Nostalgia & History > Hamilton and Northwestern train westbound at US 31 Holland, MI

Rick Burn took the photo and wrote this caption:

The HNW is a short line operating an old CSX line.  It was the original railroad to Holland, MI.  Built right after the Civil War, it interchanged with the Lake Shore and Michigan Railroad at Allegan, MI.  It was built north from Allegan through Hamilton, Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Whitehall, t Shelby and Hart opening about 1867.

In 1869,  the Chicago and West Michigan built from New Buffalo, MI (on the Michigan Central) north to Benton Harbor, Fennvillie, Holland, and on to Grand Rapids.  The lines merged in 1870's and Allegan to Hamilton to Holland line became a branch line.  It was abandoned from Hamilton to Allegan sometime between 1960 and 1980.

The HNW took over the line about a year ago and is aggressively getting new business.

The photo shows the train running westbound crossing US 31 in the City of Holland.  US 31 is a divided 4 lane highway with stop lights and a 50 MPH speed limit.

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