• Wednesday-What'sUP November 26 - 06:28 am

James Alain sent me today's photos, along with a note saying that he wanted to let folks know ...that the Copper Country still has rail service, tho' not very much compared to years past. The Canadian National RR comes up to L'Anse thrice weekly, and on over to Baraga upon occasion. Right now, our other railroad, the Escanaba & Lake Superior, isn't running to Ontonagon due to the paper mill being shutdown; but the E&LS still comes up to Rosseau and Mass City every once in awhile.

The top photo was taken this fall while the Canadian National was crossing US-41 in L'Anse, heading down into the Celotex facility. James included the remaining photos (also the Canadian National), taken this past spring, to give us all an idea of the different places the trains still frequent here in the Copper Country. The second photo was taken from the US-41 overpass and shows the train southbound at Nestoria. Picture number three has the CN heading southbound at Summit and the last shot shows it heading northbound through Herman. So, in case you thought rail service was over and done with here UP North, James has set the record straight for us all. Thanks, James!

I remember the old "try-weekly". It came up on Monday and tried to get back for the rest of the week.

COOL pictures. I remember one very early, very dark winter morning in Baraga, I went out to fill feeders before work, and looked over to the other side of the cabin, and the woods had just a beautiful light coming up in them, it was dark and snowing those huge flakes real softly...I wondered if it was the start of the Second Coming and then HEARD the train! LOLOL!!! GREAT pictures!

Don't forget to vote!
http://playday.kaboom.org/

Great train pics! I grew up with train tracks almost in my backyard, the Illinois Central, now serves as the Canadian National, and the Rock Island. Today the tracks near by serve the Iowa Northern RR. Such a sweet sound as it makes it's passing at 4 a.m. in the quiet of the early morning feeding our horses.

I lived for a while about 4 houses from the tracks in Lansing. I did love to hear the whistle in the quiet of the night. There is something very romantic and nostalgic about a train whistle.

Its me again!! I have close to 300 pictures of railroad depots in the Upper Peninsula, no charge to Pasty com followers, with a total of 900 for the state of Michigan. I grew up 2 houses from the tracks in Hubbell, DSS&A and later it was the the Soo Line. In our small town now between Detroit and Toledo we have 3 sets of tracks and last I heard during booming times there were 27 trains a day that came thru. Our local historical society spent years constructing a replica depot in town near where the old depot was demolished in 1963 or so. It is a beautiful building and serves as the local museum and there is a large caboose that was donated by the ILLINOIS CENTRAL.

Thanks Donna. Keep that link here every day so I remember to vote! Everybody please check Donna's link and vote!

I do not know if any of you remember the train service that we had in the UP. I would get on the train (Milwaukee Road) in Iron Mountain, changed trains in Michigamme, and then continue on to Calumet, Michigan to visit my fiancé. If I remember right, the ticket price was $1.25 one-way.
We also would have ski trains all winter long coming up from Chicago and Milwaukee. Now there are no passenger trains in the UP, how sad.

HAPPY AND BLESSED THANKSGIVING TO ALL AT PASTY CENTRAL, AND THE VIEWERS ALSO. GOD BLESS

when was the last time regular passenger service on trains was running in the UP? where was it? Back in the early 60's my dad said they'd sometimes take the train from Bergland up to the Keewenaw for basketball games.

I remember going to the train depot in Houghton with my Dad to bring my Grandma there to take the train to Iron Mountain so she could see her sister. I am thinking that was about 1967 - 1968. I also barely remember going to Calumet on a passenger train out of Houghton in the mid to early 60's.

Eddyfitz --

I would love to get copies of some of the photos you mentioned.
How would I do so?

I am working on an XMas present for my Mom, a collection of
photos of the Soo Line railroad in the Upper Peninsula and
northern Wisconsin. Mom's Dad, Sherman Sword, was a
conductor for the Soo Line, based in Gladstone. He also worked
out of Neenah and Ladysmith Wisconsin. Photos of those depots,
particularly Gladstone, would be wonderful. Also any photos of
trains, engines, or railroad people you might have that are
connected with those places. Can you help?

Capt. Paul has some info. on the Global Warming thread.

It is somewhat ironic that the Canadian National now owns the remaining trackage of the old Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway. The Canadian Pacific specifically purchased control of the DSS&A to deprive the Canadian National access to it. Now the Canadian National owns the surviving line.

I believe the last time the Milwaukee Road's Copper Country Limited passenger server ran out of Calumet was in October 1968, but I do not have access to my reference books to verify this fact.

Nice pics & glad to see active trains in the C C area.The last trip of milwaukee roads Copper Country Limited was on march 8,1968 & had only 4 coaches.Was nice to hear that trains whistle early in the morning as it left Houghton & Hancock & made its way to calumet.Was also nice to see alot of ships transit the portage.I took alot of pics in the 60s,70s & 80s incld. alot of us steel,cliffs ,kinsman,O.N. boats,cement & amocc boats.(some of the names were ryerson,middeltown,humphrey,reserve&stanley) if anyone is interested ,I can post some.

My father's place of business was right next to the passenger station in Houghton, so as a kid the station platform was my playground. That would have ben in the 30s. Mr Draville (sp) was the station master. We always joked that D.S.S.&A. stood for "•••• slow service and abuse." Was disappointed when diesel replaced steam. My dad was a traveling salesman about 1902 and covered a lot of territory. He instilled the love of trains in me with all his stories. Many years ago my wife and I trained from Lansing to Chicago, to New Orleans, to L.A., to Frisco, to Denver, to Lansing, with stays along the way. What a way to travel if your not in a hurry. Don't think you can travel any cheaper and see as much.

Ahh, you've triggered memories of travel in the late 1940s - early 1950s from Detroit to da UP via the Michigan Central to the tip o' the mitt, then the old railroad ferries across the straits then the D.S.S. & A. (a.k.a "Dust, Sand, Soot & Ashes") with what seemed like three hours of crashing and banging while disassembling and reassembling the train at Trout Lake for continued travel to the west via Nestoria, Covington, Watton to either Sidnaw or Kenton, with the final 20-30 miles by car to 'Ruces 'Rossing. (I don't think passenger service was available all the way to 'Ruces 'Rossing.)

Nice 2 c trains and railroads still in operation in this day + age.

I have snowmobiled many abandon railroad ways that have been converted to snowmobile/ATV trails in the U.P. and northern Wisconsin. They make some of the finest and scenic trails! In that sense the rails can still be rode.

Dunerat, I think it's called "CHRISTMAS"