Location: Alpena Junction, MI

Alpena Junction is the location of the Lake State Railway yard in Alpena, located about 1/2 mile north of the Thunder Bay River on the main line.  It is also the point where the branch to the cement plant leaves the main line in a northeast direction from the east end of the yard.  The Lake State 5-bay roundhouse is also located within the wye at Alpena Junction. There was originally a turntable at this location, which was later replaced with switches for each door.  The Detroit & Mackinac's dispatching office was also located in an office behind the roundhouse for many years.

Photo Info: Top, a 2002 photo of the roundhouse. [Dale Berry]. 2nd photo D&M 125. This locomotive also spend part of its life assigned to the Erie & Michigan railway, which was operated by the D&M.

Notes

Editor note: My father took me to visit the D&M roundhouse in the early 1960's and I remember the immaculate condition of the locomotives, which were by then almost 20 years old. At the time, the railroad employed a "hostler" whose job it was to fuel, service and wash each locomotive when they returned to the roundhouse. [DJB]

Time Line

1900. Clearing for Roundhouse.  The D&M railroad is clearing ground for a new roundhouse at Alpena Junction in a novel manner. The stumps are thick on the spot, but instead of bothering with dynamite a chain is wound round the stump to be removed, the other end is attached to a locomotive on the track nearby, and in about 30 seconds after the engine starts up, the stump, roots and all, is lying on the top of the ground ready to be carted away. [True Northerner-1900-0613]

1912. A passenger station in northern Alpena, at Alpena Junction, was totally destroyed by fire shortly before midnight. An exploding lamp started the blaze. The loss is $700 with no insurance. [KSH01912-0430] Editors note: This may have been a former Alpena & Northern depot.

1927. The D&M had an operator at Alpena Junction day and night. [ETT-1927]