Time Line - 1921

Last Year | Next Year

• January 2: Copper mines in the Keweenaw peninsula note the increasing costs of rail transportation is becoming a problem for mines that don't own their own railroads. The Copper Range railroad, which is partially owned by the Copper Range company serves other mines. It charges $700 per day for the privilege of hauling stamp rock to its mills, a distance of seven miles, while it charges $100 a day for transporting coal from docks to mines. C&H and the Quincy mines own their own railroads and are not affected. [DFP-1921-0102]

• February 1: First municipal street car operates on St. Jean and Charlevoix lines. [DWS]

• February 27: A Michigan Central passenger train headed for Detroit runs through a red signal at Porter, IN and is struck by a westbound New York Central passenger train headed for Chicago at the crossing diamond. 37 people are killed in the crash. [DFP] Click here for story.

• March 26: Grand Rapids & Indiana RR is leased to the Pennsylvania RR for 999 years. [MDOT]

• June 7: Pere Marquette RR creates the Flint Belt Railroad Co. [PMHS]

• August 8: Pennsylvania RR is granted trackage rights on PM from Alexis, OH to Carleton, MI. [PMHS]

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• Pere Marquette RR abandons line from Rapid City to Kalkaska, 11.4 miles. [PMHS/COHS-8/1997]

• Pere Marquette RR abandons line from Carters to Clary. 4.45 miles. [PMHS/COHS-8/1997]

• Manistee Railway Co. ends electric operations in and around Manistee. [MRRC]

• The Michigan Railway, an electric line, discontinues operation between Bay City and Wenona Beach. [NK]

• The Iron River, Stambaugh and Crystal Falls Street Ry. discontinues operations between Mineral Hills, Iron River, Stambaugh, Caspian and Gaastra. [ICHS]

• Pere Marquette RR completes massive Saginaw Yard improvement project. [PMHS]

• Pere Marquette builds a 30 stall roundhouse, with a 100' turntable at Saginaw Yard. [PM45]

• Ford Tractor plant in Dearborn closes. [DWS]

• The E&LS constructs a new machine and car shop at Wells, 75'x150' and built of reinforced concrete.  At peak times during World War II, it employed about 40 machinists, boilermakers, carpenters, welders and other mechanics.  Trackage was available for repairing and rebuilding five cars at one time. [EDP-12/27/1950]

• The E&LS extends its Kates branch from Kates to New Kates. [EDP-12/27/1950]

• Grand Trunk builds new depot at St. Johns.  Depot continues to exist as of 1974. [IT-12/1974]

• Cadillac's Clark Street complex is opened near West Detroit on the GTW and MCRR. [BOM]

 Time line Key:

• Railroad event in Michigan
• Event relating to mining
• Event related to car ferries
• Event outside of Michigan
• Improvement in Technology
• Railroad built or extended
• Railroad abandoned and/or removed
• Economic panic or depression