Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore Railroad

Grand Rapids, Newaygo & Lake Shore

Locale	Western Michigan
Dates of operation	1869–1881
Successor	Chicago & West Michigan
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length	46 miles (74 km)
Headquarters	Grand Rapids, Michigan

The Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore Railroad is a defunct railroad which operated in the state of Michigan between 1872 and 1881. The GRN&LS was chartered on September 11, 1869, under the leadership of David P. Clay.^[1] The company operated a 46-mile (74 km) line between Grand Rapids and White Cloud (where it joined the Chicago & Michigan Lake Shore). The initial segment, from Grand Rapids to Sparta, was completed on May 19, 1872. The line reached Newaygo on September 11, 1872; the first passenger train between the two towns ran the same day, to much fanfare from the local populace.^[2] On September 24, 1875 the line was extended over the Muskegon River to White Cloud.^[3] On September 30, 1881, it consolidated with other companies to form the Chicago & West Michigan. During its twelve years of independent existence the company sustained a net loss of $36,554.28.^[4]

Notes

1. Goss (1906), 628.
2. Chapman Brothers (1884), 527-528.
3. Michigan Railroad Commission (1881), 212.
4. Ivey (1919), 242-243.

References

• Chapman Brothers (1884). Portrait and Biographical Album of Newaygo County, Michigan. Chapman Brothers.
• Goss, Dwight (1906). History of Grand Rapids and Its Industries. Grand Rapids, MI: C.F. Cooper.
• Ivey, Paul (1919). The Pere Marquette Railroad Company. Lansing, MI: Michigan Historical Commission. OCLC 66109442.
• Michigan Railroad Commission (1881). Annual Report.