Timetable: GTW - Saginaw Sub - Durand to Bay City

This is a single track branch line from Durand to North Bay City was built as the Toledo, Saginaw & Mackinaw Railroad, which was quickly purchased by the Grand Trunk. Today, much of it is now operated by the Huron & Eastern railroad.

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

[REF] = ETT 1935 and 1939, plus additions.

Notes

GTW trains use Michigan Central between Meredith Street Junction and Mershon. Trains at Durand will look out for Ann Arbor Railway first-class trains using Saginaw Sub. Bay City station is across the Saginaw River and accesses via the Bay City spur over a bridge to the station. Passenger trains arriving from the south will back through the north wye and do to Bay City. Normal position of this switch at the junction of three wyes will be for the south wye. Passenger trains will regularly use No. 6 track at Bay City station. In all back up train movements, passenger trains must be provided with tail hose connected with air brakes at the rear of the train, and the conductor must take personal charge of same and will stop train one car length from bumping post or from cars that may be standing on that track.

In Saginaw, Jefferson Avenue had a TOFC facility in 1971.

Time Line

1889. The construction gang of the Toledo, Saginaw & Mackinaw railroad created quite a sensation in West Bay City by beginning early in the morning on a bold proceeding. Since the road reached West Bay City it has used the track of the Battle Creek & Bay City railroad for a distance of about five blocks. The latter road, which has been idle for six months, had a track upon the street which was afterward granted to the use of the TS&M. At the last meeting of the Common Council of West Bay City a resolution was passed instructing the marshal to tear up the tracks of the BC&BC and place the streets which it crossed in passable condition. 

Yesterday the construction gang of the other road did the business. They tore up the rails, ties, planking and everything except the roadbed. Then they proceeded to put down new ties, rails and planking in exactly the same place. This was completed before dusk. The track of the BC&BC was thrown alongside the roadbed. The superintendent of construction to-day had nothing to say about the proceeding except that he was acting under instructions. He says that the Battle Creek & Bay City road may use his track if it so desires. [DFP-1889-1231]

1904. Two engines on the C&SM division of the Grand Trunk came together with a crash early this morning, back of Hoyt Park. The train crews jumped and escaped injury. The engineer of the yard engine reversed his engine and, recoiling from the shock of the collision, it gathered headway and was soon speeding down the track. At Holland avenue it entered a switch and collided with a loaded coal car. It required the services of a wrecking crew and track repairers to clean the track. [DFP-1904-0910]

1913. September 28. The spur line from West Bay City across the Saginaw River and two-span drawbridge is placed into service. The line crosses the bridge to reach the new GT Depot at 7th Street in downtown Bay City. The line also crosses the MC South Water Street industrial line at the east end of the bridge a gated crossing. [MRL]

1928. The Bay City Terminal, owner of the east Bay City station and bridge, is merged into the GTW. [MRL]

1939. SNAPSHOT. As of this time, only one round trip mixed (passenger and freight) train used the bridge to the depot Monday through Saturday. At the west entrance to the bridge, there was a wye connection to GTW's branch line. Northbound passenger trains passed the wye and backed into the north leg, backing across the river into the GTW station. Southbound trains left the depot using the south wye after traversing the bridge. Passenger trains were instructed to use Track No. 6 at the depot, the only track used for this purpose in 1939. [ETT-1939]

1941. The railroad branch and bridge into east Bay City were abandoned, operated only 28 years. [MRL]

1950. New, through train passenger service between Alpena and Detroit was announced here by C.A. Skog, vice president and general manager of the GTW railroad, and Charles A. Pinkerton Jr. president and general manager of the D&M. The new service will be operated over the lines of the GTW and D&M and will speed scheduled between cities in northeastern Michigan and Detroit and Chicago. The train will be operated for a six-month trial period rail officials said. PHTH-1950-0131] The train was operated until 1951. [DFP-1951-0402]

1971. Saginaw yard limit extends from 35.9 (Saginaw Freight Yard) to mp 44.7 near Zilwaukee. Joint section on MC exists from Meredith St. Junction to Mershon. Maximum car weight is 220,000 lbs. Speed limit on line is 35 mph, restricted to 20 mph over interlockings and other speed restrictions at various locations. Train office at Durand is open 24/7. Other train order offices open M-F daytime at Flushing, Lennon and MX Tower.