Dissecting the D&M

Dissecting The Detroit & Mackinac
Text by Art Peterson; photos from the Krambles/Peterson Archives, except as noted.
In September of 1980, Ron Landon and I made a trip all around Michigan. It turned out to be an interesting time to make that journey. The State had an aggressive program to preserve rail service in the wake of the PC bankruptcy and the formation of Conrail. Pieces of the former PC system (that had not been included in the Conrail System Plan) began to be operated by carriers including the Hillsdale County, Lenawee County and the Michigan Northern. But the focus of this piece is an old-line company (dating back to the last day of 1894), the Detroit & Mackinac (D&M). The D&M was another of those carriers that benefited from Conrail's formation. D&M purchased 83 miles of the ex-Penn Central Mackinaw Branch that offered it access to Mackinaw City, as well as south to Pinconning. In addition, the D&M operated another 92 miles of the same ex-PC line that the State had purchased. Both the D&M and the PC linked Bay City to Cheboygan. The D&M line, which hugged the shoreline of Lake Huron for much of its length was 197 miles long. PC's (ex-NYC) line cut across the interior of the state (opening potential new markets for the D&M's service), requiring just 166 miles to reach Cheboygan. D&M RS3m 975 - Mackinaw City - September 29, 1980 On the 29th, Ron and I caught D&M RS3m 975 (ex-B&M 1517) switching the "Chief Wawatam" at the docks. The 1975 rebuild of this locomotive by M-K (in their parlance, a TE47-4A) included the installation of a 251 engine, rating it at 1,800 hp. The "Chief" built in 1911 remained in service on the Mackinaw City-St. Ignace run until 1984, when the north docks suffered a collapse. There had been a few fits & starts to the "Chief's" operation during those years. More than once, Algoma Steel provided traffic routed via the Straits that saved the operation. Ultimately cut down to a barge, the "Chief" was finally scrapped in 1984. D&M RS3m 975 - Freedom Road - September 29, 1980 With no cars to handle on its 16-mile trip back to Cheboygan, the 975 was limited only by the condition of the line in terms of how quickly it could make the journey. This location is about 5 miles southeast of the Edgewater Beach area of Mackinaw City. Although completely concealed by the tree cover behind the 975, Michigan Highway 23 paralleled the ex-NYC line from Mackinaw City to Cheboygan. Today, the former D&M route between Cheboygan and Mackinaw City is the North Central State Trail. blank, blank, blank, blank, blank, blank, D&M RS3m 975 - Court Street, Cheboygan - September 29, 1980 The crew is in the process of tying the 975 down for the night. D&M service to Mackinaw City ended in 1990. The road's own line into Cheboygan had been completed in 1904. At one time, the "Chief" had also sailed down to Cheboygan to interchange with the D&M. The crew is in the process of tying the 975 down for the night. D&M service to Mackinaw City ended in 1990. The road's own line into Cheboygan had been completed in 1904. At one time, the "Chief" had also sailed down to Cheboygan to interchange with the D&M. D&M RS2 466 - Fletcher & 2nd, Alpena - September 30, 1980 We caught the first RS2 built switching local industries in downtown Alpena. As delivered, the 466 (and the 467) had steam generators for passenger service. On March 31, 1951, the 466 had the honor of pulling the last D&M passenger train from Alpena to Bay City. For the last year or so of passenger service, the D&M and the GTW had cooperated in running a through Detroit-Alpena service. Sadly, this didn't produce the desired traffic, leading to the end of the service mentioned in the paragraph above. Alpena also marked the demarcation point for the D&M's operating divisions. The North Division extended 73.2 miles to Cheboygan, while the South Division covered the 124.2 miles to Bay City. Regarding D&M 466, the locomotive was rebuilt by Alco in 1956. It survived the end of D&M operations, joining the roster of the Tuscola & Saginaw Bay. Sadly, the locomotive made it all the way into 2011, only to be scrapped at that time. D&M RS2 481 - 9th Avenue, Tawas City - September 30, 1980 D&M relocated its general offices to Tawas City (from Detroit) in 1920. Tawas City is about 65 miles south of Alpena on the west shore of Lake Huron. Tawas City is also where the D&M line to Bay City heads inland (as opposed to following the lakeshore). In this view, the train for Bay City is on the south side of Tawas City. D&M relocated its general offices to Tawas City (from Detroit) in 1920. 65 miles south of Alpena on the west shore of Lake Huron. Tawas City is also where the D&M line to Bay City heads inland D&M RS2 481 - Whittemore Road, Alabaster Branch - September 30, 1980 A little over 2.5 miles south/west of Tawas City, the 481-1077 and train ran through the diverging leg of Alabaster Junction to head south on the 4-mile Alabaster Branch. The background of these photos shows the extensive timber growth in this area that gave the D&M its original purpose. Significant traffic in aggregates came later. One of the railroad's principal customers was U.S. Gypsum in Alabaster; the industrial used four GE 45-tonners to work the quarry and nearby loading facility. (photo above) D&M RS2 481 - Whittemore Road, Bay City Line - September 30, 1980 This crossing of Whittemore Road (on the mainline to Bay City) is just under 8 miles due west of the previously-shown crossing on the Alabaster Branch. National City, originally called Emory Junction, was renamed in 1926 in honor of the large National Gypsum quarry opened in the area the previous year. Gypsum, limestone, agricultural products and oils/petrochemical traffic became important to the D&M over time. National Gypsum (incorporated in late August of 1925) developed a composite wallboard product that was both lighter and stronger than other gypsum products. D&M RS2 481 - Turtle Road - September 30, 1980 D&M was informally called the "Turtle Line" at one time, so it was appropriate to shoot the two engines making a switch move at the road's namesake crossing. This location is a little over 3 miles south of National City. D&M had Alco rebuild the 481 in 1958. The 1077 was the former LIRR 1553. Acknowledgements: Many books, magazines and websites were consulted in the preparation of this piece, including "X2200S" and "Trains."" Thanks also to Craig for allowing the use of his U.S. Gypsum photo.
New: 1 July 2022

