Kyle Korienek Slide Collection
Morning Michigan Northern
After the fall of the Ann Arbor and the formation of Conrail, the State of Michigan, recognizing the fragility of rail service in northern lower Michigan, stepped up and purchased most of the former Ann Arbor trackage and provided subsidies for the Michigan Northern to operate the former Pennsy line from Comstock Park to Mackinaw CIty. For a period, the Michigan Interstate, also known Ann Arbor Railroad System until it was split between the Tuscola & Saginaw Bay to run it from just north of Ann Arbor to Alma, with the remaining northern portion from Alma to Elberta to be operated by the Michigan Northern. The MN was headquartered out of Cadillac and was a disaster of an operation from day 1. By 1984, the Michigan Northern had the plug pulled by the State on their subsidies and made TSBY the sole operator of the State owned lines. With only the line from Pellston to Mackinaw City, only 1 customer on that stretch, and with outstanding payments not made to Penn Central, the Michigan Northern folded and the line was removed.
Despite the sad ending to the Michigan Northern, their roster was a wet dream of power. An eclectic mix of 1st generation EMDs, Alcos, and Baldwins, including the last 2 RF-16 Sharks, it was a hidden gem in Northwestern Lower Michigan. With the sun just coming up, power is parked all around the Cadillac shop facilities awaiting the next assignment in November 1978. Photographer unknown.
Morning Michigan Northern
After the fall of the Ann Arbor and the formation of Conrail, the State of Michigan, recognizing the fragility of rail service in northern lower Michigan, stepped up and purchased most of the former Ann Arbor trackage and provided subsidies for the Michigan Northern to operate the former Pennsy line from Comstock Park to Mackinaw CIty. For a period, the Michigan Interstate, also known Ann Arbor Railroad System until it was split between the Tuscola & Saginaw Bay to run it from just north of Ann Arbor to Alma, with the remaining northern portion from Alma to Elberta to be operated by the Michigan Northern. The MN was headquartered out of Cadillac and was a disaster of an operation from day 1. By 1984, the Michigan Northern had the plug pulled by the State on their subsidies and made TSBY the sole operator of the State owned lines. With only the line from Pellston to Mackinaw City, only 1 customer on that stretch, and with outstanding payments not made to Penn Central, the Michigan Northern folded and the line was removed.
Despite the sad ending to the Michigan Northern, their roster was a wet dream of power. An eclectic mix of 1st generation EMDs, Alcos, and Baldwins, including the last 2 RF-16 Sharks, it was a hidden gem in Northwestern Lower Michigan. With the sun just coming up, power is parked all around the Cadillac shop facilities awaiting the next assignment in November 1978. Photographer unknown.