I have copied all the MAL newspaper comments as it was being built to go along with the Ann Arbor RR, they are on the Ann Arbor RR Tech & Hist Assoc web page on trainweb.org under 'bibliography' page by year, done through 1888 fir 'Pinckney Dispatch.'
Grand Trunk Railway of Michigan – The Michigan Air Line Railroad Company
No. Corporate name of Company Date of filing articles of association Forms of articles of association Road, proposed, constructed, placed in operation or relinquished Form of merger or transfer Date of merger or transfer. Successor
Miles Termini Termini Date placed in operation or relinquished
From -- To --
37 The Grand Trunk Railway of Michigan Jan. 18, 1867 Association 210.00 Ridgeway State Line (Berrien County) - Consolidation July 14, 1868 39
38 The Grand Trunk Railway of Northern Indiana Indiana Corporation - - State line (Michigan) State Line (Illinois) - Consolidation July14, 1868 39
39 The Michigan Air Line Railroad Company Aug. 25, 1868 Consolidation -
14.20 Powers, rights and franchises
Ridgeway Of numbers 37 and 38
Remee
Dec. 9, 1869 {Consolidation
{Foreclosure sale a October 8, 1870
Foreclosure sale 41
44
40 Saint Joseph Valley Railroad Company Of Indiana - - State Line (Michigan) South Bend - Consolidation October 8, 1870 41
41 Michigan Air Line Railroad Company d Oct. 11, 1870 Consolidation - Property and franchises Of numbers 39 and 40 - Lease in perpetuity e April 12, 1872 42
42 The St. Clair River, Pontiac and Jackson Railroad Company April 8, 1872 Association 120.00 St. Clair River Jackson via Pontiac - Change of name and route July 20,1872 43
43 The St. Clair and Chicago Air Line Railroad Company Oct. 2, 1872 Amended articles 120. St. Clair River d Jackson via Pontiac - Foreclosure sale April 8, 1875 44
44 The Michigan Air Line Railway Nov. 23, 1875 Reorganization -
12.10 Property and franchises of
Remee Number 39 and 43, to D. & M. RR at Pontiac
Rochester -
Mar. 1879 Extending westerly July 22, 1880 45
45 The Michigan Air Line Railway Aug. 14, 1880 Amended articles -
8.90 Ridgeway
Rochester 1 mile west of D&MRR at Pontiac
Pontiac -
Oct. 1880 Change of west terminus January 21, 1882 47
46 The Toledo, Ann Arbor & Grand Trunk Railway Company Oct. 24, 1882 Amended articles f 23.60 South Lyon l Pontiac - Deed of conveyance g October 25, 1882 47
47 The Michigan Air Line Railway Mar. 29, 1882 Amended articles 105.00
22.20
47.50 Ridgeway
Pontiac
South Lyon Jackson via Pontiac
South Lyon
Jackson -
Oct. 1883
Jan. 1, 1884 Stock control 100% At organization of No. 44 53
53 Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada Foreign Corporation - n
Notes:
a. The transfer under foreclosure sale included property, franchises, etc from Ridgeway to the Detroit and Milwaukee Railway at Pontiac only.
b. The portion embraced in this outline was designed “Eastern Division”
c. This lease embraced only the road and franchises east of Jackson, which had been designated, “Eastern Division.”
d. The road was completed to Shelby, 20.8 miles, but was apparently operated only to Romeo.
e. Washtenaw County was stipulated as route.
f. For corporate history outline of No. 46 see Ann Arbor railroad Outline.
g. This document was filed with the Secretary of State January 3, 1883.
h. Passenger train movements commenced December 7, 1891.
i. This date is drawn from History of Gratiot County by Tucker, 1913, which states that the first train reached Carson City on this date.
j.
k.
l. In this conveyance an incomplete road, right of way, etc, was transferred for $45,000.00 consideration.
m. It appears that the road was operated by the contractors from January 1, 1886. It is probable that these operations advanced from the east terminus as construction work progressed. No further dates are available.
n. The Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada is not an active corporate entity recognized by the laws of the State of Michigan. All of its operating and financial activities in this state are performed through the various corporate organizations now active and controlled by this company through stock ownership, as indicated in the outline. The names of these active corporations are indicated by bold face type.
o. The files of the Jackson Weekly Citizen are authority for this. The issue of October 30 states, “Passenger trains are running over the Pontiac and South Lyon extension.”
p. The issue of the Jackson Weekly Citizen for January 1, 1884 is authority. It states that regular service commenced that day, and the paper thereafter carried the time of arrival and departure of its trains. It is probable, however, that the road was not completed. Previous mention in the paper shows that the company was compelled to service January 1, 1884 to hold certain communities to pledges that had been made contingent upon service upon that date. The 1884 report of the company showed that January 1, 1884, was the date of opening the road. The 1885 annual report made the date of opening September 1, 1884. The fact seems to be that January 1, 1884 was the date of complete opening through but that completion and good traffic was not given until September 1, 1884. It is possible that traffic was conducted by contractors until September 1, 1884.
Michigan Air Line Railway
This company filed articles November 23, 1875 and amend the same August 14, 1880, and March 4, 1882, and bought at mortgage sale that part of the Michigan Air Line Railroad which was constructed at that time from Ridgeway to the Detroit & Milwaukee crossing near Pontiac (p. i, Com. Report, 1875). From 1872 to the date of this sale, the St. Clair & Chicago Air Line Railroad which was formerly known as the St. Clair, Pontiac & Jackson Railroad (the name being changed in amended articles filed October 2, 1872, original articles filed April 8, 1872), leased the eastern portion of the Michigan Air Line Railroad (p. 169, Com. Report, 1872).
In 1884 the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Grand Trunk Railway abandoned its road from South Lyons to Pontiac and sold the same to the Michigan Air Line Railway. See Com. Reports (p. iii, 1884), (p. 124, 1886).
This road since been extended to Jackson by the present company which made use of about thirty miles of the road extending east from Jackson. The road now extends from Lenox to Jackson, and is operated with the Grand Trunk railway of Canada under trade agreement. (P. 171 Com. Report 1887), (p. 158 Com. Report, 1885). The remaining of the Michigan Air Line Railroad now forms a part of the Michigan Central system.
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