Railroad: Lansing Transit Railway Company

Built → Lansing Transit Railway → LSMS & NYC → New York Central

Built: 1886.

Became: 50% to Michigan Central, 50% to Lake Shore & Michigan Southern in 1888.

Reference: [MRRC]

Notes

This was originally a Michigan Central (JL&S) spur which left their main line north of the Lansing depot and curved across the LS&MS Lansing Branch, across the river, and ultimately to the E. Bement Manufacturing company which made agricultural instruments and stoves in 1898 on the west side of the river. The Bement plant became a Reo Truck plant by 1913. Other industries on the west side of the river also received rail service on this line. According to Sanborn maps, a wye connection allowing the LS&S to access the spur was put in between 1898 and 1906. At a later date, a Lansing Board of Water and Light plant was built here and received coal from rail cars.

Time Line

1889. October 14. A special from Lansing, Mich., says: While a wrecking crew was engaged in clearing away a freight wreck on the Lansing Transit Railroad Sunday, the hoisting beam of the steam derrick broke and fell upon a group of over a dozen, killing Perter Quinn, conductor of the construction train, George Ruby a machinist, and John Tentill Vest, brakeman. [Evening Republican, Meadville PA]