Railroad: Lake State Railway

The Lake State Railway purchased the railroad lines of the Detroit & Mackinac railway in 1992. This included both the line to Alpena as well as the former Michigan Central line to Cheboygan. Some of this operation was on state-owned trackage from Linwood to Saling, just south of Gaylord. The line from Gaylord to Cheboygan was abandoned in 1993. The 2005 acquisition in Saginaw and Midland were operated under the name Saginaw Bay Southern Railway until January, 2012 when it was merged with the LSRC.

Detroit & Mackinac → Lake State Railway → In Operation

From: Alpena and Gaylord south to North Bay City, Saginaw, Flint and Novi

Reference: [LSRC website]

Photo Info: Lake States 798 works in the Alpena Yard, in 2006. [Dale Berry photo]

Notes

Time Line

1992. The Detroit & Mackinac railway was sold to the Lake State railway in the 1992. The new company originally operated the former D&M lines from North Bay City to Alpena and Gaylord. In 2005, the railroad acquired the former CSX lines from Mount Morris (near McGrew Yard in Saginaw) north to Bay City and Midland.

2005. The acquisition in Saginaw and Midland are operated under the name Saginaw Bay Southern Railway until January, 2012 when it was merged with the LSRC.

2019. Lake State Railway (LSRC) leases 53 miles of this line from Mt. Morris to Plymouth on March 29th. [MRF-2019-06]