Timetable: M&NE - Grayling Branch - River Branch Junction to Grayling

The M&NE Grayling Branch extended from Kaleva to Grayling. It crossed under the GR&I through an underpass at Walton Junction.

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 | 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

[REF] = AATHA plus additions.

Photo Info: At left, the M&NE's track laying machine, in the early 1900's. This was reported to be on the River Branch but the exact location is not known. [Traverse City District Library].

Notes

Note: This branch line crossed the GR&I using an underpass.

Time Line

1919. The M&NE directors have authorized the expenditure of $485,000 for the purpose of extending the road to Fredrick where it will join the lines of the Michigan Central. [PHTH-1919-0226] Ed. Note: The road was built east to Grayling.

1924. December. A demand that it be permitted to abandon at least the Grayling branch of the M&NE railroad immediately, and the rest of the line as soon as possible, was made by the Michigan Trust Company, receiver for the road, in a public hearing before the State Public Utilities Commission. It was claimed that the road is unable to operate at anything like a profit and that no monies are available for repairing bridges which are in bad condition on the Grayling line. [JCP-1924o-1213]

1924. The M&NE is in bad shape. The road bed of the railroad is without ballast, the ties are in decadent condition, 11 bridges need new pilings to be made safe, and for such reasons it is dangerous to the lives of both train crews and the traveling public to ride over the river division of the road, as reported by Homer Hughes, railroad inspector, in his findings filed Friday with the MPUC. [JHP-1924-1227]

1925. Plans for the acquisition from the M&NE of more than 2¼ miles of track lying between Grayling and the Michigan Central spur to Camp Grayling were under consideration here at a conference of state officials and the attorney for the railroad interests. The action was deemed necessary following an order by M&NE receivers that the line from Kaleva Junction to Grayling is being abandoned. The M&NE has been in receivership for nearly five years. The state may lease the road for a number of years or buy it outright, applying the purchase price on taxes unpaid by the railroad, the balance of which is about $25,000.  The state last summer spent considerable money repairing this road and the railroad bridge over the AuSable. [DFP-1925-0811]