Author: canalman

Railroad Station in Saint Joseph, MI for the Pere Marquette Railroad in 1913

/ canalman / Leave a comment

Old Pere Marquette Railroad Station, Saint Joseph, MI

     There is a historic railroad depot at 410 Vine Street Saint Joseph, Michigan. It was originally built for the Pere Marquette Railroad.  It was built in 1913. It has a large covered platform which was built to handle heavy summer traffic.

Sign Pertains to the Image Below

See above

     The depot is currently a passenger stop on the Amtrak Grand Rapids to Chicago Pere Marquette Line.  The current waiting room is only a fraction in size of the original. The depot is owned by the city of Saint Joseph, Michigan.

Old Pete Marquette Railroad Station

     A substantial portion of the depot was remodeled to create a space for a restaurant.  This was Roxy’s Diner for several years until 2002. After this it briefly the Sunset Grill until 2003. The depot currently houses the Silver Beach Pizza Parlor.

Same as above

Old Pere Marquette Railroad Station

Old Pete Marquette Railroad Station

Same as above

Old Pere Marquette Railroad Station

Door to Waiting Room

Waiting Room

Old Pete Marquette Railroad Station

Same as above.  Note Railroad Track

Old Pete Marquette Railroad Station.  Note Railroad Track

    The railroad tracks adjacent to the station date to 1869.  The Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Line completed tracks between New Buffalo and Saint Joseph, Michigan.  The railroad went into bankruptcy in 1873. It was reorganized as the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad.  This company grew and prospered extending from La Cross to Traverse City, Michigan. Around 1900, the Railroad became part of the Pere Marquette Line.  Saint Joseph was then on the Pere Marquette main line running from Detroit to Chicago.   The Pere Marquette made many improvements including a swing bridge over the Saint Joseph River.

Old Pete Marquette Railroad Station

View of Station from above 1

View of Station from above 2

View of Station from above 3

View of Station from above 4

CSX Bridge over the Saint Joseph River

/ canalman / Leave a comment

   The Saint Joseph Railroad Bridge crosses the Saint Joseph River.  It is the last bridge to cross the river before Lake Michigan. It was built in 1904 for the Pete Marquette Railroad. The builder was the American Bridge Company of New York.

Information about the CSX Bridge

     The bridge is a Metal River Connected Pratt through Truss Movable Swing. There is one main span and 3 approach spans.

CSX Bridge in the Open Position

     The main span length is 234 feet. The structure length is 544 feet. Width is 15 feet. It was rehabbed in 1941.

Same as above

     The current owner of the bridge is CSX railroad.  The bridge remains in the open position as long as there is no railroad traffic.

CSX Bridge in the Open Position

Same as above

CSX bridge in Open Position

Same as above

CSX Bridge in open position

Washington Park Zoo Michigan City, Indiana

/ canalman / Leave a comment

Sign Washington Park Zoo

Zoo Entrance

This Area Was Formerly Known as Monkey Island Currently Occupied by Lemurs

Same as above

Habitat for Ring Tail Lemur

Zebra Exhibit

Kookaberra

Same as above

Grizzly Bear Exhibit

Sign for the Observation Tower

Observation Tower

Observation Tower Washington Park Zoo


Observation Tower Washington Park Zoo

Plaque Engineer Castle

Engineer Castle

Engineer Castle

Gift Shop