Timetable: Pere Marquette - Elmdale Sub - Paines to Elmdale (Freeport)

This was a branch line which the PM used to feed freight from Chicago and Grand Rapids to the Saginaw area, bypassing Detroit. Station information and passing siding capacity from 1944.

This was Pere Marquette's Sub-Division #2 and speeds were limited to 50 mph for passenger trains and 40 mph for other trains (in 1944). This was known as the "Turkey Trail".

Key: C=Coal | D=Open > Day | DN=Open Day and night | I=Interlocked Crossing | J=Junction | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | Q=Quarry | RH=Roundhouse # stalls | S=Scales | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

Notes

Line from Saginaw to Paines on Michigan Central Railroad using trackage rights. Line from Elmdale south to Freeport abandoned early.

Reference = PM employee timetable #66, October 15, 1944 plus other sources.

Time Line

1891. The opening of the Lowell & Hastings railroad for passenger business, forms in connection with the Detroit, Lansing & Northern railroad, a new route between Grand Rapids and Elmdale. Commencing January 19, trains will run as follows: Leave Grand Rapids Union station at 7:25 am 1:20 pm, 6:25 pm, arrive at Lowell 8:20 am, 2:15 pm, and 7:20 pm. Close connections are made at Elmdale and trains arrive at the new depot at Lowell in the business part of town. One way rates, 55¢. Round trip $1. [GRH-1891-0123]

1899.  The tracklayers on the extension of the Lowell & Hastings railroad from Lowell to Greenville have gotten as far as Belding and the work is going along at such a pace that it is expected that the first train be run over the road by December 1. The opening of the new line means much to Belding, which has heretofore had no road connection with the outside world except a little stub from the main line of the Detroit, Grand Rapids & Western. [DFP-1899-1120]

1916. This branch is laid with 70-85 lb. rail but required reballasting. Poor fencing. From Ionia to Edmore the rail is generally 56 lb. and fairly well maintained. [MCR-1916]

1917. The Michigan Commissioner of Railroads orders the PM to restore train service between Elmdale and Freeport, at the south end of the line. [MCR-1917]

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]

1973. Until 1977, a pair of road trains on the Elmdale Sub were numbers 58 and 59. Train 58 was called for 4:00 pm at Grand Rapids. On 8/25/1973 it had three engines and 89 cars (8 for Greenville, 2 for Lowell, 1 for Cedar Lake, 1 for Hemlock, 4 for Alma and 73 for Saginaw. These trains were symbolled as SA88/GR97 after 1977. [DH]