Electric Railroad: Benton Harbor and St. Joseph Electric Railway and Light Company (E)

Benton Harbor & Eastman Springs → Benton Harbor and St. Joseph Railway and Light Co. → Benton Harbor-St. Joes Ry & Light

Purchased: 1900

Operated for 6 years.

Became: Benton Harbor-St. Joe Ry. and Light in 1906.

Abandoned: 1924

Reference: [MRRC]

Notes

This was originally a horse-drawn line which was electrified in 1892. The line, between the two major cities in Berrien County, expanded with routes to Fairplain, South St. Joseph and to the House of David. In 1906, a line was opened to Eau Claire and reached Dowagiac in Cass County in 1911. A second line was built to Watervliet in 1910 with a branch from Coloma to Paw Paw (Van Buren County) over Pere Marquette track. This branch also connected with the Kalamazoo Lake Shore & Chicago, extending from Toquin on that line.

The Graham & Morton steamship line from Cicago to Benton Harbor provided a connection for passenger interchange both for the city and interurban lines. The line was used for hauling produce from the "Fruit Belt" to Chicago. Cars were placed at sidings along the line, loaded during the day, to be picked up by fruit trans leaving Watervliet at 4:40 pm or Dowagiac at 4:15 pm. These trains reached Benton Harbor in time to transfer their loads to the 8:00 pm Chicago boat, for delivery to the Chicago market the next morning.

This line included both city lines in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, as well as interurban lines to South Bend and Paw Paw Lake. The line to South Bend, known as the Southern Michigan Ry., had a station at Lake Blvd. and Ship Street in St. Joe's. The main car barn was in Benton Harbor on 9th Street. They also had a yard at the Goodrich Docks on the northeast side of the river.

Time Line