Timetable: Soo Line - Eben Junction Branch - Rapid River to Eben Junction

This was a single track was known as the Soo's 7th Subdivision. It was a forest branch line which was also used for all-rail ore movements from the LS&I to various places vis the Soo Line. Stations open as of 1961.

Station MP from Toledo Notes
Rapid River, MI J-Soo Main line 348.8 D P23 TC=VR
Refinery  350.2   
Spur One ~352  
Spur R-355  354.6   
Miners ~356  
Siding R-358 358 P18
Hoop Spur ~359  
Trenary  368.0  W P28 
Spur R-370  370.1   
Traunik  372.8  P13 
Eben Junction, MI J-LS&I Munising Br. 379.0  Y J P18 
     

Key: C=Coal | D=Open > Day | DN=Open Day and night | EH=Enginehouse | F=Diesel Fuel | HI=Half Interlocked Crossing | I=Interlocked Crossing | J=Junction | N=Open at night | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | Q=Quarry | RT=Railroad Resort | S=Scales | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

[REF] = [ETT] + [MRL] + other sources


Notes 


Time Line

1943. SNAPSHOT. This line hosted a round-trip mixed train (freight with a passenger car) between Eben Junction and Gladstone, via Rapid River. Northbound #80 left Rapid River Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8:15 am, stopping at Trenary. It arrived at Eben Junction at 10:15 am and turned around. #81 left Eben Jct. southbound at 11:00 am, arriving at Rapid River at 1:10 pm. These trains began and ended at Gladstone on the main line. The southbound train also stopped at Trenary and had a flag stop at Traunik. These trains only ran three days a week. [ETT-1943]

1944. Several hundred carloads of ore are now being transported from Eben Junction (LS&I connection) and going to Granite City, IL via Rapid River and Gladstone. [EDP-1944-0914]

1954. December. A type of locomotive rated at 1,000 horsepower is also scheduled for delivery at Gladstone and will be used on the Rapid River branch of the Soo Line which runs from Rapid River to Eben Junction, replacing steam power. [EDP-1954-1231]

1955. April. The Soo Line is making application to the MPSC to abandon a spur track known as Siding R-358. It is the intention of the railroad to retire and remove the spur which parallels a portion of the so-called Rapid River branch of the railroad. The spur was used at one time when business on the branch was heavy to allow the passing of trains. Today it is no longer needed the railroad believes. [EDP-1955-0415]

1964. The Soo Line and LS&I propose to allow the Soo Line to use trackage rights on the LS&I between Eben Junction and Marquette. This proposal was different than the former proposal to allow the LS&I to bring ore to Escanaba to a new dock at Sterling Harbor across from Gladstone several years ago. The new proposed plan was opposed by the Milwaukee Road, C&NW and by rail unions. [EDP-1964-0221]

1975. The ICC gives notice that the Soo Line railroad has requested permission to abandon their branch line between Rapid River and Eben Junction in Delta and Alger counties. [EDP-1975-0915]

 

 

Bibliography

The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:

  • [AAB| = All Aboard!, by Willis Dunbar, Eerdmans Publishing, Grand Rapids ©1969.
  • [AAN] = Alpena Argus newspaper.
  • [AARQJ] = American Association of Railroads Quiz Jr. pamphlet. © 1956
  • [AATHA] = Ann Arbor Railroad Technical and Historical Association newsletter "The Double A"
  • [AB] = Information provided at Michigan History Conference from Andrew Bailey, Port Huron, MI

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