This cache is on the public road right of way within Carson City, a bit north of where the former Grand Trunk Western railroad crosses the street. While the tracks are still there and occasionally used by a speeder (two person self propelled maintenance cart), the railroad is all but gone.
"Photo courtesy michiganrailroads.com RRHX, Alan Loftis collection."
Grand Trunk Western depot, Carson City
In 1887-89, a railroad line originally known as the Toledo, Saginaw and Muskegon, was constructed between Ashley and Muskegon. Rails reached Carson City in September of 1887, Greenville in November of 1887, Cedar Springs and Muskegon by the end of the year. Construction continued in 1888 for ballasting, sidings and depots. On August 1st, 1888, a lease of the TS&M to the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada was completed. GTC later purchased the line outright. A mail and express train and a mixed train (with passenger service) was operated daily between Owosso (over the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Northern Michigan to Ashley) and Muskegon. The line was locally known as the GT version of the Turkey Trail because it meandered like a turkey and also because it allegedly never made money.
"1909 postmarked postcard image from the collection of Sue Tasker, used with permission."
Carson City Elevator with the GTW (former TS&M) depot on the right
In 1928, GTC was merged with other Michigan Grand Trunk subsidiaries into the Grand Trunk Western, itself a subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway. In 1930, GTW secured trackage rights between Grand Rapids and Muskegon over the Pennsylvania Railroad (former Grand Rapids and Indiana) Muskegon Branch. Service on the Turkey Trail was reduced to way freights and mixed trains. In 1946, with heavy service operating over the PRR, the portion of the line between Greenville and Muskegon was abandoned.
Mixed train service continued leaving Durand, to Greenville and back each day until the end of 1955. On January 1st, 1956, this was reduced to a way freight turn daily. On January 11th, 1983, the last train left Greenville and the line was abandoned between Greenville and Carson City. The rails are still in place from Ashley to Carson City and were being occasionally operated from 1982 by the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay and since 2006, between Ashley and Middleton by the Great Lakes Central.
Several industries were served by the railroad including the two elevators still standing and a refinery whose foundations can be seen near the cache. The elevators are in the process of being razed, and are scheduled to be gone by the end of 2015. The station stood west of the street the cache is on.
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