Detroit & Mackinac Timetables (January, 1930)

Published: May 14, 2026

Featured here is the Detroit & Mackinac Railway's brief timetable listing from the January, 1930 edition of the "Official Guide Of The Railways." The D&M's roots trace back to narrow-gauge logging short lines like the Lake Huron & Southwestern Railway (1878) and the Detroit, Bay City & Alpena Railroad (1883). These early lines snaked from Tawas City and Bay City northward to tap timber tracts, hauling logs to mills and ports.

Financial woes and receivership hit in the early 1890s, but New York financiers (tied to J.P. Morgan & Co.) saw potential. On December 17, 1894, the Detroit, Bay City & Alpena was reorganized as the standard-gauge Detroit and Mackinac Railway (reporting marks D&M/DM). They quickly scooped up the Alpena & Northern (1895) and later the Au Sable & Northwestern (leased 1912, purchased 1914). By the early 1900s, the main line stretched from Bay City north along the lakeshore to Cheboygan, with branches reaching lumber camps, limestone quarries (like Rogers City), and towns such as Au Gres, Hillman, and Rose City. Headquarters and shops settled in Tawas City.

The Turtle Line earned its nickname for its steady (some might say plodding) pace through the woods. Timber was king at first, but it diversified into aggregates, cement, sugar beets, and general freight. Passenger service boomed in the early 20th century—vacationers flocked to Lake Huron resorts via named trains like the Resorter and Sunset, complete with sleeping cars and meal service. By 1925, the railroad boasted 375 miles of road and 470 miles of track, moving 81 million ton-miles of freight and 7 million passenger-miles.

Then came the big innovation. In 1946, the D&M became the first all-diesel railroad in the United States, ditching steam entirely by 1948 with a fleet of Alco road switchers (RS-2s and more). It was a pioneering move that kept costs down as the industry shifted.

Post-WWII realities hit hard: automobiles, highways, and declining timber eroded traffic. Passenger service ended for good on April 2, 1951. The 1970s brought a lifeline—after Penn Central's bankruptcy, the D&M acquired trackage rights and sections of the old Michigan Central "Mackinaw Division" in 1976, adding an alternate route to Mackinaw City and car-ferry connections across the Straits.

But the 1980s were tough. The Mackinac Bridge (opened 1957) killed much of the ferry business, and industries faded. The line north of Alpena was abandoned in 1989; service to Mackinaw City ended in 1990. On February 17, 1992, the D&M was sold to the Huron Acquisition Company and reborn as the Lake State Railway (LSRC). Some original segments live on under LSRC, while others became rail trails.

Today, the Turtle Line is a classic short-line success story turned regional survivor—born of Michigan's lumber boom, pioneering diesel power, and quietly shaping the economy of the northeastern Lower Peninsula for nearly a century. Artifacts like preserved depots (Standish and Lincoln) and locomotives keep the memory alive.

Facebook X Pinterest Tumblr Reddit WhatsApp Messenger