Huron and Eastern Railway
Encyclopedia
Huron and Eastern Railway is a short line railroad operating 405 miles (651.8 km) of track in The Thumb
of the lower peninsula of Michigan. It is one of many shortlines owned by Rail America, and was the first railroad owned by the conglomerate.
HESR began operations in 1986, over 83 miles of former Chesapeake and Ohio track in Michigan's thumb area. This track served areas in Huron
and Sanilac
Counties, roughly between Bad Axe and Croswell
, with a few spurs to outlying small towns. On December 22, 1988, HESR acquired CSX Transportation
's Bad Axe Subdivision between Saginaw
and Bad Axe. On January 22, 1991, HESR again added more track to its system, acquiring a cluster of former Penn Central lines from the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway
. This new track crossed the current HESR track in Reese
, and allowed the HESR to now serve Vassar
and Caro
, among other towns. On April 30, 1998, HESR purchased CSX's Port Huron Subdivision from Saginaw to Brown City
. The line beyond Brown City is still in place to Avoca, but has been out of service since the HESR acquisition.
On January 26, 2004, HESR again increased in size with the acquisition of the Central Michigan Railroad, allowing the HESR to reach Bay City
and Midland
, as well as interchange with Class I Canadian National in Durand
. Other than the abandonment of track between Richville and Saginaw (HESR had three parallel lines into Saginaw from the east), HESR has abandoned very little track.
HESR interchanges with Class I railroad Canadian National in Durand and shortlines Lake State Railway
(including subsidiary Saginaw Bay Southern) in Saginaw, Bay City, and Midland and Great Lakes Central Railroad in Durand and Owosso
.
The railroad's traffic comes largely from agricultural products, as well as industrial goods such as cement, fly ash, and chemicals. The HESR hauled around 34,000 carloads in 2008.
The Thumb
The Thumb is a region and a peninsula of Michigan, so named because the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a mitten; thus the Thumb is the area that looks like the thumb of the mitten. The Thumb is generally considered to be in the Mid-Michigan area of the state, located east of Flint/Tri-Cities...
of the lower peninsula of Michigan. It is one of many shortlines owned by Rail America, and was the first railroad owned by the conglomerate.
HESR began operations in 1986, over 83 miles of former Chesapeake and Ohio track in Michigan's thumb area. This track served areas in Huron
Huron County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-19* M-25* M-53* M-142-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 36,079 people, 14,597 households, and 10,144 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile . There were 20,430 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
and Sanilac
Sanilac County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-19* M-25* M-46* M-53* M-81* M-90-History:Sanilac County was probably named for a Wyandot chief named Sanilac. See List of Michigan county name etymologies....
Counties, roughly between Bad Axe and Croswell
Croswell, Michigan
Croswell is a city in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,467 at the 2000 census.-Geography:*According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
, with a few spurs to outlying small towns. On December 22, 1988, HESR acquired CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
's Bad Axe Subdivision between Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
and Bad Axe. On January 22, 1991, HESR again added more track to its system, acquiring a cluster of former Penn Central lines from the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway
Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway
The Great Lakes Central Railroad is a Class II regional railroad, originally called the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway was formed on August 26, 1977 to operate over former Penn Central lines from Millington to Munger, Michigan, and Vassar to Colling, Michigan...
. This new track crossed the current HESR track in Reese
Reese, Michigan
Reese is a village in Tuscola and Saginaw counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located almost entirely in Tuscola County's Denmark Township, the village includes only a tiny portion of Blumfield Township in Saginaw County...
, and allowed the HESR to now serve Vassar
Vassar, Michigan
Vassar is a city in Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The small town was founded March 1, 1849. The population was 2,697 at the 2010 census and 2,823 at the 2000 census...
and Caro
Caro, Michigan
Caro is a city in and the county seat of Tuscola County, Michigan, United States. The population was 4,229 at the 2010 census and 4,145 at the 2000 census ....
, among other towns. On April 30, 1998, HESR purchased CSX's Port Huron Subdivision from Saginaw to Brown City
Brown City, Michigan
Brown City is a city in Lapeer and Sanilac counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,334 at the 2000 census. The city is located almost exclusively in Sanilac County, with only a small portion of the city extending into Lapeer County....
. The line beyond Brown City is still in place to Avoca, but has been out of service since the HESR acquisition.
On January 26, 2004, HESR again increased in size with the acquisition of the Central Michigan Railroad, allowing the HESR to reach Bay City
Bay City, Michigan
Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and is the principal city of the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North...
and Midland
Midland, Michigan
Midland is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan in the Tri-Cities region of the state. It is the county seat of Midland County. The city's population was 41,863 as of the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, as well as interchange with Class I Canadian National in Durand
Durand, Michigan
Durand is a city in Shiawassee County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,933.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
. Other than the abandonment of track between Richville and Saginaw (HESR had three parallel lines into Saginaw from the east), HESR has abandoned very little track.
HESR interchanges with Class I railroad Canadian National in Durand and shortlines Lake State Railway
Lake State Railway
Lake State Railway is a railroad operating in the northeast quadrant of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The railroad moves large quantities of aggregate and limestone....
(including subsidiary Saginaw Bay Southern) in Saginaw, Bay City, and Midland and Great Lakes Central Railroad in Durand and Owosso
Owosso, Michigan
Owosso is a city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,713 at the 2000 census. The city is located on the eastern side of Owosso Township, but is politically independent...
.
The railroad's traffic comes largely from agricultural products, as well as industrial goods such as cement, fly ash, and chemicals. The HESR hauled around 34,000 carloads in 2008.