Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway collection
Scope and Contents
Documents the affairs of the line from 1890-1914 through annual reports containing earnings, expenses, balance statements and tables of financial information. Some years also contain detailed maps of the road. Further inclusions document the numbers of locomotives, equipment and miles of road operated.
The collection also contains examples of a public system timetable from 1902, a local timetable dated 1911 and one of the company's gold note certificates from 1907.
Dates
- 1890-1914
Creator
- Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway (Organization)
Biographical / Historical
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern (LS&MS) began as the Erie and Kalamazoo (the first Michigan railroad) in 1836. When the State of Michigan decided to divest itself of its railroad, the Michigan Southern, a few years later, entrepreneurs combined the Michigan Southern with the Erie and Kalamazoo to form the LS&MS.
In 1868 the LS&MS leased the Kalamazoo, Allegan and Grand Rapids, a line under construction from White Pigeon to Grand Rapids. This route complimented the LS&MS mainline: Detroit, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Michigan City, IN. Construction of this new line was completed in March 1869.
Also in 1869, the New York Central gained control of the LS&MS. The New York Central permitted the LS&MS to operate semi-independently as one of its “controlled lines.” In 1934 administration of the LS&MS was folded into that of the New York Central. The New York Central, in turn, was folded along with the Pennsylvania Railroad into the newly created Penn Central Railroad in 1968.
Extent
0.79 Linear Feet (Two boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This small collection documents the business affairs of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway and summarizes the railroad's financial data from the last decade of the 19th century and the first 14 years of the 20th century. Included are select annual reports, timetables for customer use and an example of a 1907 gold note used to raise capital.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Library purchase, accession number 00.000
- Title
- Finding aid for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- James B. Winslow
- Date
- July 1996
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497
localhis@grpl.org