Location: Jackson, MI - Jackson Junction

Jackson Junction was located at the Elm Street crossing of the Michigan Central railroad's main line in what became the City of Jackson.

Notes

The original MC and Fort Wayne & Jackson freight yard was located between here and downtown Jackson's union station. It is also likely that the FW&J branch line crossed the MC main line here to access their first depot on the north side of the MC and possibly tie in to the original Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw line.

The Michigan Air Line railroad, which was a parallel line east from Haires connected to the MC yards at this location. The likely intention of the MAL was to go north across the MC main line from here to Pontiac via what later became the MC Jackson Belt Line. For several years the Grand Trunk negotiated with the FW&J to use the Fort Wayne line to reach Chicago. But after Vanderbilt interests leased the MAL and the FW&J, the GT abandoned this idea and approached downtown Jackson with a branch line from the north, by the Fairgrounds.

To the west of Jackson Junction, the MC moved its division yards from Marshall to Jackson and ultimately located yards, major locomotive facilities, two roundhouses, and car repair facilities here. The Michigan Division offices were also located here until the 1960's.

Jackson Junction had a switch tender located on the ground here to line routes for arriving trains, and a crossing watchman in a tower at Elm Street.

Image Info: Top, Jackson Jct. looking west, taken from the coaling tower. The locomotive is heading southwest on the wye which goes to OD tower. The main line is at the far right. The street crossing is Elm Avenue before it was paved. [Doug Leffler collection]. 2nd photo, a photo of Jackson Jct. taken from the same viewpoint in 1916. [Charles Milliken, Doug Leffler collection]. 3rd photo, a 1976 photo of Jackson Jct. looking east from across Elm Avenue. Note the large manually operated semaphore which was used to control rail traffic entering and leaving the yard. [Greg Bunce]. 4th photo New York Central train DC-1 is departing Jackson Jct. for Elkhart, Indiana, via the Air Line Branch. The target signal at the left was operated by the Jackson yardmaster. When it was horizontal trains were instructed to stop clear of Elm Street. A diagonal target gave permission to trains to proceed on the freight main. The Michigan Division office is behind the target at the left of the photo. 1960's. [Doug Leffler]

Time Line

1871. June 16. Collision. Jackson, MI. Yesterday, a mixed train on the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad was going out south from this city. When it arrived at the junction (Haires) of the Michigan Airline road, on the east side of the mill pond, near the Water Works, a through stock and freight train on the Air Line came along and met the mixed train on the curve. The two trains were running at the rate of ten or twelve miles an hour, and the consequence was the two engines were both smashed in a terrible manner. The engineers and firemen jumped just before the collision and saved themselves. It was very fortunate that no lives were lost in the wreck. The engines reared up on each other, and the smoke stacks stood up very high from amidst the ruins. Men were immediately set to work to clear away the mass of iron rubbish, and by eight o'clock last night the track was ready again for this regular running of trains. The loss of the companies owning the engines and cars is estimated at $15,000. [DFP-1871-0617] Editors Note: This was likely near the wye junction just east of Morrell Street. It may also have been at Haires.

1906. Held Up Night Operator. As he was coming out of his office at the Junction, east of the city late last night, D. A. Boomer, Michigan Central operator at the junction, was approached by three men. One of them, a negro, struck him a terrific blow full in the face. Boomer staggered back into the depot and the men started to follow him, but hesitated a moment and then disappeared down the track toward the east. Not a word was said by any one of the three and Boomer is at a loss to account for the motive back of the assault. There was no money in the depot, nor is any ever kept there. [DFP-1906-0920]