Timetable: MCRR - Saginaw Division - Jackson to Bay City

This is the original Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw line extending from Jackson via Saginaw and Bay City, to Mackinaw City. By the time it was completed, it was leased to the Michigan Central. The station open times are from 1897. Some added locations are from a 1912 MC station list. Passing siding capacity is 44' cars. This was a single track line originally, then double track from Pearl Street to Rives Junction and from Double Track Switch (Salzburg) to West Bay City.

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 | PS=Passenger Station | 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

Automatic Block Signals. For a number of years the Michigan Central railroad had automatic block signals in the Saginaw and Bay City region. ABS was installed on this route from Paines, through Saginaw West Side to Bay City ending at Wenona Yard. This included single track in Saginaw and double track from "double track switch" near Salzburg past West Bay City station to Wenona Yard. There were also multiple interlockers along these routes. [MC ETT 1947]. The ABS system was discontinued and removed by the early 1960's.

Time Line

1865. The JL&S announces travel from Detroit to Lansing, via the Michigan Central to Jackson. The train leaves Detroit at 10:30 am and Jackson at 4:00 pm. It arrives at Mason and passengers leave by stage the remaining 12 miles to Lansing, arriving at 6:00 pm. Tickets are sold at the MC depot, foot of Third Street. [DFP-1865-1206]

1866. The editor of the Ann Arbor Courier visits Lansing and tells the story. "We passed over the "model railroad of the world," the Michigan Central in one of its palatial cars, to the city of Jackson. Then we were comfortably seated in one of the coaches of the JL&S railroad. At 2:00 pm were moving over this new road at a fair speed, arriving at Mason, its present temporary terminal. The country, for the most part, through which this road passes is of a very pleasant character and is largely improved with fine farms, while the unimproved is attracting attention who are seeking new farm lands.

From Mason, we were sent forward in one of D.B. Hibbard's large, first class passenger stage coaches, then which there are no better, or more attention paid to the comfort and pleasure of passengers for the 13 miles to the capital.

Lansing is one of the largest interior cities of the State and possesses large facilities in the way of water power for manufacturies (sic) and are already largely improved with flouring mills, a woolen mill, several saw and plaster mills, and other manufacturing interests requiring power to drive them. [LSJ-1866-0117]

1866. The J&LS is completed from Jackson to Lansing and the first through train arrives. [LSJ-1866-0202]

1867. Another cargo of 650 tons of rails has arrived at New York for the JL&S (from England?). Regular trains will certainly run as far north as Chesaning next week. When the road is opened to Wenona (west Bay City) there will be two regular passenger trains each way per day, and one freight train each way which will have a passenger coach attached. Extensive docks are being built by the Sage, McGraw & Company for the company at Wenona (on the Saginaw River) which will give them about 4,000 feet of river front accessible for vessels. These docks will cost about $30,000. [DFP-1867-0827]

1867. The JL&S is opened north to Saginaw. The grand opening took place and a large number of invited guests from most of the cities of the southern portion of the state. Jackson sent a large force and Detroit was represented by some of the best business me and a correspondent from the Free Press. The Taylor House, opened but a few months, was prepared and provided supper. [DFP-1867-1219] The Taylor House is a stately four story structure of white brick and cast iron and was erected during the season at a cost of $115,000. It is a first class hotel with about 100 rooms and fitted up with modern conveniences. Marble floors, splendid halls, magnificent parlors and cozy rooms. It is kept by Col. Taylor and proprietor. The street cars pass its door and the station of the JL&S is on Water Street, a few rods away. [1868-0115]

1868. Telegraph poles from Owosso to Lansing City, on the line of the J&LS road are all up and the wires are to form a connection with Jackson in a few days. [LSF-1868-0305]

1868. The JL&S has now put on four trains each way per day. All winter it had only two. This is an immense occurrence to the Bay City people, now that travel on the other road is temporarily suspended. The JL&S continues to make good time, but under immense difficulties as much of it is still submerged. There track would have gone too ad not the engineer taken the precaution to use "edgings" in building the low portions of the track. They turned off the water and retained the earth on the road-bed when mere sand embankments perished. [DFP-1868-0324]

1871. The J&LS operates two passenger trains north from Jackson to Wenona (end of the line). The first leaves at 6:20 a.m. stopping at most stations along the route, arriving at Wenona (West Bay City) at noon. The 2nd train leaves Jackson at 3:30 p.m. arriving at Wenona at 9:15 p.m. Three other local trains are operated, one between Jackson (11:30 a.m.) arriving at Mason (12:40 a.m.) and two trips between (west) Saginaw and Wenona (7:25 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.). [MCGW]

1897. SNAPSHOT. The branch, known as the Saginaw Division, operated three passenger trains in each direction from Jackson to Bay City. Northbound number 71A and 73A were known as the Bay City & Mackinaw Express and #75A was the Owosso Accommodation. Southbound #72A and 74A were known as the Chicago Express and 76A was the Jackson Accommodation. One round trip way freight train was scheduled each way. Most stations along the route had a day operator/agent (D) but Jackson, Rives Junction, Lansing, Owosso Jct., Saginaw Branch Jct., West Bay City and Bay City (East side) were open around the clock.

From Saginaw to Bay City, the route also hosted four 1st class passenger trains round trip, known northbound as the Mackinaw & Marquette Express, the Bay City local, the Alpena & Mackinaw Express and the Grayling accommodation. Southbound they were called the Saginaw accommodation, Detroit & Cincinnati Special, the Detroit local, and the Cincinnati & New York Express. [ETT-1897-11]

1909. The telephone dispatching service now in use on the Saginaw division of the Michigan Central is giving general satisfaction, and may soon be extended to other lines operated by this company. It has been in use in Lansing for several days. Not only does the telephone facilitate the dispatching of trains, say the MC operators, but it obviates considerable waste of time in calling stations, and much more can be said in a shorter time over the telephone than over the telegraph. When an operator wishes to call a station, he merely presses a button. The telegraph is still in use, however, being reserved for emergencies. [LSJ-1911-0211]

1925. The MC installs 6 semaphore and 2 color-light signals (GRS-2A D.C. automatic block signals between Zilwaukee and Mershon Tower in Saginaw. [RSC-1925]

1969. This branch began handling Consumers Power coal to Essexville and Dow Chemical unit coal trains to Midland. The trains had been taken off their regular routing via the Penn Central Mackinaw Branch from Detroit to Saginaw following a sizable derailment on that line at Yates (between Utica and Rochester in June, 1968. The rerouted trains came up the AA to Owosso, and then up the PC to Paines. In time, the heavy unit coal trains began to erode the AA line as well and routing was temporarily changed to the GTW in 1975. The GTW took ownership of the PC lines upon the creation of Conrail. [MHS]