Larry G wrote:This remnant and another in southwest Lansing are all that is left of the line that came up from Eaton Rapids, through Diamondale, and into Lansing. In Diamondale the old bridge piers are still in the River.
Tim wrote:Contrary to what is considered common knowledge, the structure in Larry's photo wasn't the LS&MS North Lansing Depot. It was built by the city in 1914 as the city's first comfort station. On the first floor were men's rest rooms, woman's lounge and rest rooms, and the office of the city gas inspector. The second floor was a one room community hall. At one time the NYC/MC Local of the BRT held there meetings there. The rest rooms were closed in 1959 and the city vacated the building in 1968. The North Lansing Community Association leased the building from the city in 1980 and spent over $42,000 on restoring it in 1982 and 1983. It was a stop on the trolley and interurban but I don't know if it ever was for the Lake Shore.
RRTTF wrote:Does anybody know what years the depot was built and demolished?
I agree, that is an awesome looking structure. Really too bad that it wasn't saved.RRTTF wrote:I am almost speechless. (Almost, but not totally!)
An incredibly beautiful depot structure. Unique in design. Befitting for a capitol city. Sad that the structure was not saved.
Larry G wrote:GP30M4216 wrote:Great to hear this little spur will become active again! This is the line which switches off the CSX at Turner Street at the east end of Ensel, right?
That is correct from what I remember. However, this spur was also connected to the C&O by a connector that came off the C&O just south of the Saginaw Street overpass and crossed both Cedar and Larch Streets to joing the old LS&MS river tracks that ran alongside the river into Old Town.
In this facing west picture of the C&O line just south of Saginaw Street the track veering to the left in the lower left corner is the connector. I also think the coal hoppers in the picture are waiting to be taken down to this line to go into the old BWL power plant in downtown Lansing. The trestle for this connection is still in the river by Lansing Community College today.
Wow, I never knew there was a connector that ran parallel to Saginaw St. (I always wondered where that spur went in that photograph). Was there a diamond just south of Saginaw St. and a switch off the LS&MS tracks to cross over the bridge as well, or did they connect the LS&MS to the BWL spur after they took the connector out? I remember the tracks running from North Lansing all the way to the BWL, but I never saw the connector off the C&O nor the LS&MS tracks continuing on south from Saginaw St.
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