Chicago and West Michigan Railway
Encyclopedia
The Chicago and West Michigan Railway (C&WM) is a defunct railroad which operated in the state of Michigan
between 1881 and 1899. It was one of the three companies which merged to become the Pere Marquette Railway
.
The C&WM was formed on October 1, 1881, through the consolidation of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad
, the Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore Railroad
, the Grand Haven Railroad
and the Indiana and Michigan Railroad.
The C&WM's first new line was a 37 miles (59.5 km) extension south from New Buffalo to La Crosse, Indiana, which opened in November 1882. In 1884 the C&WM bought the White River Railroad
, which it had previously leased, which controlled a 29.86 miles (48.1 km) line from White Cloud to Baldwin
(where it joined the Flint & Pere Marquette
). In 1890 the C&WM extended the line north from Baldwin another 74 miles (119.1 km) to Traverse City
. On February 28, 1891, the C&WM created the Chicago and North Michigan to extend the line an additional 78.5 miles (126.3 km) to Bay View
, a task it completed on July 17, 1892; the company also built a 9.8 miles (15.8 km) branch line from Williamsburg to Elk Rapids
.
In 1897 the C&WM entered into an arrangement with William Alden Smith
to construct a railway line southeast from Rapid City through Kalkaska
to northern Missaukee County
. Alden's company, the Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern Railroad
, completed the road in 1898 and was leased by the C&WM starting the next year. The C&WM's successor, the Pere Marquette, formally consolidated the GRK&S in 1903.
In 1899 the C&WM consolidated with the Flint and Pere Marquette Railway and the Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western Railroad to form the Pere Marquette Railway
. However, the conveyance of the Indiana property was later declared invalid, and the C&WM continued to exist as a non-operating subsidiary in that state until March 12, 1917, at the same time as the Pere Marquette Railway
took over the Pere Marquette Railroad.
Today, only the lines from New Buffalo to Holland, Grand Rapids to Ludington, Wallahalla to Manistee, and Grawn to Williamsburg remain in use, with the rest of the track torn out, most of it being dismantled in 1982 when the Chessie System
abandoned a lot of its former C&WM trackage.
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"....
between 1881 and 1899. It was one of the three companies which merged to become the Pere Marquette Railway
Pere Marquette Railway
The Pere Marquette Railway was a railroad that operated in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. The railroad had trackage in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and the Canadian province of Ontario. Its primary connections included Buffalo; Toledo; and Chicago.The company was...
.
The C&WM was formed on October 1, 1881, through the consolidation of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad
Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad
The Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad is a defunct railroad which operated in Michigan between 1869 and 1878, and as the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad until 1881....
, the Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore Railroad
Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore Railroad
The Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore Railroad is a defunct railroad which operated in the state of Michigan between 1872 and 1881. The GRN&LS was chartered on September 11, 1869, under the leadership of David P. Clay. The company operated a line between Grand Rapids and White Cloud...
, the Grand Haven Railroad
Michigan Lake Shore Railroad
The Michigan Lake Shore Railroad is a defunct railroad which operated in the state of Michigan between 1869 and 1878, and as the Grand Haven Railroad until 1881....
and the Indiana and Michigan Railroad.
Network
At its creation in 1881, the C&WM controlled the following lines, comprising 353.6 miles (569.1 km):| Line | Length | Original company | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Buffalo New Buffalo, Michigan New Buffalo is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,200 at the 2000 census. This city is within New Buffalo Township, but is politically autonomous.-Geography:... –Holland Holland, Michigan Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River .... –Muskegon Muskegon, Michigan Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County... –Pentwater Pentwater, Michigan Pentwater is a village in Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 958 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Pentwater Township. Pentwater is home to Mears State Park. The name Pentwater comes from Pent or Penned up waters... |
169.5 miles (272.8 km) | Chicago & West Michigan (C&WM) and Grand Haven (GH) | |
| Holland–Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand... –White Cloud White Cloud, Michigan White Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,408. It is the county seat of Newaygo County.-Geography:... |
70 miles (112.7 km) | C&WM and Grand Rapids, Newaygo & Lake Shore (GRN&LS) Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore Railroad The Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore Railroad is a defunct railroad which operated in the state of Michigan between 1872 and 1881. The GRN&LS was chartered on September 11, 1869, under the leadership of David P. Clay. The company operated a line between Grand Rapids and White Cloud... |
|
| Allegan Allegan, Michigan Allegan is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 4,838. It is the county seat of Allegan County. The city lies within Allegan Township, but is administratively autonomous.... –Holland |
23 miles (37 km) | GH | |
| Muskegon–Big Rapids Big Rapids, Michigan Big Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,849. It is the county seat of Mecosta County. The city is located within Big Rapids Township, but is politically independent.-Geography:... |
51.2 miles (82.4 km) | GH | |
| Mears–Hart Hart, Michigan Hart is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,950. It is the county seat of Oceana County. The city is located within Hart Township, but is politically independent.... |
3.3 miles (5.3 km) | C&WM | Branched south of Pentwater |
| Fruitport Fruitport, Michigan Fruitport is a village in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 1,124. The community is located within Fruitport Charter Township.... –Muskegon |
13.5 miles (21.7 km) | Unclear | |
| White Cloud White Cloud, Michigan White Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,408. It is the county seat of Newaygo County.-Geography:... –Bitely Bitely, Michigan Bitely is an unincorporated community within Newaygo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is within Lilley Township about one mile west of M-37 in the Manistee National Forest... |
17 miles (27.4 km) | White River (WR) White River Railroad (Michigan) The White River Railroad was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad incorporated on November 13, 1879, for the purpose of constructing a rail link north from the C&WM's line at White Cloud to the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad's main line at Baldwin, and to exploit... |
Leased |
The C&WM's first new line was a 37 miles (59.5 km) extension south from New Buffalo to La Crosse, Indiana, which opened in November 1882. In 1884 the C&WM bought the White River Railroad
White River Railroad (Michigan)
The White River Railroad was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad incorporated on November 13, 1879, for the purpose of constructing a rail link north from the C&WM's line at White Cloud to the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad's main line at Baldwin, and to exploit...
