Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway
Encyclopedia
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. Its name was derived from the three Michigan
counties it operated in: Tuscola, Saginaw and Bay.
In October 1982, the Michigan Department of Transportation
(MDOT) contracted the TSBY to operate the former Ann Arbor Railroad line from Osmer siding just north of Ann Arbor
to Alma, Michigan
. On October 1, 1984, MDOT cancelled its contract with the Michigan Northern Railway
and the TSBY assumed operation of the rest of the Ann Arbor Railroad mainline from Alma to Thompsonville
, former Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway (GR&I) trackage from Reed City
to Petoskey
(crossing in Cadillac, Michigan
) and Walton
to Traverse City
and former Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
from Grawn to Williamsburg (through Traverse City). The track from Cadillac to Comstock Park was removed in the 1991. On January 22, 1991, the TSBY sold its original lines to the Huron and Eastern Railway
, now owned by Rail America. Today the GLC operates former Ann Arbor track from Osmer to Yuma, Michigan (just west of Cadillac), former PRR
from Cadillac to Petoskey and Walton to Traverse City, former C&O
from Grawn to Williamsburg, former NYC
from Owosso to Fergus, and former Grand Trunk Western from Ashley to Middleton. The GLC also operates a small portion of the abandoned CSX
(C&O) Ludington Subdivision in Clare, Michigan
, to serve a local plastics factory.
In March 2006 the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway was purchased by Federated Railways, Inc. and has changed their name to Great Lakes Central Railroad. Mike Bagwell, President and CEO of Great Lakes Central Railroad, announced that the railway will be starting a commuter rail service between the restored Howell Depot Museum and downtown Ann Arbor because of construction on US-23. The service, now called WALLY
, was initially projected to start in 2007 but has encountered delays.
GLC interchanges with Class I railroads Grand Trunk Western Railway in Durand
and CSX at Annpere and shortlines Huron and Eastern Railway
in Durand and Owosso. Mid-Michigan Railroad in Alma, Michigan and the Ann Arbor Railroad at Osmer.
Great Lakes Central Railroad is the largest regional railroad in the state of Michigan covering 424 mile of track.
Millington, Michigan
Millington is a village in Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,137 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Millington Township....
to Munger, Michigan, and 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...
to Colling, Michigan. Its name was derived from the three 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"....
counties it operated in: Tuscola, Saginaw and Bay.
In October 1982, the Michigan Department of Transportation
Michigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation is a constitutional government agency in the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate, US and state highways in Michigan with the exception of the Mackinac...
(MDOT) contracted the TSBY to operate the former Ann Arbor Railroad line from Osmer siding just north of Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
to Alma, Michigan
Alma, Michigan
Alma is the largest city in Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,275 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated as the Village of Alma in 1872 and became a city in 1905....
. On October 1, 1984, MDOT cancelled its contract with the Michigan Northern Railway
Michigan Northern Railway
The Michigan Northern Railway was a railroad operating in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The main line stretched from a southern hub at Grand Rapids to a northern terminus at Mackinaw City...
and the TSBY assumed operation of the rest of the Ann Arbor Railroad mainline from Alma to Thompsonville
Thompsonville, Michigan
Thompsonville is a village in Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 457 at the 2000 census. The village is located in the south of the county on the boundary between Weldon Township and Colfax Township.-Geography:...
, former Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway (GR&I) trackage from Reed City
Reed City, Michigan
Reed City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,430. It is the county seat of Osceola County.It is the home town of author Timothy James Bazzett.-Geography:...
to Petoskey
Petoskey, Michigan
Petoskey is a city and coastal resort community in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,080. It is the county seat of Emmet County....
(crossing in Cadillac, Michigan
Cadillac, Michigan
Cadillac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the county seat of Wexford County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,000. The city is situated at the junction of US 131, M-55 and M-115...
) and Walton
Fife Lake Township, Michigan
Fife Lake Township is a civil township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,517.-Communities:...
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...
and former Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from several smaller Virginia railroads begun in the 19th century. Led by industrialist Collis P...
from Grawn to Williamsburg (through Traverse City). The track from Cadillac to Comstock Park was removed in the 1991. On January 22, 1991, the TSBY sold its original lines to the Huron and Eastern Railway
Huron and Eastern Railway
Huron and Eastern Railway is a short line railroad operating 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....
, now owned by Rail America. Today the GLC operates former Ann Arbor track from Osmer to Yuma, Michigan (just west of Cadillac), former PRR
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
from Cadillac to Petoskey and Walton to Traverse City, former C&O
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from several smaller Virginia railroads begun in the 19th century. Led by industrialist Collis P...
from Grawn to Williamsburg, former NYC
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
from Owosso to Fergus, and former Grand Trunk Western from Ashley to Middleton. The GLC also operates a small portion of the abandoned CSX
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...
(C&O) Ludington Subdivision in Clare, Michigan
Clare, Michigan
Clare is a city in Clare and Isabella counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located primarily in Clare County, the city had a population of 3,173 at the 2000 census....
, to serve a local plastics factory.
In March 2006 the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway was purchased by Federated Railways, Inc. and has changed their name to Great Lakes Central Railroad. Mike Bagwell, President and CEO of Great Lakes Central Railroad, announced that the railway will be starting a commuter rail service between the restored Howell Depot Museum and downtown Ann Arbor because of construction on US-23. The service, now called WALLY
WALLY (commuter rail)
WALLY is a proposed commuter rail service which would link the Michigan cities of Ann Arbor and Howell.- Proposal :...
, was initially projected to start in 2007 but has encountered delays.
GLC interchanges with Class I railroads Grand Trunk Western Railway 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:...
and CSX at Annpere and shortlines Huron and Eastern Railway
Huron and Eastern Railway
Huron and Eastern Railway is a short line railroad operating 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....
in Durand and Owosso. Mid-Michigan Railroad in Alma, Michigan and the Ann Arbor Railroad at Osmer.
Great Lakes Central Railroad is the largest regional railroad in the state of Michigan covering 424 mile of track.