Railroad: Globe Train Railroad, The

The Globe Train Railroad was a short narrow gauge railroad which was built by the South Pewabic Mining Company for the purpose of taking excavated copper rock from their mine south of Houghton to their mill on Portage Lake. They also brought supplies to the mine. The line was approximately three miles long. [CRR]

Built → The Globe Train Railroad → Atlantic & Lake Superior railroad

Created: 1867

Operated for 27 years.

Gauge: 4 feet 1 inch

Became: Atlantic & Lake Superior railroad

Ended: 1894

Reference: [CRR]

Notes

Most of the track was on raised trestle work. The line owned one locomotive and 6-ton ore cars. [CRR]

Time Line

1867. The line is built. [CRR]

1867. The railroad served both the South Pewabic and Adams mines. In 1869, 1,837 carloads of rock and 335 carloads of wood were handled. #56 pound rail. [CRR]

1873. Ownership of the line is transferred to the Atlantic Mining Company as a part of the bankruptcy of the South Pewabic and Adams mines. [CRR]

1877. A new rock bin is built at Houghton to replace the old system of chutes. The new bin holds 1,000 tons and is connected with the mill by a four-track trestle with 50# rail. A double track incline was constructed from the mill to the dock and used to transfer mineral, barrel copper and mass copper to the dock for shipping to the smelter. [CRR]

1877. An elevated coal platform 80'x23' was constructed at the Portage Lake dock. It had derricks to transfer coal from lake freighters. A incline tram was used to transfer coal to the Globe Train railroad. A new engine house 33'x45' and turntable were constructed at the Mine. A turntable was also installed at the mill, and a telephone line went into operation between the mine and mill. [CRR]

1893. Work begins on the Atlantic & Lake Superior line to Redridge on Lake Superior, 8.75 miles long. It was built with 60# standard gauge rail. [CRR]

1894. The Globe railroad is changed to standard gauge. Operations were transferred to the Atlantic & Lake Superior railroad. [CRR]