Timetable: Escanaba & Lake Superior - Main Line - Wells to Channing

The main line of the Escanaba & Lake Superior was used for ore, logging and timber products throughout its history.

From almost it's inception in 1901, the Milwaukee & Northern used this line to haul ore cars from the Iron Mountain, Crystal Falls and Iron River area mines to its docks near Wells. This operation was discontinued in 1936 when the MILW began pooling ore on the C&NW ore line from Antoine to Escanaba. This relegated a rather substantially built railroad to a minor forest road.

Since the 1980's the line has been used for the storage of idle railroad cars. Passing siding capacity based on ore cars in 1;948. Most junctions on this line are with logging branches.  Spur at Ralph is 1,100' long. Dispatcher is at Wells.

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 | F=Diesel Fuel | HI=Half Interlocked Crossing | I=Interlocked Crossing | J=Junction | LB=Lift bridge | N=Open at night | O=Oil | OD=Ore Docks | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | Q=Quarry | RH=Roundhouse # stalls | RT=Railroad Resort | S=Scales | SB=Swing bridge | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

Notes

MILW engines must not use the wyes a Wells or Ralph without special permission from the Chief Train Dispatcher. [ETT-1948]

Time Line

1901. Line opened from Wells and Escanaba to Channing. [MRL] See 1903 note below.

1902. The Northland Branch is opened 8.1 miles. It is cut back in 1915 and 1921, and completely abandoned (remaining 8 miles) in 1938. [MRL]

1903. WORK PROGRESSING RAPIDLY. Escanaba & Lake Superior Road Extension Being Pushed From Channing Eastward. The right of way for the extension of the Escanaba & Lake Superior road from Wells to Channing has been cut. The road will penetrate a dense forest. Sol Fraser, of Menominee, has completed his contract, having cut seven miles of the right of way from Channing eastward. The remainder of the right of way was cut by contracting agents.

Nearly twenty-one miles of road bed has been graded, and the work is progressing surprisingly well. Nearly four hundred men are employed. The extension will be twenty-nine miles long. The work of laying the steel rails commenced last Monday. Over 2,500 tons of steel has been purchased. The company will be running trains over the new road in two months. [CUR-1903-0214]

1909. ESCANABA & LAKE SU PERIOR R. R. This line was inspected August 17th, and runs from Wells to Channing, a distance of 63 miles, with branch lines to forest terminals being used exclusively for the transportation of forest products. Two and one-half miles of this track was laid with 85 pound steel rail this year, the balance being laid with 60 pound rail which is not heavy enough for the traffic. The company contemplates the laying of a heavier rail in the near future to meet the demands of the traffic. The main line from Channing to Wells is used principally by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company for transporting ore. Tie renewals have been liberal and the track is in first class alignment. The track is free from weeds but the right of way has grown up with underbrush. Crossing plank and crossing signs are in fair condition. Frogs and switches are blocked as required by law. Very little right-of-way fence has been built, the road being constructed mostly through the forest. The equipment of this line is adequate for the requirements. Special attention is given by this company to keeping their track in first class alignment, the traffic being heavy and the rail light. All engines and cars are fully equipped with air.

1911. O.O. Rollins and Carl Sawyer will leave this morning (from Escanaba) on their annual hunting trip to points along the line of the E&LS. [EDP-1911-1192]

1940. A 1940 timetable of E&LS trains on their main line:

1948. SNAPSHOT. The E&LS operated one mixed train (a freight train with a passenger car on the end). #1 and #2, round-trip between Wells, Escanaba, and Channing. All stations along the line, except Escanaba, are flag stops. #1 (westbound) left Wells at 6:00 pm, arriving at Channing at 9:45 pm. #2 leaves Channing at 10:30 pm, arriving back at Wells at 2:15 am, after running down the branch to the Escanaba depot. Trains were instructed not to exceed 25 mph.