In September of 1980, Ron Landon and I made a trip all around Michigan. It turned out to be an interesting time to make that journey. The State had an aggressive program to preserve rail service in the wake of the PC bankruptcy and the formation of Conrail.

Pieces of the former PC system (that had not been included in the Conrail System Plan) began to be operated by carriers including the Hillsdale County, Lenawee County and the Michigan Northern. But the focus of this piece is an old-line company (dating back to the last day of 1894), the Detroit & Mackinac (D&M).

The D&M was another of those carriers that benefited from Conrail's formation. D&M purchased 83 miles of the ex-Penn Central Mackinaw Branch that offered it access to Mackinaw City, as well as south to Pinconning. In addition, the D&M operated another 92 miles of the same ex-PC line that the State had purchased.

Both the D&M and the PC linked Bay City to Cheboygan. The D&M line, which hugged the shoreline of Lake Huron for much of its length was 197 miles long. PC's (ex-NYC) line cut across the interior of the state (opening potential new markets for the D&M's service), requiring just 166 miles to reach Cheboygan.

D&M RS3m 975 - Mackinaw City - September 29, 1980

On the 29th, Ron and I caught D&M RS3m 975 (ex-B&M 1517) switching the "Chief Wawatam" at the docks. The 1975 rebuild of this locomotive by M-K (in their parlance, a TE47-4A) included the installation of a 251 engine, rating it at 1,800 hp.

The "Chief" built in 1911 remained in service on the Mackinaw City-St. Ignace run until 1984, when the north docks suffered a collapse. There had been a few fits & starts to the "Chief's" operation during those years. More than once, Algoma Steel provided traffic routed via the Straits that saved the operation. Ultimately cut down to a barge, the "Chief" was finally scrapped in 1984.

