Timetable: NYC - Ypsilanti Branch - Ypsilanti to Bankers (via Hillsdale)

This line was the Detroit, Hillsdale and Southwestern and became the Ypsilanti Branch of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern. Station hours are from 1943.

Notes: This line was dispatched from the Lake Shore Division headquarters at Hillsdale.

Ypsilanti: Ypsilanti branch trains used the MC station here. They had a connecting track which ran along side the MC main line across from the depot.

Washtenaw Avenue: This was a crossing of the interurban line which ran between downtown Ypsilanti and downtown Ann Arbor.

Pittsfield Junction: There was a station located here - probably for receiving and sending local freight and an occasional passenger coming from or going to the Ann Arbor railroad which crossed here. By 1943 the station was closed. This crossing later was an automatic interlocker which continued to exist until 2015 when it was removed and gates were installed.

Manchester: The Detroit, Hillsdale & Southwestern had their own station here for a time, located near the M-52 highway crossing east of the river trestle. This station was closed when Ypsilanti branch trains began using the Lake Shore's Jackson branch depot.

Manchester Junction: This was apparently originally an at-grade crossing with a diamond with a very slight crossing angle probably prone to derailments. Early on, this diamond was removed and two junction swiches were installed. Ypsilanti branch trains wishing to cross the Jackson branch lined both junction switches and the flagman reset them after the train crossed. Ypsilanti branch trains also used the junction switch to back down the Jackson branch to the Lake Shore depot here. A bell system rang at the junction if the Jackson branch block was occupied by a train.

Cement City: The Ypsilanti branch crossed under the Big Four Jackson branch, which was built after the Ypsilanti branch had been in operation. A large cement plant was located in the southwest quadrant of this crossing.

Jerome: The NYC's DT&M branch line crossed under the Ypsilanti branch at this location.

Hillsdale: Apparenty when the Ypsilanti branch was built through Hillsdale (to Bankers) it may have actually crossed the Old Road at grade. But when both lines came under Vanderbilt family control, this was changed to a junction and Ypsilanti branch trains entered the Old Road for a couple of city blocks to the Lake Shore's station here. The Ypsilanti branch line south of the Old Road was converted to a southbound route for all Lake Shore trains to reach Bankers and ultimately Fort Wayne, IN.

Note Key: BB=Bascule Bridge | C=Coal | CS=Car Shop | D=Open > Day | DA = Open Days and Afternoons | DN=Open Day and night | DS=Dispatcher | DT=Double Main Track | EH=Enginehouse | F=Diesel Fuel | HI=Half Interlocked Crossing | I=Interlocked Crossing | J=Junction | LB=Liftbridge | N=Open at night | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | Q=Quarry | RH=Roundhouse # stalls | RT=Railroad Resort | S=Scales | SB=Swingbridge | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

[REF] = [MRRL]

Time Line

1871, The DH&I is built from Ypsilanti to Bankers in 1871. [MRRC]

1871. The Detroit, Hillsdale & Indiana operates two round trip trains each day between Ypsilanti and Hillsdale, leaving Ypsilanti at 8:45 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The one-way trip is four hours and it appears that the two round trips use one trainset. Note that the trains don't pass Hillsdale and don't reach the end of the line at Bankers. [MCGW]

1875. The DH&I is reorganized as the Detroit, Hillsdale & South Western railroad. [MRRC]

1894. June 14. Recently the Lake Shore Railroad Co. ceased running daily on the Ypsilanto & Hillsdale branch, giving the towns along the route a train every other day. A great kick was raised,and Railroad Commissioner Billings was petitioned to compel the company to resume the running of trains daily. The company in reply to a letter from the railroaf commissioner, said that the shorrtage of fuel compelled them to cut dow the service, but now that the coal strike is over the rrunning of trains regularly will be resumed. [DFP-1894-0615]