By Frank Passic
LAKE SHORE RAILROAD ONCE SERVICED ALBION
With the mention of Jackson County railroads a few weeks ago in this publication, we are reminded that Albion has its own memorable railroad history which was a part of our local economy for many years. There was the main line, the Michigan Central Railroad (1844); the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad (1872), and the electric railroad first known as the Jackson Battle Creek Traction Company (1903), the latter of which was commonly known as the Interurban. Each have their own histories of course.
This week we’ll focus on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad. The LSMSRR ran from Jonesville to Lansing with stops in Jonesville, Litchfield, Homer, Condit, Albion, Devereaux, Springport, Eaton Rapids, Dimondale, and Lansing. It was the result of many years of planning by the Northern Central Michigan Railroad Company (later changed to the LSMSRR) which conducted a subscription campaign beginning in the 1850s to raise funds to build the line. The route would travel through rich farmland, in the days when grain was shipped by rail to the major state markets.
A major promotor of the line was Albion’s own Rev. William H. Brockway (1813-1891), local entrepreneur and agent for Albion College. He also erected the Brockway Block in downtown Albion (former Sander’s Furniture building, or Gambles building). Brockway raised substantial funds via subscriptions to build the line. The rails were laid, and service began here on June 22, 1872. The Lake Shore operated three passenger trains daily each way, and handled much freight service. Our local Lake Shore depot was located to the north of our present-day U.S. Post Office.
The Lake Shore was purchased by the New York Central Railroad in 1914, and regular passenger service continued until 1928. The tracks from Springport to Lansing were abandoned in 1940, and from Albion to Litchfield in 1944. The tracks from Springport to Albion were abandoned in late 1968, and were removed. Today, the active rail line that goes to the Knauf insulation plant is all that remains of the old LSMSRR line in Albion.
From our Historical Notebook this week we present a small ticket good for a ride on the Lake Shore railroad from Homer to Albion, dated March 2, 1874. It is signed by John Cary, ticket agent. I wonder what the price of the fare was? As a bonus this week, we also present a rare photograph of an actual New York Central steam engine chugging along the LSMSRR line between Albion and Homer during the 1930s. Albion is fortunate that we still have rail passenger service stops here in town, via Amtrak at our Michigan Central Railroad depot on N. Eaton St. When was the last time you rode as a passenger on a train?
