Skip to main content

Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway collection

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 192

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

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

Related Materials

Cornelius Vanderbilt http://www.nndb.com/people/365/000022299/

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

Contact:
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497