PM: Pere Marquette Railroad Overview

Peter Dudley scratched researching Pere Marquette off my todo list:

Pere Marquette Railroad (PM) was established January 1, 1900, as the result of a merger between three railways -- Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad (F&PM, which had previously merged with Port Huron & Northwestern Railway in 1889), Detroit, Grand Rapids & Western Railroad (DGR&W, previously known as Detroit, Lansing & Northern Railroad), and Chicago & West Michigan Railway (C&WM).
Some lines in the combined system had been built in three-foot narrow gauge, but the new company rapidly converted all remaining narrow gauge lines to standard gauge (4 feet, 8½ inches).
After filing for bankruptcy, the reorganized company emerged as Pere Marquette Railway c. 1915. During the 1920s, the company came under the control of the Van Swearingen brothers, who also controlled Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (C&O).
PM merged with C&O June 6, 1947. After several more mergers, C&O became part of Chessie System during the 1970s. Since 1981, the line has been known as CSX Transportation.
Most of the former Pere Marquette mileage in Michigan has been abandoned.

Map from SpellerWeb
Vern Carraway shared another link

Brian Morgan has also posted a history.

Marquette Rail

According to my 1928 Railroad Atlas, Pere Marquette connected Ludington with Port Huron via Clare, Midland, and Saginaw. Now Marquette Rail (Genesee & Wyoming) turns south at Baldwin, MI, to use another Pere Marquette remnant to Grand Rapids. Shawn commented that a couple of trains a day, sometimes more, are run.

PM ran a ferry service to three towns in Wisconsin from Ludington, MI.

Update:

Carl Venzke posted

Viral Media posted

Former Pere Marquette Map

The 136 mile CSX Grand Rapids Subdivision is the former Pere Marquette Railroad (Chesapeake & Ohio Railway - Chicago Subdivision). Originally constructed in 1870-1872 from New Buffalo to Grand Rapids by Chicago & Michigan Lake Shore Railroad then extended to Porter Indiana in 1903. Trackage rights have always been used west of Porter on the former New York Central line (now NS), as far as Pine Junction.

This map of surviving Pere Marquette trackage in Michigan was created by Fritz Milhaupt of the Pere Marquette Historical Society. Fritz Milhaupt’s interest in railroads dates back to childhood trips with his father to visit railroad facilities and museums. Born and raised in Grand Rapids and a graduate of the University of Michigan, he has a strong interest in the history of Michigan’s railroads. He is a Charter Member of the Pere Marquette Historical Society; he has served as its webmaster since 1997 and as its Publications Editor since 2008. 

Gregory Taylor Mills commented on the above post

This is what was owned by the Pere Marquette in 1946 in Michigan (it owned more in Ontario) the last year it still operated as the PMRR, the C&O took over in 1947.

Clare Union Railroad Depot posted

FROM THE PERE MARQUETTE RAILROAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY WEBSITE (well worth a visit…or two)

Being based in Clare, we would like to see just a smoosh of a line through our location that WATCO/Great Lakes still uses as a short spur to one of the town’s industrial parks.

Glenn Rice: The Pere Marquette (PM) State Trail project to connect Baldwin and Clare is in the active construction and closing-the-gap phase, with significant recent investments from Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and local partnerships to complete the trail. Recent efforts focus on paving the "Clare Gap" and improving trail infrastructure. Key details regarding the project's development and funding include: Project Goal: To create a continuous 55-mile paved, non-motorized, multi-use trail connecting Baldwin (Lake County) to Clare (Clare County) [80].Recent Funding & Construction: MDOT invested approximately \(\$2.4\) million to construct 2.3 miles of paved trail in the Clare area, including work on bridges and embankments.Gap Closure: Efforts are underway to close the final connection between the eastern and western portions of the trail near the Clare Union Depot.Key Partners: The project involves collaboration between MDOT, local communities, and, historically, support from foundations like the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, and the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation.Status: While much of the trail is completed, segments still require work to transition from ballasted surfaces to paved, particularly at the eastern end.

Jeff Rockwell: It’s currently in the grant writing stage, to resurrect the PM line from Baldwin to Clare.

Kenny Cook: Jeff Rockwell Last I heard Clare towards Evart was looked at to go back from trails to rails for access to a giant Potash mine proposal.I'm certain that project is going to go on as planned..