Under Re-Construction
The Lumber Train
This photo shows what was called the Lumber Train, the train used by the Starke Land & Lumber Company to haul
logs to the sawmill in Arcadia, Michigan.
The 1880s. Early Arcadia Narrow Gauge Railway
This narrow gauge railroad was used primarily for logging in the Arcadia, Michigan area.
1880s. Trestle Opening for Arcadia's Narrow Gauge Railway
This photo shows the opening of the trestle built about 2.5 miles east of Arcadia. Henry Starke's experience building bridge piers came in handy, when the narrow gauge railway needed to cross hilly terrain.
1880s. Logging Train on the Trestle near Arcadia
About 2.5 miles east of Arcadia, the engine in this photo is pulling flatcars loaded with logs on their way to the Starke Sawmill in Arcadia, Michigan.
A&BRR Engine No.1 near the Starke Sawmill in Arcadia
This photo shows the train on the northeast side of Lake Arcadia just south of the Starke Sawmill shown above in the
background at the north end of the lake. The sawmill burned down for the final time in 1906.
The Arcadia Station
This is a view of the back of the Arcadia Furniture Company's factory showing the northeast corner of building 5 with
an A&BRR passenger car on the siding.
The Stop at Saile
This station was located about ten miles east of Arcadia just west of the stop at Glovers Lake. It was erected by Byron
Burmeister and managed by George Iverson.
The Station at Henry
The station at Henry was at the junction of three railroads. This was the last stop before Copemish at the end of the
line.
Engine No. 5
The bell shown on the engine is on exhibit in the Arcadia Area Historical Museum.
A&BRR Passenger Car
This photo is a blow-up of a postcard for the Walther League Camp showing the camp, this passenger car labeled
"The Betsey," and a bus. The A&BRR and the bus were used to take guests to and from the camp.
Passengers in a Boxcar and a Flatcar.
A&BRR Train at Logging Site
The age of this photo is unknown, but the telephone line shown in the background was installed between Arcadia and
Copemish in 1897 along the railway's route.
Steam Loader
This steam powered crane was used to lift heavy loads for the A&BRR.
Leaving the Station in Arcadia
View looking southwest toward the channel. An engine of the A&BRR is shown traveling along the shoreline past a cow on the left and the docks on the right. The train was following a route south along Lake Arcadia's shore and then
east toward Copemish.
A&BRR Engine along the Northeast Shore of Lake Arcadia
A passenger train heads south along the northeast shore of Lake Arcadia. The building behind the engine is the
roundhouse.
Heading through the Swamp East of Town
This run included two freight cars and a passenger car. Note the Lutheran Church steeple in the background on the
left, which makes this a northwest view.
1900 Excursion Train for the Big Game in Copemish
This photo was taken at the crossing in Henry. It shows engine no. 1 used for the occasion to take fans to and from a
baseball game between Arcadia and Copemish. The score: Arcadia 24, Copemish 22.
A&BRR Engine No. 4
Winter in Arcadia, Michigan. View looking northwest. A&BRR engine no. 4 is probably sitting along the northeast
shore of Lake Arcadia.
The Snow Plow Plowing Snow
Winter in Arcadia, Michigan provided the added challenge of keeping the tracks clear.
The Stuck Snow Plow
Sometimes the snowplow itself got stuck in the snow, and workers had to get out and dig.
Winter Rescue
A crew works to recover a car that left the track in deep snow.
The End of the Line
This photo shows Engines 4 and 5 at Henry in 1939. When the A&BRR discontinued service, these engines were stored in Henry until they were sold for scrap metal for World War II.
The Route of the Narrow Gauge Railway
This map shows the route of the narrow gauge railway from Arcadia on the left to Malcolm on the right. Note the
location of the trestle in the middle of the map.
-- Map courtesy of John W. Martin from his booklet, "Malcolm: A Station on the Arcadia and Betsey River Railway:
Manistee County, Michigan."
The Narrow and Standard Gauge Routes from Arcadia East
This 1903 map shows the approximate locations of the route and stations. Both routes started in Arcadia and
traveled to Malcolm. The standard gauge rail went far beyond that to Copemish.
1894 Map of Arcadia, Michigan Showing the Wye
This map shows the location of the A&BRR standard gauge rails in Arcadia in 1894. The Y-shaped layout allowed a
train to turn around. Note the pencil-drawn location of the Starke Sawmill at the north end of Lake Arcadia.
1914 Valuation Map of Northeast Arcadia Lake Shore
This is a detailed map of the
portion of the ABRR route along
Lake Arcadia's northeast shore.
Note the Engine House above
section 15 and the coal bin and
platform near section 26. The
right side of the drawing implies
the rail stops before getting to
the point, but that is just omitted
from this blow-up of the lake
shoreline siding and buildings.
-- "Station
The Standard Gauge Route from Arcadia to Copemish
This map shows the route and the stations in 1900 plus some of today's roads.
-- John W. Martin. "Malcolm: A Station of the Arcadia and Betsey River Railway: Manistee County, MI"
Where the Railway Would Probably Be Today
This map of Manistee County shows approximately where the standard gauge railway bed was. The red dots mark
key stops between Arcadia and Henry.
The Arcadia Furniture Company's Factory with Train Station
This blueprint shows the buildings that comprised the factory built in 1906. Building 5 shown on the right housed the
railroad office and waiting room near the northern end of the rails shown on the right. Note the loading platform.
Malcolm Station Buildings
Malcolm Station was located near the southwest corner of Glover's Lake Road and Keillor Road.
-- "Malcolm: A Station on the Arcadia and Betsey River Railway: Manistee County, MI" by John W. Martin, PE
1903 Map Showing Henry's Strategic Location
The blue box shows the location of the station at Henry where three railroads met: the Arcadia & Betsey River
Railway from the west, the Pere Marquette running north and south, and the Manistee & North Eastern.
-- 1903 plat map of Springdale Township in Manistee County Michigan
1903 Plat Map Close-Up of Copemish, Michigan
The Arcadia & Betsey River Railway came in from the northwest on the same rail as the Ann Arbor Railroad.
Note the depot at the intersection with the Manistee and Northeastern rail line.
-- 1903 plat map closeup of Copemish, Michigan