Grandville Interurban

[J T]

Still visible from the road.

[MQT1223]

Still visible from the road.

Is their any evidence to suggest that the caboose is on the old GRH&C roadbed?

[J T]

If it's not, it's certainly within a few yards of it. Judging by the satellite image, it's pretty darn close.

[MQT1223]

If it's not, it's certainly within a few yards of it. Judging by the satellite image, it's pretty darn close.

So can you trace via satellite where the roadbed is? I can't see it very well.

[J T]

If it's not, it's certainly within a few yards of it. Judging by the satellite image, it's pretty darn close.

So can you trace via satellite where the roadbed is? I can't see it very well.

Absolutely. It's pretty evident to me, but then again, I know where and what to look for. There is a small road on 66th St. just south of 145th called "Interurban Drive" that is part of the ROW. It's on an angle which continues over to where the caboose is on 64th. After the ROW crosses 64th (heading east), it continues on that same angle and crosses 143rd. After 143rd, it then hooks south and continues on the powerline ROW, which is VERY evident. Incidentally, the ROW that the caboose is on is part of the original alignment that existed from 1899 to 1913. After that, where it meets up with the powerline ROW near 143rd, it went due north until 1926.

I don't use google earth, but instead bingmaps.com You can rotate the map in four different directions, often getting a better look at things (the various directions are sometimes taken at different times of the year, exposing more or less based on how much foliage there is).

[MQT1223]

If it's not, it's certainly within a few yards of it. Judging by the satellite image, it's pretty darn close.

So can you trace via satellite where the roadbed is? I can't see it very well.

Absolutely. It's pretty evident to me, but then again, I know where and what to look for. There is a small road on 66th St. just south of 145th called "Interurban Drive" that is part of the ROW. It's on an angle which continues over to where the caboose is on 64th. After the ROW crosses 64th (heading east), it continues on that same angle and crosses 143rd. After 143rd, it then hooks south and continues on the powerline ROW, which is VERY evident. Incidentally, the ROW that the caboose is on is part of the original alignment that existed from 1899 to 1913. After that, where it meets up with the powerline ROW near 143rd, it went due north until 1926.

I don't use google earth, but instead bingmaps.com You can rotate the map in four different directions, often getting a better look at things (the various directions are sometimes taken at different times of the year, exposing more or less based on how much foliage there is).

Oh ok. That makes sense. Kind of like outside of Marne on Indiana Rail Road Drive that is built on the old MGR&I.

[Standard Railfan]

Still visible from the road.

Well done!

[J T]

Still visible from the road.

Well done!

Thanks.

So, as we were walking the dog last night along Buck Creek just west of Wilson in Grandville, I started wondering, where did the interurban cross the creek? I'm curious as I'd like to see if there are any remnants of a trestle.

[MQT1223]

Still visible from the road.

Well done!

Thanks.

So, as we were walking the dog last night along Buck Creek just west of Wilson in Grandville, I started wondering, where did the interurban cross the creek? I'm curious as I'd like to see if there are any remnants of a trestle.

That's a great question that I also would like the answer to. I am assuming that they didn't share the existing trestle with the PM... speaking of Buck Creek, doesn't that trail that follows the creek have something of a history with rails? I only ask that because the two mine cars just beyond the park with the giant boulders in them.

[J T]

Where are the mine cars? I've ridden my bike on Buck Creek Trail a couple of times and now have walked the dog there and haven't noticed any mine cars. When you say "the park," do you mean Wedgwood Park?

Does anyone know if there is a map online of the interurban's route west through Grandville after it crossed 30th and Chicago Drive? I can pick up the ROW southwest of town, but I'm lost after 30th and Chicago Drive.

[Standard Railfan]

Where are the mine cars? I've ridden my bike on Buck Creek Trail a couple of times and now have walked the dog there and haven't noticed any mine cars. When you say "the park," do you mean Wedgwood Park?

Does anyone know if there is a map online of the interurban's route west through Grandville after it crossed 30th and Chicago Drive? I can pick up the ROW southwest of town, but I'm lost after 30th and Chicago Drive.

I looked on Google Earth again. I believe there was something that fits the foot print of a pair mine cars west of Wedgewood park along Buck Creek Trail. The objects are gone in the more recent photos, but the gravel pads where they sat are still visible on the north side of the trail.

[C&O6084]

Chicago Drive used to have a hellacious crown in it, thanks to the Interurban. When rebuilt in the 80's (?), they took the crown out and also found a few small pieces of interurban rail.

Somewhere abouts Fairlanes Avenue, it started veering South, and crossed Plaster Creek there. I don't know if freeway construction or Fairlanes covered it, I never looked. It then crossed Plaster Creek at the dogleg Kenowa takes to get around the interchange; no traces of that interurban bridge, the PM spur/interchange (for delivering coal to the Interurban power station) or the power station itself remain. Streetwork related to the Interurban there was obliterated by the now-empty strip mall.

