Time Line - 1938

Last Year | Next Year

• Railroads collectively operate at a financial deficit. [STOV]

• March 1: The western portion of the Upper Peninsula is cheered by the announcement by the Milwaukee Road that it will run its famous Chippewa train to Ontonagon, beginning March 1. The Chippewa originally operated between Chicago and Iron Mountain, and not long ago the run was extended to Channing. The new extension is viewed with satisfaction by the Copper Country. [EDP-1938-0211]

• April: Grand Trunk Western receives two diesel-electric switching locomotives, the first in their system. [MDOT]

• July 1: The Copper Range leaves bankruptcy and resumes local control. [CRH]

• September 1: Scheduled service discontinued on LSMS Fayette Branch between Old Road and Fayette via Weston. [IT-4/80]

• November: New York Central "Mercury" service is expanded to the Detroit-Chicago route via Jackson.[MDOT] Note: At variance from 1939 report.

• Ford Rouge complex in Dearborn consists of two dozen manufacturing buildings, and over 24 miles of railroads. [DWS]

• The W&M gives up trackage rights on the Milwaukee Road, between Bagley Jct., MI and Marinette/Menominee. [MW]

• The W&M abandons its line from Bagley Jct. WI to Faithorn, MI. [MW]

• The Milwaukee Road abandons its former W&M line between Faithorn to Aragon Jct. [MW]

• Abandonment of the GR&I branch from Veneer Jct. to Merritt, 10 miles, is noted. [RRM-1938-09:144]

• The DSS&A removes the remaining portion of its branch line from Keweenaw Bay to Alston. [SSP]

• The last regularly scheduled passenger train passes through Tecumseh on the NYC Jackson Branch. [Tecumseh Visitors Guide]

• The DC-3 airliner is proven very successful, but airline passenger traffic is only 2% of all commercial passenger traffic. [STOV]

• The Blue Water Bridge is opened between Port Huron and Sarnia for vehicle traffic. [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