this branch, he stated that if the forest products were removed, he would frankly admit that there was no necessity for the further operation of this road.

During the progress of this hearing the Lobdell-Emery Company and the Detroit and Mackinac Railway Company entered into an agreement, which agreement is filed with the Commission, in which the Lobdell Emery Company withdrew its opposition to the making of an order by this Commission authorizing the railway company to abandon as a part of its railroad system this branch. The agreement entered into between these parties provided that the Lobdell-Emery Company should have the right, during the next three years, to bring its own products out over the rails of this company on this branch.

The Commission finds:

(a) That all the proceedings leading up to this hearing have been regular and in accordance with law and the rules and regulations of this Commission;