Time Line - 1942

Last Year | Next Year

• World War II continues.

• January 10: The Chicago & Northwestern puts new streamlined diesel equipment and passenger cars into service north of Milwaukee. The Peninsula 400 is one of those trains which used this equipment. Over 5,300 people walked through the new train, parked on display at the Escanaba depot. Trackage in the U.P. between Escanaba and Negaunee was upgraded to allow operation between 60 and 80 m.p.h. [IT-5/80]

• February: The last ski trains operate to northern Michigan, as a result of prioritization of resources to the war effort. [MH-2022-02]

• March: The GTW bridge over the Saginaw River in Saginaw is dismantled, and moved to Alexandria, VA for use on another line during the war years. The GTW begins using the NYC swing brige. [MRC-4/1997]

• Summer: The PM depot at Eagle is torn down. [I&L]

• June 28: M&LS discontinues passenger train operations. Reverts to freight only. [AATHA-Sp/1991]

• July 17-24: Dept. of Street Railway strike in Detroit cripples city transportation. [DWS]

• October 6: The Escanaba Ore Dock Project is launched, to build facilities at Escanaba for the diversion of iron ore from the Minnesota ranges in the event of the bombing of the Sault Ste. Marie locks. [EDP-12/27/1950]

• Christmas Day: An all-time passenger record was set when 1,100 passengers were carried north out of Green Bay in two secitons of the train, the second of which terminated at Menominee. 475 passengers detrained at Escanaba. [IT-5/80]

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• Pere Marquette RR abandons line from Almont to Port Huron, 30.06 miles. [PMHS/COHS-8/1997]

• Pere Marquette RR abandons line from Paw Paw to Lawton. 3.14 miles. [PMHS/COHS-8/1997]

• Pere Marquette RR abandons line from Howard City to Greenville, 17.64 miles. [PMHS/COHS-8/1997]

• The CK&S removes line from Richland Jct. to Delton. [NYC-2/1989]

• The New York Central abandons its line from Bach to Owendale. [GM]

• Railroads operate passenger trains at a profit from 1942-1945 as a result of war time efforts. [STOV]

• Work is completed on the giant Willow Run bomber plant which makes the B-24 "Liberator" bomber for World War II.  It is converted to an automobile duties after the war. [BOM]

• The New York Central introduces the first "clearance" car, the X-800. [SAM]

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