Grand Rapids Subdivision

The Grand Rapids Subdivision is a railroad line in Western Michigan and Northern Indiana. It runs 136 miles (219 km) from Porter, Indiana to Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was built between 1870–1903 by the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad and its successor the Pere Marquette Railroad. CSX Transportation owns the line today. In addition to freight traffic, the line hosts Amtrak's daily Pere Marquette.

Grand Rapids Subdivision
The Pere Marquette on the Grand Rapids Subdivision
Overview
OwnerCSX Transportation
LocaleMichigan and Indiana
Termini
Service
ServicesPere Marquette
History
Opened2 February 1870 (1870-02-02)
Technical
Line length136 mi (219 km)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Route map

mi
Wyoming Yard
6.0
Grandville
13.2
Hudsonville
19.1
Zeeland
24.4
Waverly Yard
25.3
Holland
32.0
East Saugatuck
36.2
New Richmond
40.4
Fennville
41.4
Wells
48.1
Pullman
53.9
Grand Junction
60.5
Bangor
61.3
Gross
68.8
Hartford
70.2
Kirk
73.8
Watervliet
76.8
Coloma
80.1
Riverside
82.8
Grey
87.5
Benton Harbor
87.9
St. Joseph
91.9
Vine
94.9
Stevensville
98.3
Livingston
100.1
Bridgman
104.6
Sawyer
New Buffalo
115.1
New Buffalo
115.2
New Buffalo Yard
126.1
Michigan City
135.5
Porter
136.0
Porter Junction
[1][2]

Route

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The northern end of the line is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where it meets the Grand Rapids Terminal Subdivision at Wyoming Yard. From there, the line runs west-southwest toward Indiana, roughly following the Lake Michigan coastline but staying inland until Benton Harbor, Michigan. In New Buffalo, Michigan, the line crosses over Amtrak's Michigan Line but there is no interchange. In Porter, Indiana, the line joins with the Chicago Line of the Norfolk Southern Railway.[1]

History

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The Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad opened the oldest part of the line on February 2, 1870, running between St. Joseph, Michigan, and Union Pier, Michigan, on the Indiana border. In 1871–1872 the line was further extended to Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Pere Marquette Railway, successor to the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore, extended the line south from Union Pier to Porter, Indiana, in 1903.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b CSX (January 1, 2005). "Chicago Division Timetable No. 1" (PDF). pp. 39–44.
  2. ^ Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (October 25, 1970). "The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company: Northern Division: Timetable No. 2" (PDF). pp. 7–8.
  3. ^ Meints, Graydon M. (2005). Michigan Railroad Lines. East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State University Press. p. 421. ISBN 978-0-87013-693-1.
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