Passing through Six Lakes

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MQT1223
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Passing through Six Lakes

Unread post by MQT1223 »

So today I was passing through Six Lakes when I came upon a street called Railroad Street and several old buildings lined up along a possible ROW. Upon doing some research I discovered it was an old PM branch. It connected with the GR&I in Howard City and went east to Edmore and points beyond. Can anyone shed some light on this stretch of the PM? It looks like it's been gone for a while since just about every field has the ROW plowed over by farmers.
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Re: Passing through Six Lakes

Unread post by BDG »

According to http://www.abandonedrails.com/Alma_to_Howard_City, this segment was abandoned in 1973.

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SW
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Re: Passing through Six Lakes

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According to the Michigan Railroad History RRHX sitehttp://www.michiganrailroads.com/MichRR ... rameHX.htm, the line was abandoned in 2 segments. You'll have to navigate a bit to get to the Timelines section:
-Howard City to Lakeview in 1943
-Lakeview to Edmore in 1973 as BDG mentioned
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Re: Passing through Six Lakes

Unread post by MQT1223 »

The section I was going along was from Six Lakes to Howard City (GR&I), which according to the websites has been gone for a LONG time. I bet the rails were pulled and melted down for scrap drives during the war.
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Re: Passing through Six Lakes

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Seems like PM / C&O had quite a web of rails in that part of the state. I find it fascinating, although I haven't researched it much. Somewhere recently (can't remember where), I saw some history and pictures of the some of the businesses on those lines, in Remus, Edmore, maybe even Six Lakes and Lakeview.
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Re: Passing through Six Lakes

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It's a trail now from Edmore to Alma. You can explore to your hearts content. Not many relics though. Just a few here and there if you are really keen.
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Re: Passing through Six Lakes

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Is there still a moderately sized elevator in Six Lakes (or maybe Lakeview?).
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Re: Passing through Six Lakes

Unread post by MQT1223 »

AARR wrote:Is there still a moderately sized elevator in Six Lakes (or maybe Lakeview?).
Not in Six Lakes, it's closer to Lakeview. I was surprised Amble was on the map, it's hardly there anymore!
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Re: Passing through Six Lakes

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A neat little museum in Six Lakes
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Re: Passing through Six Lakes

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Dang, its on the other side of the Grain Elevator. Nice little depot. I'm curious what they might have inside.
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Re: Passing through Six Lakes

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MQT1223 wrote:Dang, its on the other side of the Grain Elevator. Nice little depot. I'm curious what they might have inside.
The museum itself doesn't have a website but there is some information here.
http://detroit1701.org/Six%20Lakes%20Depot,%20PMR.html
It looks like it is only open on Saturdays for a few hours during the summer months.

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Re: Passing through Six Lakes

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Michael, looks like in your second photo that the ROW goes right into the elevator. Was that middle section added on or did the tracks go around the elevator? It was also two tracks in Six Lakes.
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Re: Passing through Six Lakes

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MQT1223 wrote:Michael, looks like in your second photo that the ROW goes right into the elevator. Was that middle section added on or did the tracks go around the elevator? It was also two tracks in Six Lakes.

I have never been there but in looking at the aerial photos it looks like the main went between those building which were later connected after the tracks were removed and also there was a short siding on the other side of the depot as well.

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Re: Passing through Six Lakes

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Michael wrote:
MQT1223 wrote:Michael, looks like in your second photo that the ROW goes right into the elevator. Was that middle section added on or did the tracks go around the elevator? It was also two tracks in Six Lakes.

I have never been there but in looking at the aerial photos it looks like the main went between those building which were later connected after the tracks were removed and also there was a short siding on the other side of the depot as well.
The Morning Sun book "Chesapeake and Ohio Facilities In Color Vol 1 - Midwest" has a nice photo of Six Lakes on page 9.
Yes, the mainline went between the two buildings with each having a siding to them.

This book has many C&O depot photos, well worth the money.
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