Station: Russell, MI

The town of Russell, in Alcona county was created by the narrow gauge Au Sable and Northwestern Railroad, which was a logging railroad in northeastern Michigan. 

Photo Info: An early view of the AS&NW narrow gauge line at Russell. It appears that two trains are passing here. On the right is a mixed train taking on passengers and express at the small makeshift depot. At left is a single engine or a short logging train. The station agent is on the raised platform in front of the station. Around 1900.

Notes

The AS&NW's base location was on the Au Sable River at Potts (later called McKinley), and the route went northeast into the woods, originally through this lumber village.  After cutting and dragging logs on skids to the rail, the logs were loaded and brought down the AS&NW to Potts. At Potts it was dropped into the Au Sable River and floated to the lumber mills at the towns of Au Sable and Oscoda on Lake Huron.

By 1891, the A&NW laid their main line southeast along the Au Sable River to the lake shore and logs were transported by rail. This improved hardwood logging, as hardwoods don’t generally float  

Time Line