Timetable: Detroit & Mackinac Ry. - AuSable River Branch - AuSable Junction to Comins

Open stations as of 1922.  Single track branch line. This line was purchased from the AuSable & Northwestern, primarily a logging line.

Key:  BB=Bascule Bridge | C=Coal | CS=Car Shop | D=Open during the day | DN=Day and night | DT=Double Track | EH=Engine house | H=Half Interlocked | I=Interlocker | J=Junction | LB=Lift Bridge | N=Open at night | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | RH=Roundhouse #stalls | S=Scales | SB=Swing Bridge | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

[REF] = 1922 D&M Employee timetable plus additions.

Map

Notes

Time Line

1886. The South Branch is built from McKinley to Luzerne by the Potts Logging Company. The purpose is to bring logs to McKinley for dumping into the Au Sable River.  [MRL]

1886. The North Branch is built from Twin Lake Junction (near McKinley) to Tong by the Potts Company. [MRL]

1891. The line is built from Au Sable to McKinley via Russell by the Potts Logging Company. [MRL]

1891. The H.M. Loud lumber company is now operating seven log trains daily on the renamed Au Sable & Northwestern railroad. [CCA-1891-1022]

1891. The South Branch is abandoned. [MRL]

1892. The North Branch is extended from Tong to Lewiston, about six miles. [MRL] The track is also rerouted into McKinley, 2.7 miles.

1897. The North Branch is extended from Lewiston to Bear Lake in Otsego County, 3.6 miles. It is removed one year later back to Red Oak and back to Kane in 1899. In 1900, it is abandoned from Kane to 9.6 miles west of McKinley. The entire branch is gone by 1907. [MRL]

1900. The line is extended from Millen to Comins. [MRL]

1891. The H.M. Loud lumber company is operating seven log trains daily on the AS&NW railroad. [CCA-1891-1022]

1907. The line is extended from Russell to Millen. The old line from Russell to McKinley is removed. [MRL]

1908. The railroad is built from Hardy to Curran, 4.4 miles. It is extended to Byers in 1910 and then to Beevers in 1912. [MRL]

1909. November. AU SABLE & NORTHWESTERN. R. R. This road was inspected November 4, is a narrow gauge railroad and extends from Au Sable to Hardy, a distance of forty miles, with branches from Hardy to Comins and Curran. The rail is from 30 to 45 pound and considerably worn. Joints are poorly maintained with the exception of the branch from Hardy to Curran. This branch has 45 pound rail and is in good condition, well tied. A great many ties have been renewed during the past year and there is still a necessity for some tie renewals along this line. Very little ballasting has been done and the surface and alignment of track is poor in many places. Side tracks are provided with stub switches, solid frogs, switch stands with single targets and locks. No lights. Frogs and switches were not blocked. Fences only built where requested. Highway crossing signs need repainting. A number of highway crossings without signs, also a number of highway crossings without planking. A great many wire crossings were found not in accordance with specifications of the Commission. Engines in use are not equipped with automatic couplers as required by law. Both passenger and freight equipment are of a second class character. Passenger cars heated with stoves with no fire protection, but are equipped with axe and saw, drinking water and toilet facilities. Engines are equipped with jack screws. Russell logging cars equipped with link and pin couplers and are handled in same train with freight and passenger cars on mixed trains. [MCR-1909]

1912. The Five Channels Dam Branch is built and then extended to the Loud Dam in 1914. This branch is removed in 1927. [MRL]

1915. The A&NW is abandoned from Au Sable to milepost 2.9 in Oscoda. [MRL]

1916. January. The Au Sable division is changed by the D&M to standard gauge. [RR-1916-0101:24] A passing track is installed at Comins and Hardy. [DMAR-1916]

1917. Part of the Curran Branch from Curran to Beevers is removed. [MRL]

1926. The D&M applied for abandonment of the Au Sable River branch from Oscoda to Comins, including the Curran branch from Hardy to Beavers about 10 miles. [DFP-1926-0530]

1927. The railroad has one round trip, 2nd class train in each direction (#51 and #52) on Tuesday and Friday. This was likely a mixed passenger/freight train. The train ran from Au Sable Junction to Comins and returned. The 50 mile distance each way was scheduled for about two and one half hours. The train had scheduled stops at Bryant, Glennie, Russell, Hardy and Comins, with all other stations being flag stops. No stations along this line had operators in 1927. Tickets likely sold by the conductor. [ETT-1927]

1927. The entire railroad is abandoned. [MRL]