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Trying to find out what year--or years the PC branch between Sterling Heights and Lapeer was ripped out. Was it done in sections, or all at one time? Especially curious about from Lake Orion to Metamora area.

Seems like I have seen the answer to this on this board in a prior post. If no one responds I should be able to look around this weekend.

As best as I remember, that section was abandoned in the mid-1970's.

Lapeer to Shelby Twp. was removed first. CR still serviced a small produce dist. in Shelby Twp. by Dequindre & 23 Mile Rd. for a while. Later, I'm not sure when, the tracks were cut back to Packard Yard.

The tracks are still in place from CN south to Turrill Road, about two miles. Lapeer Industrial owns them but only uses them from CN to just south of Peppermill Road where their only shipper, Albar Industries, receives covered hoppers of plastic pellets. The bridge over Hunters Creek just south of there is out of service so is the end of the line now.

I think the customer is Delta Faucet

Manistique wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 26, 2022 11:00 am

.....where their only shipper, Albar Industries, receives covered hoppers of plastic pellets.

The Lake Orion to Rochester portion would have been ripped up around 1983 to make way for the Paint Creek Trail. I'm assuming the GTW took over operations from Oxford which allowed the portion from Lake Orion to Lapeer to be abandoned.

P.S. Isn't this the NYC Bay City Branch?

Mackinaw Branch ran from Jackson north through Lansing, Owosso, Bay City etc as I recall. The line through Lapeer was something else.

According to a 1963 NYC Employee Timetable:

"Detroit to Mackinaw Branch" ran from Detroit to Mackinaw via Lapeer, Vassar, Saginaw & Bay City.

"Saginaw Brach" ran from Jackson to Saginaw via Lansing & Owosso

According to a 1963 NYC Employee Timetable:

"Detroit to Mackinaw Branch" ran from Detroit to Mackinaw via Lapeer, Vassar, Saginaw & Bay City.

"Saginaw Branch" ran from Jackson to Saginaw via Lansing & Owosso

My timetables state the same.

See page 20, page 22 of the PDF.

http://multimodalways.org/docs/railroa ... 1-1976.pdf

The only rail lines I see on the map going through Lapeer from Detroit is the Bay City Branch. The only way you can pass through Jackson simultaneously is by going out of your way headed southward. Is it possible that “Mackinac Branch” applies to all lines starting from Major cities like Jackson or Detroit and terminate at Mackinac City?

Look through this track chart. You will get a better understanding.

http://multimodalways.org/docs/railroa ... 1-1976.pdf

Oops, I made the mistake clumping the Saginaw Branch and Bay City Branch together which is where my confusion started. My bad.
Thanks for the track charts StandardRailfan.

Penn Central employee timetable #3, Sunday April 27th , 1969 states as follows: Mackinaw Branch, Detroit Division begins at Bay City Jct MP2.0 (distance from Detroit Third Street to Mackinaw, MP 182.3. The direction from Bay City Jct to Mackinaw is northward. Saginaw Branch, Michigan Division begins at MAL Jct. MP2.1 Saginaw MP101.5 jct. with Mackinaw Branch. The direction from Jackson to Saginaw is northward.