D&M RS3m 975 - Freedom Road - September 29, 1980

With no cars to handle on its 16-mile trip back to Cheboygan, the 975 was limited only by the condition of the line in terms of how quickly it could make the journey. This location is about 5 miles southeast of the Edgewater Beach area of Mackinaw City. Although completely concealed by the tree cover behind the 975, Michigan Highway 23 paralleled the ex-NYC line from Mackinaw City to Cheboygan.

Today, the former D&M route between Cheboygan and Mackinaw City is the North Central State Trail. blank, blank, blank, blank, blank, blank,

D&M RS3m 975 - Court Street, Cheboygan - September 29, 1980

The crew is in the process of tying the 975 down for the night. D&M service to Mackinaw City ended in 1990. The road's own line into Cheboygan had been completed in 1904. At one time, the "Chief" had also sailed down to Cheboygan to interchange with the D&M.

D&M RS2 466 - Fletcher & 2nd, Alpena - September 30, 1980

We caught the first RS2 built switching local industries in downtown Alpena. As delivered, the 466 (and the 467) had steam generators for passenger service. On March 31, 1951, the 466 had the honor of pulling the last D&M passenger train from Alpena to Bay City.

For the last year or so of passenger service, the D&M and the GTW had cooperated in running a through Detroit-Alpena service. Sadly, this didn't produce the desired traffic, leading to the end of the service mentioned in the paragraph above.

Alpena also marked the demarcation point for the D&M's operating divisions. The North Division extended 73.2 miles to Cheboygan, while the South Division covered the 124.2 miles to Bay City.

Regarding D&M 466, the locomotive was rebuilt by Alco in 1956. It survived the end of D&M operations, joining the roster of the Tuscola & Saginaw Bay. Sadly, the locomotive made it all the way into 2011, only to be scrapped at that time.

D&M RS2 481 - 9th Avenue, Tawas City - September 30, 1980

D&M relocated its general offices to Tawas City (from Detroit) in 1920. Tawas City is about 65 miles south of Alpena on the west shore of Lake Huron. Tawas City is also where the D&M line to Bay City heads inland (as opposed to following the lakeshore). In this view, the train for Bay City is on the south side of Tawas City.

D&M relocated its general offices to Tawas City (from Detroit) in 1920. 65 miles south of Alpena on the west shore of Lake Huron. Tawas City is also where the D&M line to Bay City heads inland

D&M RS2 481 - Whittemore Road, Alabaster Branch - September 30, 1980

A little over 2.5 miles south/west of Tawas City, the 481-1077 and train ran through the diverging leg of Alabaster Junction to head south on the 4-mile Alabaster Branch. The background of these photos shows the extensive timber growth in this area that gave the D&M its original purpose. Significant traffic in aggregates came later.

One of the railroad's principal customers was U.S. Gypsum in Alabaster; the industrial used four GE 45-tonners to work the quarry and nearby loading facility. (photo above)

D&M RS2 481 - Whittemore Road, Bay City Line - September 30, 1980

This crossing of Whittemore Road (on the mainline to Bay City) is just under 8 miles due west of the previously-shown crossing on the Alabaster Branch. National City, originally called Emory Junction, was renamed in 1926 in honor of the large National Gypsum quarry opened in the area the previous year.

Gypsum, limestone, agricultural products and oils/petrochemical traffic became important to the D&M over time. National Gypsum (incorporated in late August of 1925) developed a composite wallboard product that was both lighter and stronger than other gypsum products.

D&M RS2 481 - Turtle Road - September 30, 1980

D&M was informally called the "Turtle Line" at one time, so it was appropriate to shoot the two engines making a switch move at the road's namesake crossing. This location is a little over 3 miles south of National City. D&M had Alco rebuild the 481 in 1958. The 1077 was the former LIRR 1553.

Acknowledgements: Many books, magazines and websites were consulted in the preparation of this piece, including "X2200S" and "Trains."" Thanks also to Craig for allowing the use of his U.S. Gypsum photo.

Dissecting The Detroit & Mackinac