The Railfan Chronicles: Short Lines of Michigan's Lower Peninsula

The Railfan Chronicles, Short Lines of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, 1976 to 2000

The Railfan Chronicles is a series of books about different railroads during the period from 1975 to 2000. This was a period of great change in the railroad industry, with mergers of large railroads and creation of regional and short line railroads to operate unwanted lines of the Class One railroads. These books cover this period in photographs taken by the author. Short Line Railroads of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula is the topic of this book. Covered are most of the short line railroads formed after the creation of Conrail in 1976 when so many miles of former Penn Central track was abandoned by the new national railroad. Included is coverage on Michigan Northern Railway, Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railway, Huron & Eastern Railroad, Michigan Shore Railroad, Michigan Southern Railroad, Lenawee County Railroad, Adrian & Blissfield Rail Road, Charlotte Southern Railroad, Lapeer Industrial Railroad, Michigan Limestone and Chemical’s railroad and two industrial railroads, Michigan State University’s and Checker Motors Corporation’s.

About the author:

Byron Babbish is a railroad photographer, writer and historian. He has written books and articles on railroads and has had many of his railroad photographs published. A retired attorney, his time is devoted to teaching law, playing violin and writing.