Kalamazoo, Lake Shore and Chicago Railway

KLS&C engine #37, circa 1910.

The Kalamazoo, Lake Shore and Chicago Railway (aka The Fruit Belt Line) operated on track laid between Kalamazoo and South Haven, Michigan. Much of the track has been removed and is now known as the "Van Buren Trail".

The railway went through the following towns, starting from the east:

• Kalamazoo, Michigan
• Oshtemo, Michigan
• Brighton, Michigan
• Rix, Michigan
• Walker, Michigan
• Eassom, Michigan
• Mattawan, Michigan
• Newbre, Michigan
• Lawton, Michigan
• Paw Paw, Michigan
• Barrison, Michigan
• Lake Cora, Michigan
• Lawrence, Michigan
• Hartford, Michigan
• Toquin, Michigan
• Covert, Michigan
• Packard, Michigan
• Fruitland, Michigan
• Cableton, Michigan
• South Haven, Michigan^[1]

References

• Brock, Thomas D. (June 1955). "Paw Paw Versus the Railroads". Michigan History. 39: 129–183.
• Geo.A. Ogle & Co. (1910). Standard atlas of Kalamazoo County Michigan. Chicago: G.A. Ogle.
• Hager, David C. (1976). Next Stop Kalamazoo: A History of Railroading in Kalamazoo County. Kalamazoo: Kalamazoo Public Museum.
• Meints, Graydon (September 2005). "The fruit belt line: Southwest Michigan's failed railroad". Michigan Historical Review. 31 (2): 117–149.
• Meints, Graydon M. (1992). Michigan Railroads and Railroad Companies. East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State University Press. ISBN 978-0-87013-318-3.

External links

• Van Buren County Road Commission - Van Buren Trail page
• Southwest Michigan Fruit Belt Project
• Record of KLS&C #950 Pullman passenger car in private collection
• Pioneer Railcorp (current owner since 1995) - info on dinner train excursions
• 1909 Report on KLS&C by the Michigan Railroad Commission
• Michigan Passenger Stations - currently missing KLS&C depot photos...