Lansing, St. Johns and St. Louis Railway
Encyclopedia
The Lansing, St. Johns and St. Louis Railway was an electric interurban
railway which briefly operated independently in central Michigan
during the early 20th century. It was the site of a failed attempt to introduce alternating current
to the interurban scene.
The company incorporated on April 10, 1900, with the intention of constructing a new line north from Lansing
through St. Johns
and Maple Rapids
to St. Louis
(today the route of US-127). During its inception the company had come to the attention of Bion J. Arnold
, an American engineer well-known for his innovations in electrical engineering
, who would later build New York City
's Interborough Rapid Transit subway system. Arnold sought an opportunity to test his idea for using single-phase alternating current
instead of direct current
for locomotive power. His company received the contract for the road's construction and work commenced in mid-1900.
On February 3, 1902, the company completed a 18.5 miles (29.8 km) line as far as St. Johns
. On entering Lansing trains joined the Cedar Street line of the local streetcar system. The electrical systems were not yet ready, so the railroad was operated by steam locomotives supplied by the Michigan Suburban Railroad. Construction of the overhead lines
was finished by December 1902, and tests began the following March. The first trial trips occurred on June 15, 1903, using a specially-built experimental locomotive. The company had ordered three interurban cars from the Jewett Car Company
of Jewett, Ohio
. These were of wooden construction, 56 in 5 in (17.2 m) in length, capable of seating 50 passengers, but at that stage Arnold's experimental motor lacked the motive power
to drive them. A new locomotive fitted with two motors was readied for tests in early December, but a fire swept through the company's car house, destroying the locomotive, two of the Jewett cars, and a steam locomotive. While engineers constructed a new locomotive, "Phoenix," the company rebuilt the line to permit DC operation, thereby allowing Lansing streetcars to operate over it. On August 3, 1904, the new locomotive made a trial run of 8 miles (12.9 km) out to DeWitt
. A blown circuit breaker
ended the test prematurely.
On March 26, 1904, the Lansing and Suburban Traction, which already owned the streetcar lines in Lansing, bought the Lansing, St. Johns & St. Louis, prompting the need to permit DC operation over the line. In the end, Arnold's experiments notwithstanding, the Lansing & Suburban operated the line using standard 600-volt direct current instead of 6000-volt alternating current. The line would change hands several times before finally ending up in the hands of the Michigan Electric, which abandoned it on May 16, 1929.
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
railway which briefly operated independently in central Michigan
Central Michigan
Central Michigan, often called Mid Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Southern Michigan can be considered as a subregion of Central Michigan. As its name implies, it is the central area of the Lower Peninsula. Lower Michigan is said to resemble a mitten, and...
during the early 20th century. It was the site of a failed attempt to introduce alternating current
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
to the interurban scene.
The company incorporated on April 10, 1900, with the intention of constructing a new line north from Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
through St. Johns
St. Johns, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,485 people, 2,994 households, and 1,999 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,909.1 per square mile . There were 3,148 housing units at an average density of 802.9 per square mile...
and Maple Rapids
Maple Rapids, Michigan
Maple Rapids is a village in Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 643 at the 2000 census.The village is in Essex Township in the northern part of the county. It is about 10 miles northwest of St...
to St. Louis
St. Louis, Michigan
St. Louis is a city in Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 4,494. The 2010 census estimate places the population at 7,482.-Geography:...
(today the route of US-127). During its inception the company had come to the attention of Bion J. Arnold
Bion J. Arnold
thumb|Bion Joseph Arnold is remembered as "father of the third rail", a pioneer in electrical engineering, and an urban mass transportation expert who helped design New York's Interborough Rapid Transit subway system. After the IRT opened in 1904, the subway proved to be more popular than...
, an American engineer well-known for his innovations in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
, who would later build New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Interborough Rapid Transit subway system. Arnold sought an opportunity to test his idea for using single-phase alternating current
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
instead of direct current
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
for locomotive power. His company received the contract for the road's construction and work commenced in mid-1900.
On February 3, 1902, the company completed a 18.5 miles (29.8 km) line as far as St. Johns
St. Johns, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,485 people, 2,994 households, and 1,999 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,909.1 per square mile . There were 3,148 housing units at an average density of 802.9 per square mile...
. On entering Lansing trains joined the Cedar Street line of the local streetcar system. The electrical systems were not yet ready, so the railroad was operated by steam locomotives supplied by the Michigan Suburban Railroad. Construction of the overhead lines
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
was finished by December 1902, and tests began the following March. The first trial trips occurred on June 15, 1903, using a specially-built experimental locomotive. The company had ordered three interurban cars from the Jewett Car Company
Jewett Car Company
The Jewett Car Company was an early 20th century American industrial company that manufactured street cars.The company was founded in 1893 in Jewett, Ohio, where its first factory was located. In 1904, the company relocated from Jewett to a site along South Williams Street in Newark, Ohio, but...
of Jewett, Ohio
Jewett, Ohio
Jewett is a village in Harrison County, Ohio, United States. The population was 784 at the 2000 census. The community has also been known as "Fairview."-Geography:Jewett is located at ....
. These were of wooden construction, 56 in 5 in (17.2 m) in length, capable of seating 50 passengers, but at that stage Arnold's experimental motor lacked the motive power
Motive power
In thermodynamics, motive power is an agency, as water or steam, used to impart motion. Generally, motive power is defined as a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover. The term may also define something, as a locomotive or a...
to drive them. A new locomotive fitted with two motors was readied for tests in early December, but a fire swept through the company's car house, destroying the locomotive, two of the Jewett cars, and a steam locomotive. While engineers constructed a new locomotive, "Phoenix," the company rebuilt the line to permit DC operation, thereby allowing Lansing streetcars to operate over it. On August 3, 1904, the new locomotive made a trial run of 8 miles (12.9 km) out to DeWitt
DeWitt, Michigan
DeWitt is a city in Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,507 at the 2010 census.-History:DeWitt was named after DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York during the 1830s. It was first settled by Captain David Scott, who moved there from Ann Arbor in 1833, and platted the...
. A blown circuit breaker
Circuit breaker
A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overload or short circuit. Its basic function is to detect a fault condition and, by interrupting continuity, to immediately discontinue electrical flow...
ended the test prematurely.
On March 26, 1904, the Lansing and Suburban Traction, which already owned the streetcar lines in Lansing, bought the Lansing, St. Johns & St. Louis, prompting the need to permit DC operation over the line. In the end, Arnold's experiments notwithstanding, the Lansing & Suburban operated the line using standard 600-volt direct current instead of 6000-volt alternating current. The line would change hands several times before finally ending up in the hands of the Michigan Electric, which abandoned it on May 16, 1929.