by In May 1913, the quiet farming town of Cass City, Michigan, found itself in the midst of a significant transformation. Crews were hard at work constructing a new rail line that would link Cass City with Bad Axe, about 18 miles to the northeast. Known as the Detroit and Huron Railroad (D&H), this line promised to connect communities in Michigan’s Thumb, offering both farmers and merchants faster access to markets across the state and beyond.
Video – Cass City Rail Crew, 1913
Building the Detroit and Huron Railroad Line
Photographs from May 1913 show teams of laborers standing on open flatcars, with steam locomotives hissing behind them. Men armed with shovels and picks worked along the grade as the earth was moved, ties were set, and rails were spiked into place. In these scenes, we see the labor that powered railroad expansion: a mix of sweat, grit, and mechanical force.
The Detroit & Huron was incorporated in 1910, but construction pushed forward in earnest by 1912. By September 28, 1913, trains were officially running the full length from Cass City to Bad Axe. This opening marked a turning point, solidifying Cass City’s connection to the regional economy. Farmers could move livestock and grain more efficiently, while merchants had quicker access to manufactured goods arriving from Detroit.
Under the Grand Trunk
Although the line bore its own name, it was controlled from the beginning by Grand Trunk Western Railroad (GTW). This Canadian National subsidiary was aggressively expanding in Michigan during the early 20th century. The D&H operated as a separate entity for about 15 years before being formally merged into GTW on November 1, 1928.
For most of its life, the Cass City–Bad Axe line was a sleepy branch route, carrying modest amounts of freight and offering mixed train service that sometimes combined freight cars with a passenger coach. Unlike the bustling mainlines of the era, this was a rural lifeline — steady, dependable, but rarely glamorous.
Decline and the Last Train
By mid-century, the Thumb’s railroad network was overbuilt. The competing Pere Marquette Railway (later known as the Chesapeake & Ohio) also served Bad Axe, providing shippers with alternatives. Meanwhile, cars, trucks, and improved highways shifted both passengers and freight away from rail.
On April 30, 1951, the Cass City–Bad Axe line saw its last scheduled train. Grand Trunk’s Pacific locomotive No. 5038 made the final run, hauling about ten cars along the branch. A small combine car carried passengers, marking the end of an era. As reported by contemporary accounts, the train reached Bad Axe, then turned back toward Cass City, closing the book on nearly four decades of service.
Soon after, the line was abandoned and dismantled. Today, little remains of the Detroit & Huron but faint right-of-way traces across fields and in woodlots. Yet for Cass City in 1913, this line represented progress, a connection to broader markets, and a symbol of Michigan’s Thumb pushing forward into the modern age.
Works Cited
“Bad Axe Subdivision.” Abandoned Rails. AbandonedRails.com, 2010. https://www.abandonedrails.com/bad-axe-subdivision
“The Last GTW Train to Bad Axe.” Michigan Railroads. MichiganRailroads.com, 2023. https://www.michiganrailroads.com/stories/5290-the-last-gtw-train-to-bad-axe
“Detroit and Huron Railway Fonds.” Library and Archives Canada. Government of Canada, 2016. https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?IdNumber=162684&app=fonandcol
