The Ann Arbor Railroad, Serving the State of Michigan for Over 100 Years

The Ann Arbor Railroad today is not the original company started in the late 19th century although it continues to bear the familiar orange paint that the Ann Arbor was so famous for. Much like the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway which was officially dissolved and whose name was later resurrected, so is the case with the Ann Arbor. Today the Ann Arbor Railroad, owned by the Ann Arbor Acquisition Corporation, continues to serve the State of Michigan along its main line to Toledo, Ohio. Currently the railroad rosters entirely Geeps using all GP38s and GP39-2s with a total of five units in active service.

The Ann Arbor Railroad has had an up and down history, mostly being owned by other railroads or entities. Perhaps the railroad is best remembered for its car float operations which originated at Frankfort, Michigan and sprawled out north and west to the UP of Michigan and eastern Wisconsin across Lake Michigan.

The Ann Arbor Railroad has its beginnings dating back to 1878 when it completed its original main line between Frankfort, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio. While the railroad expanded somewhat in the coming years it mostly remained a system connecting these two points, a distance of just over 290 miles.

In 1925 independent operations ended for the Ann Arbor as it came under the control of the Wabash Railroad that year and remained an extension of the Wabash until 1963 when the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton gained control of the railroad (one reason why the AA painted its locomotives orange, a color used by the DT&I).

The DT&I was, in turn, owned by the Pennsylvania and when the PRR and NYC decided to merge in 1968 the Ann Arbor’s future looked rather bleak. In 1974 the AA entered bankruptcy and because of its affiliation with the PC debacle it became part of Conrail in 1976.

For the Ann Arbor’s sake, fortunately this is when its luck changed. In an attempt to ensure the line’s stability and future, the State of Michigan stepped in and purchased the entire Ann Arbor Railroad in 1976 (it also added its car float operations in 1980 although they were discontinued in 1982). Unfortunately the designating operator, the Michigan Interstate, went bankrupt in 1983 and the remaining portion of the AA between Ann Arbor and Toledo is operated by the Ann Arbor Acquisition Corporation today.

The Ann Arbor has had quite an interesting history to say the least but it continues to survive and proudly serve its state, giving customers along its an added rail option when shipping their products.

For more reading on shortlines like the Ann Arbor Railroad consider the book American Shortline Railway Guide from author Ed Lewis. The book has gone through several updated editions to keep up with the ever-changing world of the shortline industry. Today, the publication highlights almost 600 shortlines across the country with general background information about each (such as roster information, rail line history, radio frequencies, etc.). If you have any interest in shortlines you will very likely enjoy this book.