Timetable: MCRR - East Jordan Branch - Frederick to East Jordan

The East Jordan branch was the Detroit & Charlevois railroad under MC ownership.

Key: C=Coal | CS=Car Shop | D=Open > Day | DN=Open Day and night | DS=Dispatcher | EH=Engine house | HI=Half Interlocked Crossing | I=Interlocked Crossing | J=Junction | N=Open at night | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | Q=Quarry | RH=Round house # stalls | S=Scales | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

Notes

[REF] = [MRL] + other sources

Time Line

1907. More important that the mere purchase by the MC of David Ward estate's D&C railroad of 44 miles are the developments probably in the consequence of the MC taking the road into its system. It is most likely that the white pine forests through which it passes and still larger forests of hardwoods will be purchased from the Ward estate by a syndicate of wealthy Bay City lumber operators at a price of $5 million or upwards, more saw mills put in, and first the pine and then the hardwood felled, sawed into lumber and sent to market on a wholesale scale.

It is said that the Bay City lumber men have been ready for a long time to take the timber, either the whole as a syndicate, or in parcels by individuals, but would not touch it unless the MC would take the small railroad and guarantee the new spurs and siding and equipment necessary to the large scale handling of the product.

The Ward timber lands in Crawford, Antrim and Charlevoix counties, but chiefly in Antrim county, total 78,000 acres and include large tracts of cork pine. It is estimated that there are 300 million feet of white pine lumber in these trees, and from 1-2 million feet of hardwoods. If the Bay City lumbermen get at the timber once again and for the last time, Michigan will have a genuine lumber camp with its gangs of tree choppers in gay flannel coats and tocques, ready to break once in a while for the nearest town for a wild old spree as a relief from the weeks of monotony in the woods.

The D&C was characteristically a David Ward proposition. He wouldn't tie up with either the MC or the GR&I, the lines on either side of his lands, and built the D&C from South Arm on the GR&I to Frederic on the MC, so he could seesaw them. The Wards have not cut the timber rapidly, although they have a large sawmill and settlement at Deward, a town of their own in the woods, but if the Bay City people get at it they will make things hum.

The MC pays $500,000 for the 44 miles of railroad, considered a very cheap price when the years of traffic in lumber and timber products that attach, are considered. The MC agrees to construct branches and switches wherever necessary through the woods and the Wards agree to ship a minimum of 20 million feet of lumber annually.

The MC will build six miles of new track to turn the line from Frederic to Grayling where their are railroad shops and yards, and will make Grayling the main connecting point.

If the timber is sold, the entire Ward estate must be divided among the heirs before the end of 1912. [CCH-1907-0727]

1907. December 21.  Portion of the power dam of the East Jordan Electric Light & Power company - located on Deer Creek - gave way releasing 28 feet head of water which swept down into the lake wrecking the East Jordan & Southern railroad bridge and washing out a stretch of the Detroit & Charlevoix railroad track. No one was injured. The D&C line was out for three days when it was repaired sufficiently to allow trains to pass. The EJ&S are working on a temporary bridge but at present are coming in over the D&C line. [CCH-1907-1221]

1918. An MC timetable dated June 30, 1918 shows one roundtrip each day except Sunday. No. 1 left East Jordan at 8:00 a.m. and arrived at Frederic at 10:45. The return trip left Frederick at 2:15 p.m. and arrived back at East Jordan at 4:45 p.m. [AS]

1925. MCRR Employee Timetable #405, dated September 25, 1925 reports that the line hosted one scheduled round trip train, No. 97 leaving Frederick at 5:25 a.m., stopping at Alba at 7:16 a.m. and arriving at East Jordan at 8:35 a.m. It turned, and returned as Train 98 leaving East Jordan at 9:20 a.m., stopping at Alba at 10:39 a.m. and arriving back at Frederick at 12:30 p.m. The train ran on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only.  [AS]

1931. The MPUC grants permission for the NYC/MC to discontinue service, abandon and remove 6.5 miles of their line from Marble (EJ&S Crossing) to East Jordan. [PMUC-1931]

1932. The MC petitioned the ICC for permission to abandon its 36 mile East Jordan branch. The branch connects the MC Mackinaw Branch in Antrim count with the main line of the East Jordan and Southern railway in Crawford county. [MEC-1932-0308]