Time Line - 1991

Last Year | Next Year

• January 23: Huron & Eastern Ry. takes over operation of the original 54 miles of TSBY operation near Vassar. [AATHA-Sp/1991]

• April: Work crews remove rail and ties of the former MCRR/NYC/D&M line between Cheboygan and Mackinaw City. [MRC-8/1991]

• April: Railroads begin blowing their horns at all road grade crossing in cities where it was formerly prohibited by local ordinance.  This follows a study from the FRA indicating that grade crossing accidents increase 195% when the horn is not used.  The FRA also ruled that local ordinances are superseded by federal law. [MRC-12/1991]

• June 1: CSX closes Plaster Creek (JG) Tower in Grand Rapids, transferring operations to Jacksonville, Florida. Plaster Creek controlled trains entering or leaving Wyoming yard,  and the entire main line from the old Pleasant Street Tower to just past the East Tower at Lamar. As of this writing the following towers remained on the CSX in Michigan and the region: Alexis, Carleton, Delray, Rougemere, Fostoria, Hallet, Plymouth, Ironville (Presque Isle), Manhattan Blvd., Millard, RX in Toledo, Walbridge WR, and Walbridge Stanley. [C&OHS-4/1991]

• August 11: Milan Tower closes. [MRC-9/1991]

• September 21: Amtrak completes a $1.7 million renovation of the former CSX Holland Depot. [MRC-12/1991]

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• The Huron & Eastern takes over the Tuscola & Saginaw Bay's former NYC trackage that it crossed in Reese.

• The Wisconsin Central awards contracts to strengthen the international railroad bridge at Sault Ste. Marie. [MRC-9/1991]

• All tank cars in hazardous materials service must be equipped with journal roller bearings and may not be equipped with plain bearings. [SAM]

• Detroit & Mackinac removes all rail between Hawks and Cheboygan. [NK]

• The N&W files to abandon its Delta District from Delmont Jct. (Maumee, Ohio) west to Montpelier, Ohio, about 48 miles.  There has been no through train on the lince since December, 1990. [MRC-8/1991]

• The former GR&I/PRR/Northern Michigan track from Reed City north to Cadillac has been pulled up. [MRC-8/1991]

 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