Time Line - 1979

Last Year | Next Year

• April 27: Lapeer Junction tower is closed at 15:00 hours by F. Stilley, the last operator on duty. The building was raised in May, 1979.  [CW]

• July 23: The Lake Superior & Ishpeming abandons all lines east of Marquette, except for the short connection between the Soo Line at Munising Jct. and the City of Munising.  [MRC-10/1987]

• July 15: Kent-Barry-Eaton Connecting Ry. first black-operated railroad in U.S. begins Grand Rapids-Vermontville service.   [MDOT]

• September 30: Romulus Interlocking tower closes.   [IT-12/1979]

• Fall: Ex-PM depot at Kinde is burned.   [IT-4/80]

• October 23: Dearborn Amtrak Station opens.  [IT-12/1979] [DPG]

• December 15: Chessie Elk Rapids Subdivision is abandoned between Williamsburg and Elk Rapids.  [IT-2/80]

• December 31: Penn Central closes its Town Line train order station in Dearborn. The shanty is torn down on June 5, 1981.   [MRF-7/1981]

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• Conrail line from Utica to Lapeer is dismantled. [MRC-12/87]

• The Detroit & Mackinac Ry. donates steam locomotive #8, an 0-6-0, early passenger cars and a caboose to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. [DRK]

• ACI labels on rail cars are no longer required for interchange. [SAM]

• The Mather "B" mine closes in Negaunee. This was the last underground iron mining operation.  [IOHT]

 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