Railroad: Detroit & Bay City railroad

This railroad extended from Bay City Junction in Detroit, north to Bay City, Michigan, a distance of 109 miles. It was originally charted as a 3' narrow gauge railroad, but quickly reorganized as standard gauge five months later. In 1881 the railroad was transferred to the Michigan Central railroad company.

Lapeer & Northern → Detroit & Bay City Railroad → Michigan Central railroad

 Organized: 1871.

Built: 1872 - Detroit to Bay City (purchased Lapeer & Northern at incorporation)

Control: 1875 by MC.

Became: 1881 leased for life to Michigan Central

Reference: [MRRC]

Notes

Opened Bay City Junction (Detroit) to Oxford in 1872. Completed to Bay City in 1873. Leased Bay City Street Railway in 1879. Leased Bay City Belt Line in 1893. Bought Caro & Lake Huron (Caro Branch) in 1908.

The railroad built a branch to East Saginaw (16.75 miles), to Caro and Owendale (33.5 miles), and owned the Detroit Belt Line (4.4 miles), the Bay City Belt Line (7 miles) and leased the Bay City Street Railway (5.1 miles). The road also had 83.7 miles of sidings and spurs.

Terms of the agreement with the MC transferred possession and control of its railroad and property, with the MC agreeing to operate the railroad during its corporate existence. Under the terms, the MC was authorized and agrees to issue its bonds to the amount of $4 million and both companies have joined in the execution of a mortgage upon all the D&BC property to secure the payment of said bonds. The amount of stock was authorized as $1.2 million. As of 1903 the company had no funded debt. The mortgage was secured by the railroad's bonds.

Time Line

1872. The construction of the D&BC railroad will begin shortly. All preliminaries have been settled and several contracts let. Hon. Seymour Brownell of Utica has taken the contract for construction of the first 18 miles of the road out of Detroit. The work will begin at Milwaukee Junction some time next week but it is probably that the road will continue (south) to Grand Trunk Junction where connections will be made with other roads, and where trains will run into Detroit. [DFP-1872-0331]

1873. August. The D&BC railroad is now completed and open for freight and passenger traffic. The distance is 110 miles. Passenger trains leave from the Michigan Central depot. Freight is received at the freight house of the Detroit, Lansing & Lake Michigan railroad where the efficient agent, Mr. J. W. Bromley, will cheerfully give all the information required. [DFP-1873-0808]

1875. March 5. President James F. Joy, of the Michigan Central, yesterday issued an order directing Wm. B. Strong, General Superintendent of the Central, to assume the superintendency also of the Detroit & Bay City road. In accordance with these instructions Mr. Strong has issued the following circular. In taking charge of the D&BC railroad by order of the President, some changes in the management of its business will be necessary to accomplish the object desired, namely, the best results for all parties interested in the whole property. Hereafter the D&BC will be known and operated as the Bay City division. The following Michigan Central officers will extend their jurisdiction over this division, and their authority will be respected accordingly: H. B. Ledyard, Assistant General superintendent; C. C. Wheeler, General Freight Agent; H. C. Wentworth, General Passenger Agent. Mr. T. B. Sargent, the present efficient Superintendent, will continue in the service as Division Superintendent, with headquarters in Detroit. [DFP-1875-0305]

1875. May 12. A special train will leave Detroit on the Detroit & Bay City railroad at nine o'clock next Monday morning on the occasion of the dedication of the new Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Norris (North Detroit). The train will return at six o'clock in the evening. [DFP-1875-0512]

1879. The road has, since the 1st of January 1879, been in the hands of the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company of New York, who are trustees under the mortgage bond. The stockholders have elected a Vanderbilt board, but the bondholders (Farmers' Loan and Trust Co.) will continue to operate the railroad, for whom James F. Joy acts as agent. [DFP-1879-0520]

1879. This company completed a branch during the year from a junction on the main line at Denmark Junction west by north 10 3/4 miles to Saginaw City, giving it a line 106 miles long from Detroit to Saginaw. The branch was not opened through until December. Early in the year the Caro branch was completed from Vassar northeastward, up Cass River, thirteen miles to Caro. [DFP-1879-0429]

1881. The Detroit & Bay City railroad will be sold at noon today. James F. Joy will bid for it to the limit of the road's indebtedness. The highest bidder beyond that limit will acquire the road and circumstances point very strongly to its acquisition by the Michigan Central. [DFP-1881-0212]