Paw Paw Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Paw Paw Railroad is a defunct railroad which operated in Van Buren County, Michigan
, between 1857 and 1887. At a length of 4 miles (6.4 km), it was the shortest operating common carrier
railroad in the state. Later (from 1902 until January 15, 1982), the Ludington & Northern Railway Company, at 2.79 miles (4.5 km), stripped the Paw Paw of its title as "shortest Michigan Railroad".
The Michigan Central Railroad
had originally planned to reach the coast of Lake Michigan
at St. Joseph
, but these plans changed and the company built to New Buffalo
instead. This meant that instead of passing through Paw Paw
, the line passed through Lawton
, some four miles (6 km) to the south. A group of local businessmen incorporated the Paw Paw Railroad on April 25, 1857, to construct a railway line from Paw Paw to Lawton, where it would join the Michigan Central. An initial attempt, which aimed east of Lawton, resulted in the partial creation of a grade but no track was laid. The so-called "calico grade" was later developed, briefly, by the Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago
. A second attempt, in 1867, led to the completion in September of that year of a 4 miles (6.4 km) line between Paw Paw and Lawton, which was opened for public use. This constituted the total physical extent of the Paw Paw.
The line was originally built as standard gauge
, , but in 1875 the Paw Paw's original owners were bought out by the owners of the Toledo & South Haven
(T&SH), a road which ran west from Paw Paw to Lawrence
. The two companies remained separate, but in 1877 the Paw Paw's line was rebuilt to the gauge to permit joint operations.
On March 7, 1887 the Paw Paw merged with the T&SH and ceased to exist as an independent company. Throughout its history, the Paw Paw was specifically exempt from those sections of Michigan
's railroad law which regulated rate
s and fare
s.
In 1898 the South Haven & Eastern (successor to the T&SH) converted the T&SH's lines, including the Paw Paw–Lawton segment, back to standard gauge. In 1903 it passed along with the SH&E to the Pere Marquette Railway
, which finally abandoned the line in 1941.
Van Buren County, Michigan
-Parks, preserves, natural areas:* Dunes Parkway, an 84 acre preserve of dunes in Covert Township* Jeptha Lake Fen Preserve, a 49 acre preserve in Columbia Township...
, between 1857 and 1887. At a length of 4 miles (6.4 km), it was the shortest operating common carrier
Common carrier
A common carrier in common-law countries is a person or company that transports goods or people for any person or company and that is responsible for any possible loss of the goods during transport...
railroad in the state. Later (from 1902 until January 15, 1982), the Ludington & Northern Railway Company, at 2.79 miles (4.5 km), stripped the Paw Paw of its title as "shortest Michigan Railroad".
The Michigan Central Railroad
Michigan Central Railroad
The Michigan Central Railroad was originally incorporated in 1846 to establish rail service between Detroit, Michigan and St. Joseph, Michigan. The railroad later operated in the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois in the United States, and the province of Ontario in Canada...
had originally planned to reach the coast of Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
at St. Joseph
St. Joseph, Michigan
St. Joseph is a city in the US state of Michigan. It was incorporated as a village in 1834 and as a city in 1891. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,789. It lies on the shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, about east-northeast of Chicago. It is the county...
, but these plans changed and the company built to New Buffalo
New Buffalo, Michigan
New Buffalo is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,200 at the 2000 census. This city is within New Buffalo Township, but is politically autonomous.-Geography:...
instead. This meant that instead of passing through Paw Paw
Paw Paw, Michigan
Paw Paw is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 3,363. It is the county seat of Van Buren County.-Overview:...
, the line passed through Lawton
Lawton, Michigan
Lawton is a village in Van Buren County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,859.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
, some four miles (6 km) to the south. A group of local businessmen incorporated the Paw Paw Railroad on April 25, 1857, to construct a railway line from Paw Paw to Lawton, where it would join the Michigan Central. An initial attempt, which aimed east of Lawton, resulted in the partial creation of a grade but no track was laid. The so-called "calico grade" was later developed, briefly, by the Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago
Kalamazoo, Lake Shore and Chicago Railway
The Kalamazoo, Lake Shore and Chicago Railway operated on track laid between Kalamazoo and South Haven, Michigan. Much of the track has been removed and is now known as the "Van Buren Trail"....
. A second attempt, in 1867, led to the completion in September of that year of a 4 miles (6.4 km) line between Paw Paw and Lawton, which was opened for public use. This constituted the total physical extent of the Paw Paw.
The line was originally built as standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
, , but in 1875 the Paw Paw's original owners were bought out by the owners of the Toledo & South Haven
Toledo and South Haven Railroad
The Toledo and South Haven Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad that connected the Michigan communities ofLawrence, Hartford and South Haven. It filed for incorporation April 1, 1876 and was bought by Fred M. Steele and re-named the South Haven and Eastern in 1894...
(T&SH), a road which ran west from Paw Paw to Lawrence
Lawrence, Michigan
Lawrence is a village in Van Buren County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,059 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Lawrence Township. Home of noted journalist Paul Garrod and the annual Ox Roast and Homecoming festival. Area recognized Farmer's Market runs...
. The two companies remained separate, but in 1877 the Paw Paw's line was rebuilt to the gauge to permit joint operations.
On March 7, 1887 the Paw Paw merged with the T&SH and ceased to exist as an independent company. Throughout its history, the Paw Paw was specifically exempt from those sections of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
's railroad law which regulated rate
Rate
In mathematics, a rate is a ratio between two measurements, often with different units. If the unit or quantity in respect of which something is changing is not specified, usually the rate is per unit time. However, a rate of change can be specified per unit time, or per unit of length or mass or...
s and fare
Fare
A fare is the fee paid by a passenger allowing him or her to make use of a public transport system: rail, bus, taxi, etc. In the case of air transport, the term airfare is often used.-Uses:...
s.
In 1898 the South Haven & Eastern (successor to the T&SH) converted the T&SH's lines, including the Paw Paw–Lawton segment, back to standard gauge. In 1903 it passed along with the SH&E to 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...
, which finally abandoned the line in 1941.