, which it had previously leased, which controlled a 29.86 miles (48.1 km) line from White Cloud to Baldwin
Baldwin, Michigan
Baldwin is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,107. It is the county seat of Lake County...
(where it joined the Flint & Pere Marquette
Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad
The Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad is a defunct railroad which operated in the U.S. state of Michigan between 1857 and 1899. It was one of the three companies which merged to become the Pere Marquette Railway.-Early history:...
). In 1890 the C&WM extended the line north from Baldwin another 74 miles (119.1 km) to Traverse City
Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,674 at the 2010 census, with 143,372 in the Traverse...
. On February 28, 1891, the C&WM created the Chicago and North Michigan to extend the line an additional 78.5 miles (126.3 km) to Bay View
Bay View, Michigan
Bay View is an unincorporated resort community in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Bear Creek Township, Emmet County on Little Traverse Bay and abuts the east side of the city of Petoskey along U.S. Highway 31. The ZIP code is 49770 and the FIPS place code is 06260...
, a task it completed on July 17, 1892; the company also built a 9.8 miles (15.8 km) branch line from Williamsburg to Elk Rapids
Elk Rapids, Michigan
Elk Rapids is a village in Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,700 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Elk Rapids Township, about north of Traverse City. It is physically split by the Elk River, which runs between nearby Elk Lake and Grand Traverse...
.
In 1897 the C&WM entered into an arrangement with William Alden Smith
William Alden Smith
William Alden Smith was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan.-Early career:Smith was born in Dowagiac, Michigan and attended the common schools. He moved with his parents to Grand Rapids in 1872, where he attended school, sold popcorn, and was a newsboy and messenger boy...
to construct a railway line southeast from Rapid City through Kalkaska
Kalkaska, Michigan
Kalkaska is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 2,226. It is the county seat of Kalkaska County.-Geography:...
to northern Missaukee County
Missaukee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,478 people, 5,450 households, and 4,043 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile . There were 8,621 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
. Alden's company, the Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern Railroad
Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern Railroad
The Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern Railroad is a defunct railroad which operated in Northern Michigan toward the end of the 19th century. The company was founded on August 30, 1897 by William Alden Smith, a Republican politician and former general counsel of both the Chicago and West...
, completed the road in 1898 and was leased by the C&WM starting the next year. The C&WM's successor, the Pere Marquette, formally consolidated the GRK&S in 1903.
In 1899 the C&WM consolidated with the Flint and Pere Marquette Railway and the Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western Railroad to form the Pere Marquette Railway
Pere Marquette Railway
The Pere Marquette Railway was a railroad that operated in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. The railroad had trackage in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and the Canadian province of Ontario. Its primary connections included Buffalo; Toledo; and Chicago.The company was...
. However, the conveyance of the Indiana property was later declared invalid, and the C&WM continued to exist as a non-operating subsidiary in that state until March 12, 1917, at the same time as the Pere Marquette Railway
Pere Marquette Railway
The Pere Marquette Railway was a railroad that operated in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. The railroad had trackage in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and the Canadian province of Ontario. Its primary connections included Buffalo; Toledo; and Chicago.The company was...
took over the Pere Marquette Railroad.
Today, only the lines from New Buffalo to Holland, Grand Rapids to Ludington, Wallahalla to Manistee, and Grawn to Williamsburg remain in use, with the rest of the track torn out, most of it being dismantled in 1982 when the Chessie System
Chessie System
Chessie System, Inc. was a holding company that owned the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway , the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad , the Western Maryland Railway , and several smaller carriers. It was incorporated in Virginia on February 26, 1973, and it acquired the C&O on June 15...
abandoned a lot of its former C&WM trackage.