Penn Central Mackinac Branch

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joeyuboats
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Penn Central Mackinac Branch

Unread post by joeyuboats »

Trying to find out what year--or years the PC branch between Sterling Heights and Lapeer was ripped out. Was it done in sections, or all at one time? Especially curious about from Lake Orion to Metamora area.

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AARR
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

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Seems like I have seen the answer to this on this board in a prior post. If no one responds I should be able to look around this weekend.
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R Bedell
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

Unread post by R Bedell »

As best as I remember, that section was abandoned in the mid-1970's.

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AARR
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

Unread post by AARR »

Lapeer to Shelby Twp. was removed first. CR still serviced a small produce dist. in Shelby Twp. by Dequindre & 23 Mile Rd. for a while. Later, I'm not sure when, the tracks were cut back to Packard Yard.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

Manistique
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

Unread post by Manistique »

The tracks are still in place from CN south to Turrill Road, about two miles. Lapeer Industrial owns them but only uses them from CN to just south of Peppermill Road where their only shipper, Albar Industries, receives covered hoppers of plastic pellets. The bridge over Hunters Creek just south of there is out of service so is the end of the line now.

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AARR
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

Unread post by AARR »

I think the customer is Delta Faucet
Manistique wrote:
Sat Mar 26, 2022 11:00 am
.....where their only shipper, Albar Industries, receives covered hoppers of plastic pellets.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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GTW Dude
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

Unread post by GTW Dude »

The Lake Orion to Rochester portion would have been ripped up around 1983 to make way for the Paint Creek Trail. I'm assuming the GTW took over operations from Oxford which allowed the portion from Lake Orion to Lapeer to be abandoned.

P.S. Isn't this the NYC Bay City Branch?

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SD80MAC
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

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Mackinaw Branch ran from Jackson north through Lansing, Owosso, Bay City etc as I recall. The line through Lapeer was something else.
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

Unread post by Dan Cluley »

According to a 1963 NYC Employee Timetable:

"Detroit to Mackinaw Branch" ran from Detroit to Mackinaw via Lapeer, Vassar, Saginaw & Bay City.

"Saginaw Brach" ran from Jackson to Saginaw via Lansing & Owosso

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R Bedell
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

Unread post by R Bedell »

According to a 1963 NYC Employee Timetable:

"Detroit to Mackinaw Branch" ran from Detroit to Mackinaw via Lapeer, Vassar, Saginaw & Bay City.

"Saginaw Branch" ran from Jackson to Saginaw via Lansing & Owosso
My timetables state the same.

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Standard Railfan
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

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GTW Dude
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

Unread post by GTW Dude »

The only rail lines I see on the map going through Lapeer from Detroit is the Bay City Branch. The only way you can pass through Jackson simultaneously is by going out of your way headed southward. Is it possible that “Mackinac Branch” applies to all lines starting from Major cities like Jackson or Detroit and terminate at Mackinac City?

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Standard Railfan
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

Unread post by Standard Railfan »

Look through this track chart. You will get a better understanding.

http://multimodalways.org/docs/railroa ... 1-1976.pdf

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GTW Dude
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

Unread post by GTW Dude »

Oops, I made the mistake clumping the Saginaw Branch and Bay City Branch together which is where my confusion started. My bad.
Thanks for the track charts StandardRailfan.

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Doktor No
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Re: Penn Central Mackinac Branch

Unread post by Doktor No »

Penn Central employee timetable #3, Sunday April 27th , 1969 states as follows: Mackinaw Branch, Detroit Division begins at Bay City Jct MP2.0 (distance from Detroit Third Street to Mackinaw, MP 182.3. The direction from Bay City Jct to Mackinaw is northward. Saginaw Branch, Michigan Division begins at MAL Jct. MP2.1 Saginaw MP101.5 jct. with Mackinaw Branch. The direction from Jackson to Saginaw is northward.
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