The whole "MichRail" project is still around..but this is a more manageable project that includes several routes in the "thumb" of Michigan..most that no longer exist in reality.
The PHNR was started in May 1971 by Thomas Johnson, a Port Huron area business man. The original route was Port Huron (Black River bridge) to Croswell on the southern end of the old PM "Port Austin SD". The C&O had not operated a through train between Croswell and Port Huron since the mid 1960's. The C&O had used the line, between Jeddo and Fort gratiot, for car storage.
Initial opperations were begun in June with 2 former C&O S2's. The Jeddo-Fort Gratiot segment remained out of service at this time due to the condition of the ROW and a lack of customers. The PHNR had one S2 staged at Jeddo..the other at Port Huron.
The PHNR had the entire line reopened in July 1974. This was done to facilitate the C&O sending Port Huron/Sarnia traffic (from the Thumb) over the PHNR.
Over the years following, the PHNR gained more customers (ADM elevevator at North St, Fort Gratiot landfill, Michigan Minerals just north of Jeddo).
The roster in 1974 consisted of the 2 S2's (1000&1001, 2 former CN RSC24's (1800-1801), and E8# 2000. The E8 was in use on Johnsons weekend excursions between Port Huron and Port Austin.
The route expanded as well..purchacing the Poland-Sandusky line off the C&O in 1978..which led to the purchace of the recently failed (again) DC&S. Johnson paid just $800,000 for the route and it's sole locomotive (RS2 100)..THEN Johnson and the PHNR purchaced the Croswell-Poland line off the C&O in August. In one year, the PHNR went from a 26 mile branch line to a 80+ mile system.
A new yard was built in Croswell which became the road main terminal (until the mid 1980's) in 1979. The depot on Croswell became the roads dispatch center and ABS signals were installed between Poland and Croswell.
1979 also saw the first test coal trains for DTE's revamped Harbor Beach plant. These trains came off the C&O and Port Huron and north on the PHNR because track conditions on the PHN R were much better than the C&O's own route between Saginaw and Bad Axe. The PHNR and the C&O split the bill to upgrade the Poland-Harbon Beach line. The first coal train moved on July 19th 1979.
Dave C
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