The Detroit, Lansing and Lake Michigan Railroad (DL&LM) is a defunct railroad which built and operated the first rail line between Detroit and the state capital Lansing. Though the corporation was short-lived, much of the route it placed in service is still in use by CSX.
At the end of April, 1873, the railroad was mortgaged for over $6 million, though the DH&LM placed its own value at that time as just short of $4.2 million. But with a profit of more than $400,000 on revenues of $940,000, the firm's future must have seemed bright to president J. F. Joy, who had taken over from H.H. Smith at the end of 1872.[3]
Notwithstanding the 1876 reorganization, the corporation was not legally dissolved until July 15, 1998.[4]
Operationaledit
At the time of the merger, all three railroads existed mostly on paper, but on June 30, 1871, DL&LM opened the segment between Detroit and Plymouth, with the segment from Plymouth to Brighton following on July 1. The Brighton-Williamston-Lansing segment became operational on August 31, 1871, completing the first rail link between Detroit and Lansing.[5]
By the end of 1872, the DL&LM reported 189 miles of track, including a 164-mile mainline, all built with iron rail. All 156 grade crossings were uncontrolled. The longest bridge was a 1650-ft wooden truss and trestle at Ionia. System-wide speed limits were 21 mph for passenger trains, and 10 mph for freights. Total annual traffic miles for 1872 were 674,505, with just 23% due to passenger traffic.[6]
After passing in short order through several other hands, the Detroit-Lansing route built by the DL&LM became part of the mainline of the Pere Marquette Railroad on January 1, 1900. Subsequent owners were the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and the Chessie System. It is currently owned by CSX and operated as the Plymouth Subdivision of the CSX Chicago Division.
Notesedit
^Stimson, Glen K., Rail Growth of Michigan's Capital City, Michigan History Magazine, Vol V, (1921), p.460
detroit, lansing, lake, michigan, rail, road, detroit, lansing, lake, michigan, railroad, defunct, railroad, which, built, operated, first, rail, line, between, detroit, state, capital, lansing, though, corporation, short, lived, much, route, placed, service, . The Detroit Lansing and Lake Michigan Railroad DL amp LM is a defunct railroad which built and operated the first rail line between Detroit and the state capital Lansing Though the corporation was short lived much of the route it placed in service is still in use by CSX Detroit Lansing amp Lake Michigan Rail RoadOverviewHeadquartersDetroit MI and Boston MADates of operation1871 1876SuccessorDetroit Lansing amp NorthernTechnicalTrack gauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm standard gauge Contents 1 History 1 1 Corporate 1 2 Operational 2 Notes 3 ReferencesHistory editCorporate edit The DL amp LM was formed April 11 1871 by a merger of the Detroit Howell and Lansing Railroad the Ionia and Lansing Railroad and the Ionia Stanton and Northern Railroad 1 The DL amp LM was sold under foreclosure on December 14 1876 and reorganized under the name of Detroit Lansing and Northern Railroad 2 At the end of April 1873 the railroad was mortgaged for over 6 million though the DH amp LM placed its own value at that time as just short of 4 2 million But with a profit of more than 400 000 on revenues of 940 000 the firm s future must have seemed bright to president J F Joy who had taken over from H H Smith at the end of 1872 3 Notwithstanding the 1876 reorganization the corporation was not legally dissolved until July 15 1998 4 Operational edit At the time of the merger all three railroads existed mostly on paper but on June 30 1871 DL amp LM opened the segment between Detroit and Plymouth with the segment from Plymouth to Brighton following on July 1 The Brighton Williamston Lansing segment became operational on August 31 1871 completing the first rail link between Detroit and Lansing 5 By the end of 1872 the DL amp LM reported 189 miles of track including a 164 mile mainline all built with iron rail All 156 grade crossings were uncontrolled The longest bridge was a 1650 ft wooden truss and trestle at Ionia System wide speed limits were 21 mph for passenger trains and 10 mph for freights Total annual traffic miles for 1872 were 674 505 with just 23 due to passenger traffic 6 After passing in short order through several other hands the Detroit Lansing route built by the DL amp LM became part of the mainline of the Pere Marquette Railroad on January 1 1900 Subsequent owners were the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and the Chessie System It is currently owned by CSX and operated as the Plymouth Subdivision of the CSX Chicago Division Notes edit Stimson Glen K Rail Growth of Michigan s Capital City Michigan History Magazine Vol V 1921 p 460 Stimson p 486 1872 Annual Report as published in First Annual Report of the Commissioner of Railroads of the State of Michigan pp 225 233 Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Corporate Division Business Entity Search on 22 June 2011 Stimson p 485 1872 Annual ReportReferences editHenry Varnum Poor 1889 Manual of the railroads of the United States Volume 22 page 422 nbsp This United States railway company related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article about transportation in Michigan is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Detroit Lansing and Lake Michigan Rail Road amp oldid 1145419668, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
