Timetable: Pere Marquette - Bay City Sub - Saginaw to Bay City

This line extended from Saginaw to North Bay City. It was built by the Flint & Pere Marquette in 1867. It was single track, operated by timetable and train orders. It was not signaled, except at interlockers.

This branch line from Saginaw originally went straight north to Jefferson Avenue, the location of the original PM depot. This depot was replaced by a new, joint PM/D&M station (which continues to exist). At PM Belt Line Jct., a belt line went east and then north to the Saginaw River, connecting with the D&M at Foss and ending up at the Jefferson Avenue depot. The branch to the D&M (and the H&W) was built in 1895. 

The main branch line between PM Belt Line Junction and the Jefferson Avenue depot was removed sometime before 1945. PM passenger trains from Saginaw then used the PM Belt Line to each the depot.

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 | M=Mine | 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

Notes

The PM Connection line (to D&M), from North Bay City to the PM Coal Mine (via Tower 12) was the former Huron & Western railroad, owned by Bay City's Handy Brothers, and sold to the PM around 1900. This line paralleled the MC Hecla Belt Line. The coal mine was also a Handy operation. [DFP]

In later years under the C&O, this line was considered to be all within yard limits. and a puller using switch engines, was operated between Saginaw Yard and Bay City to interchange with the D&M and local industries.

Time Line

1901. February. The Pere Marquette has made several improvements in the already excellent passenger service of the road. To still further better the service, it is announced that Pullman sleepers and day cars will be put on between Detroit, Saginaw, Bay City and Alpena. The Pullmans will be in operation beginning February 10 and the old PM coaches will take a lay-0off. The cars north from Bay City will be run over the Detroit & Mackinac, and the travelling public will have little cause for complaint over a prospective trip to Alpena in the winter months. [PHDH-1901-0201]

1981. Train number 75 normally departs Saginaw Yard M-F about 6:30 am, and returns as number 76. The train had a hearty block of interchange cars to and from the D&M at Bay City. Up until the mid-1980's, they almost always ran this jo with two yard engines MU'd together. The train was handled by a yard crew out of Saginaw, and depending on their work load, the original crew was sometimes relieved at Bay city by a fresh crew to handle the run back to Saginaw. On the return trip, they would stop at Nodular and call the operator at Washington Avenue for clearance to proceed south and look for a line up through the interlocking into Saginaw Yard. The entire Bay City sub was yard limits (Rule 93) and was principally under the direction of the yard master at Saginaw. Yard crews were not entered into the Saginaw dispatcher train sheet, however, crews for Essexville unit coal trains were entered. [DH]