Let's do it again--where was it? (Answered)

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Probably the most spectacular railroad bridge in Michigan, on a main line that still boasted premier passenger trains–in season!

Abandoned at about the time that a more famous Michigan bridge (non-railroad) was being built.

Name the bridge–and the location (easier than you think–this can be construed as a hint!). Which railroad abandoned it? Locomutt–or his protege–can give a hint, if they know where to look.

Bonus hint: abandonment of this bridge did not mean the end of passenger service to some points beyond, in spite of the fact that the bridge–and many miles of track–were not replaced.

2

I never guess on these so I’m going to try once. Please excuse me if I look like a complete idiot:

How about a bridge over the Mackinac Straight? I’ll avoid the other answers for now, just to see if I’m on the right path…

3

OK…strike that…can’t find any reference to a railroad bridge there. I’ll sit back and shut up and let the wiser members tackle it.

4

Chris, I’ll tell you that the Mackinac Straits [highway] Bridge, opened in about 1957, is the bridge under construction that I was referring to. Railroad service across the Straits was always via ferry, until it disappeared.

OK, everyone, here’s a “half-off sale” on this question: the bridge in question was in the Lower Peninsula.

5

I’m going to go with the Mill Creek bridge near Acova, Mi. The railroad, Pere Marquette Railroad.

Wild guess but I’ll go with it.

6

Possibly a contender, but not the one I had in mind. I don’t think that line had premier passenger service–I’m talking Pullmans!

7

Was the line abandoned around 1955 for a different route?
And was the bridge torn down not that long after?

8

Sounds like you’re on it again, Mutt! What page are you looking at?

9

C & O Power Page 331…for now. SPV-GLE pg 23 & 24.

10

You’ve got the right bridge. A certain other book that I know you have will name the bridge. Can you answer the rest of the questions (should be a snap). I’ll check back tomorrow.

//edit// It’s tomorrow. OK–what we have is the High Bridge, at (are you ready) High Bridge, Michigan, crossing the Manistee River. It was on the Pere Marquette line north out of Baldwin toward Traverse City.

http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RRHX/Pictures/Photos/031-040/Photo034B.htm

The shot Mutt was referencing shows a former PM E7 and passenger train crossing that bridge toward the end of its days. It had been strengthened by adding a truss and more supports to the piers. Typical PM frugality.

In 1955, the Chesapeake & Ohio merged with long-time subsidiary Manistee & Northeastern. At that time this route was given up in favor of a more circuitous line that went west and north to Manistee on former PM trackage, then back northeast of Manistee on former M&NE trackage until it rejoined this line. At the time, there was still regular daily passenger service between Grand Rapids and Petoskey, as well as a triweekly, summer only Resort Special, carrying Pullmans from Chicago. It took an hour longer to use the new route (the train actually changed directions in Manistee!).

DeLorme’s atlas seems to indicate the the original PM/C&O route can still be found (has a road built over it for a lot of the distance), but the bridge was removed almost immediately.

11

Okay,you went ahead and answered it. I wasn’t back on the 'puter last night to see exactly what
you had said.
That’s the bridge that immediately came to my mind when you first posed the question; I was a
bit unclear as to which line it was actually on,and guess I was looking a little too far west.
After all,I’m really not that familiar with Michigan;other than two weeks at Grayling several
years ago,most of the time I’ve been there has all been in the southern part of the state.