| CM ACTION FROM OVID TO IONIA |
| On the 15th of July, 1992, I followed Central Michigan 8801 from Ovid to Ionia. At this date the CM made a daily run from Durand to Ionia and back to Durand. Besides doing switching at the towns along the route, they picked up cars at Ionia that were brought over from Grand Rapids by the Grand Rapids crew. On Saturdays, the crew at Grand Rapids made the run to Durand and back. In this east view at Ovid the old freight house on the left is now part of Ovid Farmers Elevator. |
| In this view 8801 is leaning into the curve at the west end of Pewamo. The elevator in the background has been razed and no longer exists. |
| In this east view at Muir, 8801 is silhouetted in the water. The Muir depot stood on the right. |
| In this east view, 8801 has arrived at Ionia and is making a run around to head back to Durand before picking up their cars. |
| The brakeman is bending the iron after picking up their cars. |
| Ready to head back to Durand. Just beyond the turnout in front of 8801 is where the diamond was for the old Ionia Lansing Railroad that ran from Lansing to Greenville and Howard City. |
| Two days later on the 17th, I caught 8801 in the deep cut at St.Johns approaching the US-27 overpass. In about one more month, the scheduled runs from Owosso to Ionia will end. In the top center of this photograph we can see a slight bend in the railroad just east of Scott road. From the book Past and Present of Clinton County, I found this story on this bend in the track, Quote: "The bend in the road at Scott road was called Travelers' Drunk, and Travelers and Sweeney, who located the line were laughed at for making an angle in the road when it could have been continued perfectly straight. As a matter of fact, the angle was made under the direction of Mr. Higham, so the road would touch the St. Johns Company's land at the most desirable point." John Higham was the chief engineer of the new railroad, the Detroit & Milwaukee Railway Co. |
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