Railroad: Pontiac, Oxford and Northern Railroad Company, The

The Pontiac, Oxford and Northern railroad operated from Pontiac, Michigan north to Caseville, via Imlay City. The full route was opened on October 8, 1883. The main line was 100.59 miles long and the line had 9.34 miles of sidings and spurs. It came under the control of the GTRW in 1910 and was merged into that line in 1928.

Pontiac, Oxford & Port Austin railroad → Pontiac Oxford & Northern railroad → Grand Trunk Western

Reorganized: 1889 - reorganized Pontiac, Oxford & Port Austin railroad.

Operated for 21 years.

Control: 1910 - by Grand Trunk Western.

Merged: 1928 - into Grand Trunk Western.

Reference: [MRRC]

Notes

After control by the Grand Trunk Western in 1910 and merger in 1928, railroad employees and enthusiasts continued to refer to this line as the PO&N.

Time Line

1893. The President of the PO&N vows to build their line from Pontiac to Detroit, hoping to intersect with one of the Michigan Central belt lines around the city.  [DFP-1893-0329]. The line was never extended.

1903. SNAPSHOT. The PO&N operated 22 stations on its line and employed 135 people, including 5 engineers, 5 firemen, 5 conductors, 8 brakemen, 2 baggagemen, 39 laborers (mostly section hands), 22 shopmen and 47 others. The railroad owned seven locomotives, 7 87-wheel passenger cars, 2 express/baggage cars, 44 box cars, 4 stock cars, 23 platform cars and 2 conductor way cars. Top five categories of freight (in tons) were: agriculture produces (flour, hay, fruit, vegetables - 37%); mined products (coal and stone - 23%); forest products (11%); manufactured products (wagons, carriages, cement brick and lime - 10%) and merchandise (9%). [MCR-1904]

1905. March. The PO&N is placed into receivership. [RG-1905-0331]

May 24, 1907. Robert Oakman secures option on 60% of PO&N stock. He plans to electrify the line [which did not happen]. [RA-1907-0524:820]

April 3, 1908. The PO&N roundhouse at Pontiac is destroyed by fire, a loss of $15,000. [RA-1908-0410:549]

1908. September 25. There were no bidders when the PO&N railroad was offered for sale a second time and Judge Smith granted the petition asking that the minimum price be reduced from $700,000 to $400,000, subject to the bonded indebtedness of $400,000. Receiver Lounsbury adjourned the sale to November 19. [YEX-1908-0925]