Michigan Northern Railway Company
Incorporated Mar. 18, 1976 to operate former GR&I (Penn Central) rails for the State of Michigan.
"MIGN ran on the old GR&I mainline from Grand Rapids to Mackinaw City where they served the
Chief Wawatam car ferry until it's demise. Just north of Cadillac, at Walton Junction, they also ran
the GR&I branch to Traverse City and also served the ex C&O (PM) line from Traverse City to
Grawn and Traverse City to Williamsburg. At Petoskey, they returned to C&O rails and serviced
Charlevoix. I'm not quite sure what role they played on the former Ann Arbor mainline but I think from
Cadillac to Alma (east) and from Cadillac to Yuma (west) where there is a large silica sand plant now
serviced by the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay. I loved the MIGN when it ran and was very saddened to
hear Michigan broke their contract with them (to this day I still don't know why). Agreement was
cancelled Oct. 1, 1984"
(above info provided by USPatriot43)
Michigan Northern Railway History
This short history of the Michigan Northern Railway was put together around 1998 by Fred Paepke
from an article in TRAINS magazine, and some local news paper articles from the period.
used with permission
Baldwin RS12
212 ex SCL 212, exx SAL 1471 Escanaba & Lake Superior
213 ex SCL 213, exx SAL 1472 Escanaba & Lake Superior
215 ex SCL 215, exx SAL 1474 Escanaba & Lake Superior
Baldwin RF16 "Sharks"
1205 ex D&H 1205 exx MGA 1205, exxx NYC 1205 Escanaba & Lake Superior
1216 ex D&H 1216, exx MGA 1216, exxx NYC 1216 Escanaba & Lake Superior
AlcoRS2
1501 ex GBW 304
ALCO RS3
1553 ex LIRR 1554
1554 ex C&NW 1554, exx C&NW 303, exxx Litchfield & Madison 303
1601 ex SOU 151, exx CofG 151
1617 ec C&NW 1617
2037 ex SOU 2037
ALCO RS32
4000 ex SP
EMD GP7
1601 ex N&IM 1601, exx SCRZ 6500, exxx CC 6500, exxxx UP 106, exxxxx UP 706
1602 ex N&IM 1602, exx CC 6501, exxx UP 109, exxxx UP 709
1603 ex Dakota southern 153, exx ACR 153
1604 ex SBD 2347, exx L&N 1721; 458; 2347, exxx NC&StL 721
1605 ex ACR 160
1606 ex ACR 164
1607 ex TP&W 102
1608 ex TP&W 103
PNC 172 leased unit
PNC 1505 leased unit ex FEC 607
PNC 539 leased unit ex SLSF 539
CNW 4552 leased unit; ex CRI&P 4550, exx CRI&P 1304
EMD GP9
C&O 5800 leased unit
C&O 6151 leased unit
Alco S4
AT&SF 1519 leased unit; to Indiana Hi Rail 119 Indiana Railway Museum
EMD E8B
671 Steam Generator Car ex AMTK 467, exx UP 697B Illinois Railway Museum
Rolling Stock
Pullman WP/D&RG ~ AC 404 ~ Boyne City 404 ~ MIGN 404 ~ KLS&C 917 Alamo, MI 6225 W D Ave
Boxcars 100002, 757 & 760
Timetables
June 11th, 1983
July 1-11, 1983
July 16, 1985
Links
Michigan Northern Photos by Neil Plagens
Michigan Northern Photos at Railfan Junction
Michigan Northern Photos at Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online
The Baldwin Diesel Zone - Michigan Northern
Michigan Northern Photos at Fallen Flags Railroad Photos
Reference
Diesel Era J/A 92 Baldwin’s Light Road Switcher - the RS12 Warren Calloway
Extra 2200 Issues:64,72,75,77,80,82,84,85,93,113
Trains August 1978 "Sharks survive -once again" James W. Thomas
Trains October 1978 "Michigan Metamorphosis" Ron Cady
4/17/23