Railroad: Escanaba Traction Company

The Escanaba Traction Company was organized in 1909 to operate existing traction lines from Escanaba north, reaching Gladstone in 1911. This line was abandoned in 1932. MRL]

Escanaba Electric Street Railway. → Escanaba Traction Co. → Operations Ended

Reorganized: EES Ry. in 1909.

Operated for 23 years.

Became: Ended in 1932.

Reference: [MRRC]

Notes

This was an electric railroad which was initially built from Escanaba to Wells. Horses were kept available as standby power in the early days before electric power had reached a dependable status.

The greatest source of revenue from the Gladstone line was bringing workers to a chemical extract plant.

Time Line

1911. A branch of nine miles was built from Wells to Gladstone with a trestle over the Escanaba River.

1932. The company had lost most of its traffic to automobiles. When the franchise expired in 1932, the company closed operations.