Station: Rock, MI

Rock was a town on the Chicago & North Western railroad about 20 miles north of Escanaba on their line to Ishpeming. Rock was settled in 1865. The village was called Malton Spur and Maple Ridge, but the name was settled by the 1880's. [MPN] 

Photo info: C&NW 8552 leads a lumber and ore train at Rock in 1994. [Mark Andersen]

Notes

At one time, Rock had a 642' passing siding, as well as a 723' spur line.

Maple Ridge was a separate location of a 2,644' passing siding northwest of here. [CNWV]

Time Line

1919. December. The old depot from Winde, a 16' x 24' building was moved to this point for use as a freight room. [CNWV]

1949. January. Streamliner Derailed at Rock; Man Killed

Cars of 400 Rip Up Tracks; 10 Injured In Morning Wreck, Body of Oscar Johnson Found Under Coach

One man was killed today and ten persons were injured, none seriously, in the wreck of the Chicago & North Western's crack passenger streamliner the "400" at Rock, 25 miles northwest of Escanaba. Killed in the wreck was Oscar F. Johnson, 52, of 304 South 18th Street, Escanaba, conductor acting as flagman on the "400".

Johnson was killed, it is believed, when he was thrown from the train as it derailed. His body was found under the front trucks of the second to the last car of the train shortly after the accident.

The cause of the accident has not been determined by railroad officials. Members of the train crew, all from Escanaba, said the streamliner had slowed from a speed of 70 to 64 miles an hour going through Rock, a flag stop. Because there were no passengers there the train didn't stop.

The wrecked cars were strung along the track 100 yards north of the highway crossing in the village of Rock. Trainmen and volunteers aided releasing the passengers from the coaches. Dr. John Walch of Escanaba was summoned to treat the injured, some of whom will be brought to the hospital for s-ray examination.

The accident occurred at 9:05 a.m. on the southbound run of the streamliner from Ishpeming to Escanaba. The train was reported to be only two minutes behind schedule at Rock. An extra section of the train was being made up at Escanaba to bring the passengers from the derailed train here and then on to Menominee. They will be taken by bus from there to Green Bay where another extra section will be made up this afternoon about 4 o'clock. [EDP-1949-0131]