Railroad: St. Clair and Chicago Air Line Railroad Company, The

St. Clair River Pontiac & Jackson → St. Clair & Chicago Air Line Railroad → Michigan Air Line Railway

Renamed: 1872 - St. Clair River, Pontiac & Jackson. Ridgeway to Romeo.

Operated for 3 years.

Sale: 1875 - to Michigan Air Line Railway.

Reference: [MRRC]

Notes

Time Line

1872. December. The St. Clair & Chicago Air Line is the new designation of the Michigan Air Line Railroad Company. About half the distance between Romeo and Washington, some seven miles, is ballasted. Upon the remainder of the distance between the points named there are some deep cuts and filings that and will require a large expenditure. The work will continue until the weather interferes with its successful prosecution. The design of the company is to build a railroad from St. Clair to Jackson, passing through Pontiac. [DFP-1872-1204]

1872. December. The railroad has done a local business from Ridgeway, a station on the Grand Trunk, to Romeo. The new compay has leased the road as completed, together with its right of way and privileges across the entire state as far as Jackson, and from thence "pro-rating" over the air-ine division of the Micigan Central. It is believed that before the close of another year this new line will be opened up in connection with the Canada Southern. A number of gentlemen deeply interested in this project live at Pontiac, Rochester and Romeo, and the character of the men, with the assurances of the enterprise receiving sufficient means from other quarters, makes its prospects of ultimate success quite flattering. [DFP-1872-1206]

1872. The Romeo Observer says it is a fact that the Detroit & Bay City railroad has reduced the business of the Michigan Air Line to quite an extent, and when the Air Line shall be extended so as to connect with the Bay City at Rochester, nearly the entire freight and passenger business will be transferred by way of Rochester to and from Detroit to Romeo. The people of Romeo do not seem to be in love with the Grand Trunk road. [PHTH-1872-1212]