ROW then went behind the apartments/condos on Port Sheldon; it takes some REAL skill to trce the route on Google earth through there, but it can be done. It crossed Port Sheldon at Waterview, and it's easier to pick up the trail from there on down to Jamestown. The stretch due West from there was covered by the widened Byron Road.

Grandville Historical has some Interurban stuff, like rail. Surprising how big the rail was. Not for strength, but for rigidity under pavement.

DOn't forget the upcoming presentation at the Wyoming Library.

[MQT1223]

Chicago Drive used to have a hellacious crown in it, thanks to the Interurban. When rebuilt in the 80's (?), they took the crown out and also found a few small pieces of interurban rail.

Somewhere abouts Fairlanes Avenue, it started veering South, and crossed Plaster Creek there. I don't know if freeway construction or Fairlanes covered it, I never looked. It then crossed Plaster Creek at the dogleg Kenowa takes to get around the interchange; no traces of that interurban bridge, the PM spur/interchange (for delivering coal to the Interurban power station) or the power station itself remain. Streetwork related to the Interurban there was obliterated by the now-empty strip mall.

ROW then went behind the apartments/condos on Port Sheldon; it takes some REAL skill to trce the route on Google earth through there, but it can be done. It crossed Port Sheldon at Waterview, and it's easier to pick up the trail from there on down to Jamestown. The stretch due West from there was covered by the widened Byron Road.

Grandville Historical has some Interurban stuff, like rail. Surprising how big the rail was. Not for strength, but for rigidity under pavement.

DOn't forget the upcoming presentation at the Wyoming Library.

What do you mean by that Chicago drive had a "Crown" to it?

[Standard Railfan]

What do you mean by that Chicago drive had a "Crown" to it?

Roadways are typically built with the center of the roadway higher than the edges to facilitate drainage. The raised center is called the crown.

Where interurban or street car tracks were removed from the middle of streets, the resulting crown is often much taller than typical for a standard roadway. RDD can probably provide us with much more detail if desired.

[trnwatcher]

Where are the mine cars? I've ridden my bike on Buck Creek Trail a couple of times and now have walked the dog there and haven't noticed any mine cars. When you say "the park," do you mean Wedgwood Park?

Does anyone know if there is a map online of the interurban's route west through Grandville after it crossed 30th and Chicago Drive? I can pick up the ROW southwest of town, but I'm lost after 30th and Chicago Drive.

From what I gathered it ran right down Chicago drive until it got near Buck Creek (not Plaster Creek) and then went into Jenison just south of the PM mainline. I'm thinking it crossed the creek somewhere around where present day Chicago Dr crosses the creek now.

The mine cars used to sit along the trail near the west side of the Wedgewood Park. It's been a few years since I've been back in there so the City of Grandville may have moved them.

[J T]

How big are these mine cars and why would they still be there (or anywhere, for that matter)? In what mine were they used and how did they end up along Buck Creek?

[MQT1223]

How big are these mine cars and why would they still be there (or anywhere, for that matter)? In what mine were they used and how did they end up along Buck Creek?

They are almost perfectly square. 5 foot long by 4 foot wide my guess. They are yellow and very rusty. Huge holes in them in some spots due to rust.

[~Z~]

Whomever is going to the presentation at the Wyoming Public Library on this on Thurs 10/23 - 6pm, I'll be there. Let's go learn about the interurban

Presentation at the Wyoming Public Library at 3350 Michael Ave SW on October 23 at 6:00 pm covering just this subject. Norm Krentel is the presenter. I've seen a version of this presentation before and it is very informative.

There is Facebook page on for this event under the title "Riding the Interurban Between Grand Rapids and Holland (1901-1932)". I found it in the Wyoming History room on FB originally.

[trnwatcher]

How big are these mine cars and why would they still be there (or anywhere, for that matter)? In what mine were they used and how did they end up along Buck Creek?

I was told by a deceased friend of mine that these carts where given to the City of Grandville by West MI Cold Storage on Judd St. Apparently they found them in one of the tunnels from the old gypsum mine. Someone at the City found out about these and the City went and picked them up and put them along the bike path.

[MQT1223]

How big are these mine cars and why would they still be there (or anywhere, for that matter)? In what mine were they used and how did they end up along Buck Creek?

I was told by a deceased friend of mine that these carts where given to the City of Grandville by West MI Cold Storage on Judd St. Apparently they found them in one of the tunnels from the old gypsum mine. Someone at the City found out about these and the City went and picked them up and put them along the bike path.

Well the city needs to do something about them now because they are ROUGH...