Kalamazoo, Lake Shore and Chicago Railway
Encyclopedia
The Kalamazoo, Lake Shore and Chicago Railway (aka The Fruit Belt Line) operated on track laid between Kalamazoo and South Haven, Michigan. Much of the track has been removed and is now known as the "Van Buren Trail
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The railway went through the following towns, starting from the east:
Van Buren Trail State Park
Van Buren Trail State Park, also known as Trail State Park, is an unimproved rail trail running along a former railroad right-of-way between Hartford, Michigan to just south of South Haven, Michigan in Van Buren County. It is long and mostly used by horse trail riders in the summer and...
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The railway went through the following towns, starting from the east:
- Kalamazoo, MichiganKalamazoo, MichiganThe area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
- Oshtemo, Michigan
- Brighton, MichiganBrighton, MichiganBrighton is a principal satellite city of Metro Detroit located in the southeast portion of Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,444. Brighton forms part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area...
- Rix, Michigan
- Walker, MichiganWalker, MichiganWalker is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb of Grand Rapids. The population was 23,537 at the 2010 census. Before incorporating as a city, it was known as Walker Township...
- Eassom, Michigan
- Mattawan, MichiganMattawan, MichiganMattawan is a village suburb of Kalamazoo, in Antwerp Township, Van Buren County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 2,536.-History:...
- Newbre, Michigan
- Lawton, MichiganLawton, MichiganLawton is a village in Van Buren County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,859.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
- Paw Paw, MichiganPaw Paw, MichiganPaw Paw is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 3,363. It is the county seat of Van Buren County.-Overview:...
- Barrison, Michigan
- Lake Cora, Michigan
- Lawrence, MichiganLawrence, MichiganLawrence is a village in Van Buren County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,059 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Lawrence Township. Home of noted journalist Paul Garrod and the annual Ox Roast and Homecoming festival. Area recognized Farmer's Market runs...
- Hartford, MichiganHartford, MichiganHartford is a city in Van Buren County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,476 at the 2000 census. The city is located within Hartford Township, but is politically independent.-Geography:...
- Toquin, Michigan
- Covert, Michigan
- Packard, Michigan
- Fruitland, Michigan
- Cableton, Michigan
- South Haven, MichiganSouth Haven, MichiganSouth Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 5,021 at the 2000 census....
External links
- Van Buren County Road Commission - Van Buren Trail page
- Southwest Michigan Fruit Belt Project
- Record of KLS&C #950 Pullman passenger car in private collection
- Pioneer Railcorp (current owner since 1995) - info on dinner train excursions
- 1909 Report on KLS&C by the Michigan Railroad Commission
- Michigan Passenger Stations - currently missing KLS&C depot photos...