Wouldn't that have made a true, Mighty Mac - a dual-level, two-bridge span all that way over open water. Wow... would've been cool to this day, and certainly would have made a thru all-rail routing between N. Wisconsin and points in the lower peninsula more than viable. An outer, Outer bypass around that great rail hairball known as Chicago - CN would have had nothing on it, even with the EJ&E purchase.Kim Nowack Wed, Oct 20, 2010 at 11:56 AM
To: dan.mitzel
Dear Mr. Mitzel, Recently, you sent the following question to the Mackinac Bridge web site:
"I am performing some historical research on the Straits crossing. Were the early plans to include a railroad crossing on the lower level of the span ever saved for historical purposes? Thank you. R, Dan Mitzel, Oxford, MI"
The "Report on a Proposed Crossing for the Straits of Mackinac" dated 1940 had the following comment about adding rail to the bridge: " A combined railway and highway bridge is not recommended as the topographic and geologic conditions require the construction of long span suspension bridges. Suspension bridges, on account of their flexibility, would require special operating equipment with restricted loads in order to negotiate the heavy grades. The long spans designed to carry the railway loadings, even though restricted, would require an additional investment in the crossing far in excess of any amount that could be amortized by reasonable rental charges." (this comment refers to bridges in the plural because it recommended 2 suspension bridges be used to span the straits.)
The "Report on Proposed Mackinac Straits Bridge" dated 1951 investigated the feasibility of adding a rail line to the bridge. They estimated that the "additional cost for provision of a single-track railway on this bridge is $60,000,000...." This option was never carried forward.
There were no drawings showing rail tracks on the bridge in either report. There may be conceptual drawings of the rail track option somewhere, but I don't believe these were developed further.
I would be happy to answer any other questions you may have and thank you for your interest in the Mackinac Bridge,
Kim
Ms. Kim Nowack, P.E.
Chief Engineer, Mackinac Bridge Authority
Not being Warren Buffett by any means, I too have been having model railroad empire building thoughts, paper or otherwise, especially now that model railroad construction season is fast approaching. Perhaps a reincarnation of the Michigan Central, as a modern-day subsidiary of the WC Ltd. or a even-more latter day version of the Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette Railroad? Yeah, I sort of like the latter - mostly because the reporting marks (DM&M, AAR code DMM) match my initials.
Hmmm... maybe I need to start patching some 1:87 scale (former secondhand) BN and CNW equipment and rolling stock with DMM marks. Anyway, I do plan on continuing my correspondence with Ms. Nowack to see if we can locate any conceptual drawings on the bridge itself and/or the railway approaches on each end. It is easy to see how the PRR and NYC might have been aligned with the southern approach, but considering the bluffs on the St. Ignace side not so easy as the DSS&A was concerned. In the interim enjoy the letter.
