Railroad: Lansing Connecting Railroad

According to [MRRC] the Lansing Connecting Railroad Company was established in 1914 in Lansing to own ¾ miles of track from the Grand Trunk Railway to the Pere Marquette railroad, in Section 22 of T4N-R2W. They suggest that the corporation lapsed.

News articles state that the railroad was actually built around 1916, south from a junction with the Pere Marquette railway near Kalamazoo Avenue. The railroad was built to serve a new lumber company to supply lumber to new houses being built in the community.

Built → Lansing Connecting Railroad  → Grand Trunk Western

Operated in Michigan: About 7 years.

Chartered in: 1914

Sold: To GTW about 1921

Reference: [MRRC][LSJ]

Notes

The original connection for this industry spur was at the Pere Marquette near Kalamazoo Avenue. About five years later, it was connected to the GTW railroad on the south end near their coaling tower.

There is no record that this railroad had locomotives, rolling stock or employees. It was apparently operated by the PM and later by the GTW.

Even though this road was sold to the GTW, it is likely that the PM had trackage rights on it to serve industrial customers..

Time Line

1916. It was noted that the road likely served the Gifford Engine company, the Lansing Road Supply company, the Lansing Foundry company and the Hager Lumber Company. Also served were the Keokuk company and the Michigan Bean Spray company.

1919. The Detroit Trust Company, executing the will of J. Henry Moores who had died, sold 11 acres on the west side of Pennsylvania Avenue between the Lansing Connecting Railway right of way and the river. He also owned other properties in the area. [LSJ-1919-0623]

1919. Moores apparently owned the Lansing Connecting railroad. According to the article, there was no direct connection with the GTW. "As the situation now exists, freight from the GT line to manufactories along the LSR  has to be relayed to the Michigan Central, hauled to the north side yards in some instances, and then returned to the Pere Marquette [for delivery]. The GTW desires to purchase the line from the Moores estate. The line was built several years ago on land owned by Mr. Moores and is home to a half-dozen prosperous factories. [LSJ-1919-0711]

1921. October. The ICC dismissed the application of the GT railroad to purchase the Lansing Connecting railway for reason that the commission had no authority. The application was dismissed without prejudice and there is no bar against executing the purchase. It was noted that the proposed purchase price was $40,000, $5,000 to be paid in cash and the balance in payments of $5,000 yearly. [DFP-1921-1029]

1922. The Grand Trunk has taken over the Lansing Connecting railway from the Moores estate. [LSJ-1923-0101]

1923. June. R.R. Darwin is a well known real estate man and was for several years the chief inspector for the old Michigan Railroad Commission. He also built the Lansing Connecting railway and is at present its general manager. [LSJ-1923-0622]