RailRoadFan.com

Just a random thought/question but when was the last time in michigan that a railroad has expanded by laying new tracks to previously unserviced areas? I'm not referring to a short spur to one business I'm talking several miles of a brand new grade. I'm assuming it's been many many years? Thanks

Good question. I'm curious about that as well.

I wonder where DT&I's Malinta Cutoff would be on this list? It was a mid 1920-s project.

Only thing remotely close lately I recall is the spur to A&L Iron and Metal in Gaylord. Sure, it's to one business, and not quite "several" miles as it's just over 2 miles long, but about the closest in the past couple decades I can think of off hand.

Edit: read on this PDF, maybe this helps:
1920 - Pennsylvania Railroad began serving Detroit over its new line from Carleton. It was the last new main line route built by a major railroad in Michigan.
https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Projec ... f2648e9015

I am not sure what the last major rail line built in Michigan was. A lot of the later expansion of rail in Michigan was done at the hands of the electric interurban railroads. I do know the Michigan United's main line of the Western Division was a 49.72-mile (80.02 km) line running north from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids. This line opened in 1915.

The Steelcase Spur off of CSX in Kentwood was built in the mid 1980s and is around 3-4 miles in total. Still there, just disconnected and dormant.

If memory serves, the Penn-Detroit cutoff (today the Lincoln Secondary) between Carleton and River Rouge was built in the early 1920s. The DT&I “Arch Line” from Vreeland up to the Rouge Plant was also a late 1910s or early 1920s construction, I think? I would think those might be the last new major line construction projects in MI. Although, what years was the PM/C&O Flint belt line constructed from Atwood up to McGrew on the east side of the city?

I didn’t live here then, but how much new construction was involved with the Holland Dock Track relocation project?

GP30M4216 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 15, 2023 10:46 pm

I didn’t live here then, but how much new construction was involved with the Holland Dock Track relocation project?

The runaround track used to be on the opposite side of the road than what it is now. So the run around trackage is new and that reconnected with the existing trackage. I think they reduced the overall amount of trackage with the realignment project. There was the removal of a Heinz building and a realignment/removal of city streets involved with that project.

The GTW Flint new main circa 1927.
The PM Flint belt line was circa 1923.
edit: Forgot GTW Royal Oak to Bloomfield Hills circa 1931.

The Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Railroad built its 14 mile line to the copper mine in White Pine in the mid-1950's. It is still in place, just railbanked by CN.

GP30M4216 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 15, 2023 10:46 pm

I didn’t live here then, but how much new construction was involved with the Holland Dock Track relocation project?

Here are some photos to show you what it used to look like. Tom Burke photos from Flickr.

GRHC wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 16, 2023 3:15 pm

GP30M4216 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 15, 2023 10:46 pm

I didn’t live here then, but how much new construction was involved with the Holland Dock Track relocation project?

Here are even more photos to show you what it used to look like.

Tom Burke photos from Flickr.

In the Upper Peninsula, the joint LS&I-CNW-SOO line from Ishpeming to east of Negaunee was constructed in 1965, combining all three railroads through the area and avoiding increasing mine subsidence issues. The new line was/is about 5.5 miles long and built to high standard through the hills.

DaveO wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 16, 2023 8:18 am

The GTW Flint new main circa 1927.
The PM Flint belt line was circa 1923.
edit: Forgot GTW Royal Oak to Bloomfield Hills circa 1931.

The GTW new Flint main actually opened in 1901, mainly to avoid the Flint River valley grades. Flint's auto industry didn't exist yet. All passenger trains used the old line until 1927. Port Huron Daily Times, 12/16/01 and Detroit Free Press, 12/13/01:

I mean if we are talking outright new construction, then you cannot forget the Amtrak Spur in Grand Rapids. While not very long, its the closest to outright new construction I've personally witnessed, although it closely follows the original alignment of the PM into Union Station which is kinda poetic.

if you ignore the not wanting short spurs for one business then there are others