Chicago and Canada Southern Railway
Encyclopedia
The Chicago and Canada Southern Railway was a planned extension of the Canada Southern Railway
west from Grosse Ile, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois. The line was only built to Fayette, Ohio
, and was later split between the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railway and Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
.
In 1873 the Canada Southern Railway
reached Michigan
from Buffalo, New York
via a train ferry
and the Canada Southern Bridge Company across Grosse Ile
. To continue west to Chicago, the Chicago and Canada Southern Railway was chartered July 11, 1871. The line had only reached Fayette, Ohio
(though grading was done further west) in September 1878 when the Panic of 1873
had its full effect and construction was halted. At that time the Canada Southern was reorganized, and the Chicago and Canada Southern was sold on November 22, 1888 to the Detroit and Chicago Railroad, owned by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
.
The track between Grosvenor and Corbus, in the middle of the line, was abandoned in 1893. In 1897 it was abandoned from Corbus east to Dundee
, and in March 1898 the line east of Dundee was sold to the Detroit and Lima Northern Railroad, which became part of the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railway. The remaining piece west of Grosvenor was operated as a branch of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern's Old Road from the Grosvenor end.
West from Montpelier, Ohio
to beyond North Liberty, Indiana
, the unfinished C&CS alignment was later used by the Wabash Railroad
, which completed its line between Montpelier and Gary, Indiana
in 1893.
Canada Southern Railway
The Canada Southern Railway was a railway in southern Ontario, Canada, founded on February 28, 1868 as the Erie and Niagara Extension Railway. It adopted the Canada Southern Railway name on December 24, 1869. In 1904 the railway was leased to the Michigan Central Railroad for 99 years; in 1929 it...
west from Grosse Ile, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois. The line was only built to Fayette, Ohio
Fayette, Ohio
Fayette is a village in Fulton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,340 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Fayette is located at ....
, and was later split between the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railway and Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, sometimes referred to as the Lake Shore, was a major part of the New York Central Railroad's Water Level Route from Buffalo, NY to Chicago, primarily along the south shore of Lake Erie and across northern Indiana...
.
History
Canada Southern Railway
The Canada Southern Railway was a railway in southern Ontario, Canada, founded on February 28, 1868 as the Erie and Niagara Extension Railway. It adopted the Canada Southern Railway name on December 24, 1869. In 1904 the railway was leased to the Michigan Central Railroad for 99 years; in 1929 it...
reached Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
from Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
via a train ferry
Train ferry
A train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
and the Canada Southern Bridge Company across Grosse Ile
Grosse Ile
Grosse Ile may refer to:* Grosse Ile Township, Michigan*Grosse Ile , the largest island in the township* Grosse Ile, Quebec, an island where many Irish Immigrants to Canada were housed and the site of the Grosse Isle Disaster...
. To continue west to Chicago, the Chicago and Canada Southern Railway was chartered July 11, 1871. The line had only reached Fayette, Ohio
Fayette, Ohio
Fayette is a village in Fulton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,340 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Fayette is located at ....
(though grading was done further west) in September 1878 when the Panic of 1873
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 triggered a severe international economic depression in both Europe and the United States that lasted until 1879, and even longer in some countries. The depression was known as the Great Depression until the 1930s, but is now known as the Long Depression...
had its full effect and construction was halted. At that time the Canada Southern was reorganized, and the Chicago and Canada Southern was sold on November 22, 1888 to the Detroit and Chicago Railroad, owned by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, sometimes referred to as the Lake Shore, was a major part of the New York Central Railroad's Water Level Route from Buffalo, NY to Chicago, primarily along the south shore of Lake Erie and across northern Indiana...
.
The track between Grosvenor and Corbus, in the middle of the line, was abandoned in 1893. In 1897 it was abandoned from Corbus east to Dundee
Dundee, Michigan
Dundee is a village in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,522 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Dundee Township. Through a series of annexations and land transfers, the village has greatly increased in size over the past several years...
, and in March 1898 the line east of Dundee was sold to the Detroit and Lima Northern Railroad, which became part of the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railway. The remaining piece west of Grosvenor was operated as a branch of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern's Old Road from the Grosvenor end.
West from Montpelier, Ohio
Montpelier, Ohio
Montpelier is a village in Williams County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,320 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Montpelier is located at ....
to beyond North Liberty, Indiana
North Liberty, Indiana
North Liberty is a town in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. It is located in Liberty Township. The population was 1,896 at the 2010 Census...
, the unfinished C&CS alignment was later used by the Wabash Railroad
Wabash Railroad
The Wabash Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. It served a large area, including trackage in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and Ontario. Its primary connections included Chicago, Illinois, Kansas City, Missouri, Detroit,...
, which completed its line between Montpelier and Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
in 1893.
See also
- Michigan Air-Line RailroadMichigan Air-Line RailroadThe Michigan Air Line Railroad was a planned railroad across southern Michigan, connecting the Canada Southern Railway to Chicago, Illinois. Only part of the line was built, and it was split between the Michigan Central Railroad and the Grand Trunk Railway.-History:The Grand Trunk Railway was...
, another partially built western extension of the Canada Southern RailwayCanada Southern RailwayThe Canada Southern Railway was a railway in southern Ontario, Canada, founded on February 28, 1868 as the Erie and Niagara Extension Railway. It adopted the Canada Southern Railway name on December 24, 1869. In 1904 the railway was leased to the Michigan Central Railroad for 99 years; in 1929 it...