Timetable: Marquette & Western - 2nd Main Line - Marquette to Ishpeming

This line was built in 1884 as a competitor to the Marquette & Western from Marquette to Ishpeming via Negaunee. Generally, it was parallel to the other line. Shortly after its construction, in 1890, it was purchased by the DSS&A and used as a second main line in the Marquette mining range.

The M&W built its Teal Lake Branch in 1884, reaching the Hartford, Cambria, Cleveland Hematite and Detroit mines. This branch was removed in 1930.

The line was truncated in the Negaunee area in 1909 and the line from Marquette to Eagle Mills was removed in 1930.

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=Roundhouse # stalls | RT=Railroad Resort | S=Scales | SB=Swing bridge | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

Reference = [MRL][DSSM]

Note

Standard Oil Spur: Located on the original DSS&A old main line on the south side of Ishpeming.

Time Line

1884. March. The Marquette & Western railroad has reached Negaunee, and the first train has been run over the road. [LCS-1884-0313]

1884. June. Passenger trains will be put on the M&W railroad just as soon as the depot is completed at Ishpeming, which will be about the middle of the present week. [DFP-1884-0630]

1891. A wreck in which a great deal of damage was done occurred about two miles west of Marquette. The DSS&A train was a special freight and pulled out of Marquette yard headed for Sidnaw, taking the former Marquette & Western track. The cause, as told by Conductor Doran and Brakeman Gebo, who were in the caboose at the time was this:

When the train was well up the steep grade out of the city, it broke in two just ahead of the car next to the caboose. The caboose and this car at once started back down the grade at a high rate of speed towards Marquette, but were quickly stopped with the brakes on the caboose. Gebo got off with his lantern to flag the forward section of the train which he heard coming back down.

To his horror he discovered that the train had again broken in two and that the middle section, with no one to control it, was coming down upon him with frightful speed. The next moment a car heavily loaded with cedar posts struck the tail piece of the train and from there they continued down as far as the Mackinaw (DM&M Marquette) round house. The wreck was scattered in all directions, some of the cars running into several houses along the track. Fire immediately broke out in the caboose caused by the overturning of the stove and added to the destruction. Happily, no one was injured. [LAS-1891-1212]

1930. The DSS&A has applied to the MPUC for permission to abandon an 11-mile stretch of the (old M&W) line between Marquette and the Queen Mine near Negaunee. The railroad claims there are no towns or industries on the line, which was formerly used for hgauling ore into Marquette. [SJHP-1930-0912]