Lake Shore and Michigan Southern

This was the New York Central depot in Springport, Michigan. This photograph continues my exploration of the LS&MS Lansing line ; there will be more photographs as I locate and/or take them. It also begins a brief exploration of Springport, which I visited one afternoon in 1988. According to this article by Frank Passic of Albion, the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern tracks from Jonesville to Lansing were laid in 1872. The tracks north of Springport were removed in 1940, which made this little building a terminal until the southern tracks were removed in 1968. This building has been restored , and now looks like this . Certainly appears that it was being maintained in the 80s. Camera: Minolta Freedom 100 ========= This track was built by the Northern Central Michigan Railroad Company, which was a front for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern. The LS&MS was, in turn, a captive/component of the New York Central. You've likely noticed that I care about this built by/owned by/merged with/trackage rights detail. Many railfans talk this way. History majors generally like checking this stuff out....

A few days ago I shared a picture of the abandoned Lake Shore & Michigan Southern (New York Central) line behind my former residence at Waverly Park Apartments. This is the same right-of-way a couple miles away, cutting diagonally across Lansing; we're at the end of track, near what was then Logan Center but is now Logan Square. The structure on the left is part of a foundry complex; don't know what's still at the location. Dunno if the tracks have been pulled, either. At the time this photo was taken, these were Conrail tracks. Shot this with my Minolta Zoom 110 SLR in 1988 or 1989. Wouldn't have guessed it was a 110 pic if I hadn't seen the negatives; most of my 110 photos show far less detail than this.

This pond is behind Waverly Park Apartments in southwest Lansing, Michigan; it's at the center of this aerial photo . There's a story. Sometime in 1988 I discovered that Waverly Park (my home at the time) has a diagonal boundary because the property line was originally defined by the Lansing/Jonesville branch of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, a line which was laid in 1869. Although the right-of-way was abandoned in 1940, the trace of that line still shows on the land; for instance, the right-of-way straightened the far edge of this pond. I rather like to imagine a New York Central 0-6-0 puffing by with a short passenger train in tow; it should be whistling for the crossing at what was then called Packard.... This photo dates from 1988 or 1989. The camera was a point-n-shoot 110. Not bad for a cheap camera.... This track has traces for 60 miles. I imagine I'll show you more of them as I stumble across my photographs.

Springport's depot is, and apparently always was, nestled in the local grain dealer's complex. Here's the first of a couple photos of that complex as it looked in 1988, according to my little Minolta.

One last look at Springport, Michigan's old New York Central depot before we go on our way. 1988. Camera: Minolta Freedom 100

It's a warehouse in a field. An old warehouse. We'll take you closer in a day or two....

This is a new photograph, but: Back when I was discovering the abandoned Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railroad line between Jonesville and Lansing, this building was the biggest surprise. As I showed the other day, it's a large warehouse out in the middle of a field. It's an interesting place. I'll give you a little tour over the next few weeks. Bunker Road, north of Eaton Rapids, Michigan. Camera: Minolta SR-T 101.

Not what you expect to find on a dirt road, out in the middle of nowhere. I was standing in the old Lake Shore & Michigan Southern (New York Central) right of way when I took this photo--since those tracks were removed in 1940, this building's at least 70 years old. Wonder what it was used for originally. Wonder what it's been used for since.... Camera: Minolta SR-T 101. North of Eaton Rapids, Michigan.

The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern (New York Central) line to Lansing crossed the Grand River at Dimondale. What's left of the railroad bridge shows in this photograph. Shot from the Bridge Street bridge, of course. What this photo doesn't show is a delightful, modern house perched on the bridge footing on the northern (left, in this view) bank of the river. (Don't know if I've a photo from the late 80s which shows that house. Due to relatively recent construction on the south side, I'm unlikely to get one now.) Camera: Minolta SR-T 101.