Sparta, MI: 1888 Museum/GTW/Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon Depot

(Satellite)

Street View, Aug 2011

Durand Union Station-Michigan Railroad History Museum posted two photos with the comment:

Today’s featured depot is the Toledo, Saginaw and Muskegon station in Sparta 🚂 

Sparta, founded in 1848, is a small town north of Grand Rapids. Sparta was a crossing of the east-west Grand Trunk Western line to Muskegon and the Pere Marquette line north to Baldwin. 

The depot functioned as both a passenger and freight station, staffed by a station agent/telegrapher. In 1928, the TS&M was absorbed into the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. The building was vacated in the 1940s, then purchased and restored by the West Michigan Railroad Historical Society in 1973.

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Sources:

Lambrou, J.T.. “Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon Railway Depot”. The Historical Marker Database. 29 September 2021.

www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=182794.

“Station: Sparta, MI”. Michigan Railroad History. http://www.michiganrailroads.com/.../105.../1157-sparta-mi. Accessed 22 August 2025.

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MichiganRailroads, Charlie Whipp collection

Robin W, Jun 2019

The GTW route is abandoned and the Pere Marquette route is now operated by the Marquette Rail (G&W).

1918/18 Cedar Springs @ 62,500

MQT =- Marquette Rail (G&W)

MDOT