Timetable: DSS&A Railroad - Mass City Branch - Keweenaw Bay to Riddle Junction

This branch line was built by the Mineral Range railroad from Keweenaw Bay to Mass. It was in response to the announced construction of the Copper Range railroad, as well as to reach copper mines in the Mass area. This line was also believed to be a first leg of a long desired connection with the South Shore main line to Duluth, giving copper range customers a shorter route to the west (a savings of 242 miles and avoiding a layover in Nestoria. {DSS] The DSS&A also arranged for facilities in Keweenaw Bay for loading outbound ore as well as incoming coal. The railroad also established facilities for locomotive maintenance here.

Freight service was made by a round trip local freight in each direction, from Mass to Keweenaw Bay and return, except Sunday.

At Keweenaw Bay, the branch crossed over the DSS&A main line to reach the lake loading facilities. Copper concentrate from Mass mine stamp mills was sent via the main line to Ripley or the Coles Creek smelter operation near Hancock.

Key: BB=Bascule Bridge | C=Coal | CS=Car Shop | D=Open > Day | DN=Open Day and night | DS=Dispatcher | DT=Double Main Track | EH=Engine house | F=Diesel Fuel | HI=Half Interlocked Crossing | I=Interlocked Crossing | J=Junction | LB=Lift bridge | N=Open at night | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | Q=Quarry | RH=Round house # stalls | RT=Railroad Resort | S=Scales | SB=Swing bridge | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

[REF] = 1926 DSS&A/MR timetable; 1917 Michigan Manual, Greg Bunce and other sources.

Notes

Time Line

1901. December. The Mineral Range completes the Mass City branch, from Keweenaw Bay to Riddle Junction, near Rockland in Ontonagon County: [MRL]

1901-1905. The branch to Mass Mine is constructed. [MRL]

1903. The Mineral Range extends the branch from Riddle Junction to Michigan Mine. The branch had a severe grade. [MRL] This branch was removed in 1913. [DSSA map profile]

1923. The MPSC orders the closure of the Mineral Range railroad bridge over the Firesteel River because it is unsafe for the [rail] traffic presented. The MPSC acted based on an inspection by their Chief Inspecting Engineer and the Chief Engineer of the LS&I (a competing road to the MR). [MPSC-1023].The MR was subsequently allowed to run a lite engine west across the bridge to service the Menasha Woodenware Co. to bring 125 car loads of logs from their spur to Riddle Junction for interchange with the CM&StP railroad.

July 14, 1923. The railroad is authorized to discontinue operations between the Firesteel Bridge and Riddle Jct. and Mass by the MPSC. [MPLSC-1923]

1930. January. The South Shore engine No. 603 arrived from Marquette and was put on the Keweenaw Bay to Simar run on the Mineral Range railroad. The heavy shipments of logs necessitates a larger engine to haul them. The log run is now at its height and practically all of the forest product is being shipped to L'Anse for the Ford Motor Company. [IDG-1930-0115].

1932. Michigan railroads since 1932 have quit using the following tracks. Some continue to exist but are not in use: DSS&A from Keweenaw Bay to Peppard. [DFP-1949-1009]

1937. December. The Mineral Range railroad today applied to the ICC for authority to abandon a 15-mile branch from Keweenaw Bay in Baraga County to Alston in Houghton County. The railroad claims that operation of the line is no longer necessary for public service and results in a loss to the company. The MR is not in receivership, but is operated by trustees. The abandonment will not hinder shippers, the trustees claim. The region is sparsely settled and the only industry, a saw mill located in Alston, discontinued practically all operations in the winter of 1936-37. [EDP-1937-1211]