Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern Railroad is a defunct railroad which operated in Northern Michigan
toward the end of the 19th century. The company was founded on August 30, 1897 by William Alden Smith
, a Republican
politician and former general counsel
of both the Chicago and West Michigan Railway
and the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad
. The GRK&S constructed a 40.73 miles (65.5 km) line from northern Missaukee County
through Kalkaska
(crossing the Grand Rapids & Indiana
) to Rapid City, where it met the C&WM's main line. The C&WM undertook to supply rolling stock and oversee construction in exchange for a 10-year lease of the line.
The C&WM's lease of the GRK&S was continued by the Pere Marquette Railway
following the consolidation of 1899. In 1903, however, the PM bought the capital stock of the GRK&S. The line does not appear to have been particularly profitable; it mainly transported lumber, the quantity of which declined over the next decade. In 1915 a Pere Marquette official lamented the poor state of the line:
Abandonment followed swiftly. In 1916 the Pere Marquette cut the line back to Spencer, eliminating the 14 miles (22.5 km) which had so concerned it. In 1918 it pulled back to Kalkaska, another 7 miles (11.3 km). Finally, in 1921, it abandoned the stretch between Kalkaska and Rapid City, removing the last vestige of the Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern.
Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan , is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan...
toward the end of the 19th century. The company was founded on August 30, 1897 by William Alden Smith
William Alden Smith
William Alden Smith was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan.-Early career:Smith was born in Dowagiac, Michigan and attended the common schools. He moved with his parents to Grand Rapids in 1872, where he attended school, sold popcorn, and was a newsboy and messenger boy...
, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician and former general counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
of both the Chicago and West Michigan Railway
Chicago and West Michigan Railway
The Chicago and West Michigan Railway is a defunct railroad which operated in the state of Michigan between 1881 and 1899. It was one of the three companies which merged to become the Pere Marquette Railway....
and the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad
Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad
The Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad is a defunct railroad which was formed on December 27, 1876 as a reorganization of the foreclosed Detroit, Lansing and Lake Michigan Rail Road...
. The GRK&S constructed a 40.73 miles (65.5 km) line from northern Missaukee County
Missaukee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,478 people, 5,450 households, and 4,043 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile . There were 8,621 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
through Kalkaska
Kalkaska, Michigan
Kalkaska is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 2,226. It is the county seat of Kalkaska County.-Geography:...
(crossing the Grand Rapids & Indiana
Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad
The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad at its height provided passenger and freight railroad services between Cincinnati, Ohio and the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan, USA...
) to Rapid City, where it met the C&WM's main line. The C&WM undertook to supply rolling stock and oversee construction in exchange for a 10-year lease of the line.
The C&WM's lease of the GRK&S was continued by the Pere Marquette Railway
Pere Marquette Railway
The Pere Marquette Railway was a railroad that operated in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. The railroad had trackage in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and the Canadian province of Ontario. Its primary connections included Buffalo; Toledo; and Chicago.The company was...
following the consolidation of 1899. In 1903, however, the PM bought the capital stock of the GRK&S. The line does not appear to have been particularly profitable; it mainly transported lumber, the quantity of which declined over the next decade. In 1915 a Pere Marquette official lamented the poor state of the line:
It is bad. There are 14 miles of the track from Eastman Junction to the end at Stratford that is so bad that we operate it under caution and I am about to ask the railroad commission for the authority to take it up. There is no business on the branch to warrant our continuing in operation and we are now going up there twice a week to bring out what little business there is.
Abandonment followed swiftly. In 1916 the Pere Marquette cut the line back to Spencer, eliminating the 14 miles (22.5 km) which had so concerned it. In 1918 it pulled back to Kalkaska, another 7 miles (11.3 km). Finally, in 1921, it abandoned the stretch between Kalkaska and Rapid City, removing the last vestige of the Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern.