Alma, MI: Lost/Union Station (Ann Arbor and Pere Marquette)

(Satellite, the land has been reused.)

Once again, when we see horses at a station, we see milk cans.

Clare Union Railroad Depot posted

FIVE STOPS, 34 MILES, AND JUST 65 MINUTES VIA THE ANN ARBOR RAILROAD TO THE SOUTH OF OUR CLARE UNION DEPOT…ALMA MICHIGAN’S UNION STATION

This was the scene in Alma at the crossing of the Ann Arbor and Pere Marquette Railroads. In the mid 1910s, one could catch any one of four southbound steam trains or motor cars to visit Alma from Clare, but, according to our timetable,by 1931 the 9:47 AM No. 52 was your only choice.

Jamie Ruggiero: The Model T changed things... [And the depression]

By 1973, the PM route terminated in Alma.

1973/76 Alma North and South Quads @ 24,000

The PM used to go further West.

1938/38 Alma Quad @ 62,500

Normally, a Union Station is at the crossing of the two railroads. But in this case, since the PM and AA shared a RoW on the west side of the town, the station was a block west of the crossing. In was north of the tracks and a little east of Prospect Ave. The white line between the tracks supports that theory. If you look at the above photo, you can see that a platform was built inside the tracks closest to the depot and between the tracks.

May 1, 1954 @ 23,600; AR1VDI000070007

According to the 2004 SPV Map, the PM route was operated by Mid-Michigan Railroad (MMRR), and the Ann Arbor route was operated by Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railway (TSBY).