by Mr Link » August 27, 2011, 3:51 pm
The short answer is that the Michigan Interstate Railway operated as a railroad from October 1, 1977 to October 6, 1988. Here is a more detailed timeline:
Ann Arbor Railroad Timeline - 1973 onward
October 16, 1973 Ann Arbor Railroad declares bankruptcy. Following this the USRA (the committee which developed the plan to use federal funds to reorganize bankrupt railroads in the eastern United States) determines that the track from Toledo to Ann Arbor is worth saving but the track from Ann Arbor to Frankfort and the ferry service have no chance of making money and should be abandoned. The State of Michigan, fearing severe economic hardship for Michigan communities, develops a plan to subsidize rail and ferry service on the former AARR and other lines in Michigan.
April 1, 1976 through September 30, 1977 newly - formed Conrail operates the entire former AARR under subsidy from the State of Michigan.
August 27, 1977 Michigan Interstate Railway incorporated.
October 1, 1977 Michigan Interstate (doing business as the Ann Arbor Railroad) begins operation of entire former AARR under subsidy from the State of Michigan.
At some point the State of Michigan purchases the track from Osmer (the first passing siding north of the City of Ann Arbor) while the Michigan Interstate purchases the remainder from Osmer to Toledo.
April 26, 1982 the State of Michigan ends the subsidized operation of the railroad ferries from Elberta to Manitowoc and Kewaunee.
October 1, 1982 the State of Michigan splits the former AARR into sections. Michigan Northern Railway operates Alma to Frankfort, while the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway operates Alma to Osmer (the first passing siding north of the city of Ann Arbor). The Michigan Interstate Railway is left to operate its own track from Toledo to Osmer. I believe it was during this time period the Michigan Interstate takes physical possession of State of Michigan - owed locomotives ("the Toledo 8") and moves them across the state line to Toledo in a contract dispute with the state. The state successfully sues to get the locomotives back.
January 20, 1983 Michigan Interstate Railway declares bankruptcy. Remains under court overseen reorganization until October 1988. The court-appointed trustee purchases the track from Toledo to Osmer in September 1985.
October 1, 1984 Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway takes over operation of Alma to Frankfort, giving it operation of all the former AARR from Osmer north.
October 1988 the Ann Arbor Acquisition Corporation takes over operation of the track from Toledo to Osmer, forming the current Ann Arbor Railroad.
March 2006 the Great Lakes Central Railroad takes over operations of the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway, including the north end of the former AARR. The track is currently operated from Osmer to a sand mining operation at Yuma. The State of Michigan still owns the track from Osmer north. They provide funds for capital improvements but no operating subsidies.
corrections/additions welcomed
The short answer is that the Michigan Interstate Railway operated as a railroad from October 1, 1977 to October 6, 1988. Here is a more detailed timeline:
[b]Ann Arbor Railroad Timeline - 1973 onward[/b]
[i]October 16, 1973[/i] Ann Arbor Railroad declares bankruptcy. Following this the USRA (the committee which developed the plan to use federal funds to reorganize bankrupt railroads in the eastern United States) determines that the track from Toledo to Ann Arbor is worth saving but the track from Ann Arbor to Frankfort and the ferry service have no chance of making money and should be abandoned. The State of Michigan, fearing severe economic hardship for Michigan communities, develops a plan to subsidize rail and ferry service on the former AARR and other lines in Michigan.
[i]April 1, 1976 through September 30, 1977[/i] newly - formed Conrail operates the entire former AARR under subsidy from the State of Michigan.
[i]August 27, 1977[/i] Michigan Interstate Railway incorporated.
[i]October 1, 1977[/i] Michigan Interstate (doing business as the Ann Arbor Railroad) begins operation of entire former AARR under subsidy from the State of Michigan.
At some point the State of Michigan purchases the track from Osmer (the first passing siding north of the City of Ann Arbor) while the Michigan Interstate purchases the remainder from Osmer to Toledo.
[i]April 26, 1982[/i] the State of Michigan ends the subsidized operation of the railroad ferries from Elberta to Manitowoc and Kewaunee.
[i]October 1, 1982[/i] the State of Michigan splits the former AARR into sections. Michigan Northern Railway operates Alma to Frankfort, while the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway operates Alma to Osmer (the first passing siding north of the city of Ann Arbor). The Michigan Interstate Railway is left to operate its own track from Toledo to Osmer. I believe it was during this time period the Michigan Interstate takes physical possession of State of Michigan - owed locomotives ("the Toledo 8") and moves them across the state line to Toledo in a contract dispute with the state. The state successfully sues to get the locomotives back.
[i]January 20, 1983[/i] Michigan Interstate Railway declares bankruptcy. Remains under court overseen reorganization until October 1988. The court-appointed trustee purchases the track from Toledo to Osmer in September 1985.
[i]October 1, 1984 [/i] Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway takes over operation of Alma to Frankfort, giving it operation of all the former AARR from Osmer north.
[i]October 1988[/i] the Ann Arbor Acquisition Corporation takes over operation of the track from Toledo to Osmer, forming the current Ann Arbor Railroad.
[i]March 2006[/i] the Great Lakes Central Railroad takes over operations of the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway, including the north end of the former AARR. The track is currently operated from Osmer to a sand mining operation at Yuma. The State of Michigan still owns the track from Osmer north. They provide funds for capital improvements but no operating subsidies.
corrections/additions welcomed