The Chicago, Kalamazoo and Saginaw Railway (CK&S), known informally as the "Cuss, Kick & Swear"[1] is a defunct railroad which operated in southwest Michigan in the late 19th and early to mid 20th centuries. Despite the name, the line ran entirely within the state of Michigan, with the majority in Kalamazoo County. It eventually became part of the New York Central. As of 2010, most of the former CK&S tracks have since been abandoned.
Preferred Share of the Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw Railway Company from the 1st January 1901
The company incorporated on June 7, 1883, with the initial intent of constructing a 31-mile (50 km) line from Kalamazoo northeast to Hastings. On October 29, 1887, the company amended its articles, now calling for a line of 141 miles (227 km) connecting the Chicago and Grand Trunk Railway's line in northeastern Cass County to Saginaw. This grandiose vision never came to pass; the company's completed line stretched a mere 14 miles (23 km) beyond Hastings.[2]
In 1906 the CK&S was leased by the Michigan Central Railroad–the Central took 60% control, while the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, itself owned by the New York Central Railroad, took 40%. In 1930 the New York Central, having merged with the LS&MS in 1915 and leased the Michigan Central in 1930, leased the CK&S. The New York Central continued to operate the CK&S under its own name until 1968, when Conrail bought the remaining properties.[3][4][5][6]
A 1909 report by the Michigan Railroad Commission found that the CK&S operated three trains in each direction daily; two passenger and one freight.[8]
In 1910, the Grand Trunk Western leased the line from Kalamazoo to Pavilion; the CK&S converted the rump to yard service. In 1937, the CK&S abandoned the section between Delton and Woodbury; in 1942, it cut back further to Richland Junction. In 1978, Conrail abandoned the line to Richland as well, leaving only yard trackage within Kalamazoo itself.[6]
On July 25, 1930, the CK&S purchased a 13.2-mile (21.2 km) line from the dying Michigan United Railways. This line ran south from Hooper to Richland, and crossed the CK&S's main line at Richland Junction, 2.9 miles (4.7 km) north of Richland proper. The CK&S converted the track from electrified interurban to standard operation. In 1961, it cut the line back to Doster, and in 1978 Conrail abandoned the rest. Except for the portion from Kalamazoo to Pavilion where Grand Elk RR uses it to connect with CN.[6]
^"N.Y.C. BUYS WESTERN LINE.; Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw Is Obtained for About $1,000,000". The New York Times. December 30, 1906. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
Utley, Henry Munson; Cutcheon, Byron M (1906). Michigan as a Province, Territory and State: The Twenty-sixth Member of the Federal Union. The Publishing society of Michigan.
External links
Map and ICC abandonment filing of CK&S
January 20, 2023
chicago, kalamazoo, saginaw, railway, known, informally, cuss, kick, swear, defunct, railroad, which, operated, southwest, michigan, late, 19th, early, 20th, centuries, despite, name, line, entirely, within, state, michigan, with, majority, kalamazoo, county, . The Chicago Kalamazoo and Saginaw Railway CK amp S known informally as the Cuss Kick amp Swear 1 is a defunct railroad which operated in southwest Michigan in the late 19th and early to mid 20th centuries Despite the name the line ran entirely within the state of Michigan with the majority in Kalamazoo County It eventually became part of the New York Central As of 2010 most of the former CK amp S tracks have since been abandoned Map A CK amp S timetable from 1908 Contents 1 History 2 Operation 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksHistory Edit Preferred Share of the Chicago Kalamazoo amp Saginaw Railway Company from the 1st January 1901 The company incorporated on June 7 1883 with the initial intent of constructing a 31 mile 50 km line from Kalamazoo northeast to Hastings On October 29 1887 the company amended its articles now calling for a line of 141 miles 227 km connecting the Chicago and Grand Trunk Railway s line in northeastern Cass County to Saginaw This grandiose vision never came to pass the company s completed line stretched a mere 14 miles 23 km beyond Hastings 2 In 1906 the CK amp S was leased by the Michigan Central Railroad the Central took 60 control while the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway itself owned by the New York Central Railroad took 40 In 1930 the New York Central having merged with the LS amp MS in 1915 and leased the Michigan Central in 1930 leased the CK amp S The New York Central continued to operate the CK amp S under its own name until 1968 when Conrail bought the remaining properties 3 4 5 6 Operation EditDespite its name the line linked neither Chicago Illinois nor Saginaw Michigan although it did pivot on Kalamazoo Michigan Construction started in 1886 between Kalamazoo Michigan and Hastings Michigan this section was completed by 1888 On September 1 1889 the northern branch reached Woodbury on the northwest edge of Eaton county where it met the Detroit Lansing and Northern Railroad later the Pere Marquette Railroad On December 1 1901 the southern terminus was extended to Pavilion Michigan in southern Kalamazoo County where it met the Grand Trunk Railway for a total length of 44 miles 71 km 7 A 1909 report by the Michigan Railroad Commission found that the CK amp S operated three trains in each direction daily two passenger and one freight 8 In 1910 the Grand Trunk Western leased the line from Kalamazoo to Pavilion the CK amp S converted the rump to yard service In 1937 the CK amp S abandoned the section between Delton and Woodbury in 1942 it cut back further to Richland Junction In 1978 Conrail abandoned the line to Richland as well leaving only yard trackage within Kalamazoo itself 6 On July 25 1930 the CK amp S purchased a 13 2 mile 21 2 km line from the dying Michigan United Railways This line ran south from Hooper to Richland and crossed the CK amp S s main line at Richland Junction 2 9 miles 4 7 km north of Richland proper The CK amp S converted the track from electrified interurban to standard operation In 1961 it cut the line back to Doster and in 1978 Conrail abandoned the rest Except for the portion from Kalamazoo to Pavilion where Grand Elk RR uses it to connect with CN 6 Notes Edit Hager 1976 p 9 Meints 1992 p 50 N Y C BUYS WESTERN LINE Chicago Kalamazoo amp Saginaw Is Obtained for About 1 000 000 The New York Times December 30 1906 Retrieved 2007 12 28 Lynch 2004 p 107 Meints 1992 p 19 amp 50 a b c Meints 2005 p 111 113 Utley amp Cutcheon 1906 p 317 Review of the Physical Condition of CK amp S Railway in 1909 Michiganrailroads com 1909 Archived from the original on 2008 01 07 Retrieved 2007 12 27 References EditHager David C 1976 Next Stop Kalamazoo A History of Railroading in Kalamazoo County Kalamazoo Kalamazoo Public Museum Lynch Peter E 2004 Penn Central Railroad Saint Paul MN MBI ISBN 0760317631 OCLC 53356627 Meints Graydon M 1992 Michigan Railroads and Railroad Companies East Lansing Michigan Michigan State University Press ISBN 978 0 87013 318 3 Meints Graydon M 2005 Michigan Railroad Lines East Lansing Michigan Michigan State University Press ISBN 978 0 87013 693 1 Utley Henry Munson Cutcheon Byron M 1906 Michigan as a Province Territory and State The Twenty sixth Member of the Federal Union The Publishing society of Michigan External links EditCK amp S Railfans Map of the CK amp S circa 1916 Map and ICC abandonment filing of CK amp S Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chicago Kalamazoo and Saginaw Railway amp oldid 1109390661, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
