Railroad: Michigan Northern Railway Company

The Michigan Northern was created in 1976 to operate former Penn Central lines between Comstock Park (Grand Rapids) north to Mackinaw City, including various branch lines. Former CSX lines in the Traverse City area were added in 1982. Operations were ended on various lines between 1984 and 1988. What remains is operated by the Great Lakes Central railroad. [MRL]

Pennsylvania Railroad → Michigan Northern Railway → Parts abandoned, remainder to State of Michigan → TSBY →  GLRC. 

Operating Agreement: 1976 - with State of Michigan to operate state-owned rails in north and west Michigan.

Operated for 8 Years.

Operations Agreement Ended: 1984.

Reference: [MRRC]

Photo Info: MIGN 1216 and 1205, Baldwin "sharks", sit in the Cadillac yard awaiting assignment in 1978. 2nd photo, Michigan Northern 1216 is ready to be loaded into the Chief Wawatam ferry in 1979, after being sold to the Escanaba & Lake Superior railroad in the upper peninsula. [Both, Neil Plagens photos, Mark Andersen collection]. 3rd photo, a Michigan Northern schedule from June, 1983. [Charlie Whipp]

Notes

Time Line

1976. Operating Agreement with State of Michigan to operate state-owned rails in north and west Michigan.

1984. Operations Agreement Ended. Some of this line reverts to the TSBY railroad.