Depot

A ride to Ontonagon to see the Depot and the Railroad Bridge. I have already posted the RR bridge and now we see the Depot! It is in pretty bad shape but there is still hope. At the beginning I say it is the museum-of course it is the Depot! I talked with the city and they told me the DNR owned it. After many phone calls I found the DNR employee who deals with the Railroad. He called me today and said the DNR in fact does not own it and the RR kept it for the museum or city-he was not sure who exactly owned it. A call to the museum produced no results and they are closed for the year but I will continue to pursue that avenue! The DNR employee said he is still trying to get the facts but with the bad weather and deer season he is not having much luck-but he will let me know as soon as he finds out! I had to delete the end of the video as I put my head inside a broken window and was overwhelmed by the smell and uttered a swear word!!!. I think it may be raccoon feces. The last videos are from the Detroit/Toledo area that I posted before decided to do again! Hope you enjoy!

[@donharsh1503]

Awesome depot and watching enjoying and awesome video too 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😎 AWESOME VIDEO Nancy ❤️

[@nancyhaun]

THanks Don!

[@Erik-mz7yq]

This was the former Milwaukee Road depot. Many years ago, the Chippewa Hiawatha ended its run here from Chicago. The rail was probably 70 lb. rail. In the 1970's, the Milwaukee Road was in bad shape financially and ceased non-essential maintenance. Escanaba and Lake Superior took over and pretty much ceased maintenance on its entire line from Iron Mountain, except for taking care of derailment. As shame. Perhaps someone will buy it and do a restoration.😢😢😢

[@nancyhaun]

The depot was supposed to be given to the Historical Society to repurpose but that fell through and now it is failing fast. I doubt it will be saved. The Depot in Channing is looking bad and the one in Crivitz is boarded up and it appears this railroad just doesn't care. But that is the way with many old Depots!

[@alvinriegel6074]

Makes me sad, with all the money being sent to other countries we cannot save a piece of history with the station. 😢😢

[@nancyhaun]

If it were up to me all the Railroad "stuff" would be saved!

[@hughgautier3894]

Those big ars that have covers over them are metal coil cars that protect the steel coils.

[@ajknaup3530]

Love Ontanogan & their RR depot. Thanks for this video, Nancy.

[@nancyhaun]

I just found out the owner of the RR still owns the Depot.

[@robinroberts3335]

Found the station 👍🏻 . Sad the tracks are no longer around . Nice NS trains 👍🏻 .Thxs Robin out

[@nancyhaun]

Copy that Robin!

[@paulbergen9114]

Poor old depot. Is there a snowmobile trail and\or bike trail nearby? It would make a decent trailhead bldg. Sell snacks and souveniers and the like. I still remember the numerous box cars owned by the Moscow Camden and San Augustine. MCSA that were stenciled when empty return to agent E&LS Ry Ontonagon MI for paper loading only. Likewise there was a large number of former Detroit and Mackinac cars that later were re- stenciled for the MSDR Mississippi Delta RR and seemed to be serviced at Crivitz WI where they had scaffolding some welding equipment and a small 12-ton Plymouth locomotive. I also enjoyed checking out the short but illustrious era of the Diamond Match Co. Which pretty much bailed after the big 1896 fire. Their rebirth in Chico CA includes company homes a huge Factory being on the end of the Sacramento Northern and probably the smallest streetcar system in California that had bought new Birney Cars running into the post war era.

[@nancyhaun]

I recently found out the owner of the E&LS still owns the Depot and it's supposed to be as it was-but someone or thing has been inside.

[@billxam2674]

What is that building exactly? Was that used for something besides the station? Toledo is a pretty long trip from the U.P.. Now you're shooting Jaw Tooth trains!

[@nancyhaun]

It was the old Railroad Depot-I am not sure if it was used for anything else or not!

[@stevenbiffoni9766]

In the summer 2022 issue of classic trains, there's an article by a former station agent. I don't know if you've read it, it's worth reading. It is shame that the depot has not gotten the attention it needs to be made into a museum.Great video

[@nancyhaun]

Thanks Steven-I talked with the past president of the museum and he reports they did everything they could to save the museum but the owner-a Mr. Larkin who owns the E&LS RR does not want to sell. He did have the museum get an appraisal at some point to possibly donate it to the museum-but declined later-he says the RR may start up again. The rails are gone now and it would be very expensive to start it up again. The museum might have been saved 5 years ago but it is almost impossible now. As to the interior-vandals have pretty much ruined any important paperwork.

[@paulsmith5398]

Nice compilation, ive missed a few videos...........i have a new lady friend that keeps me busy doing repairs for her, i am currently making new pickets for her fence...............have a great Thanksgiving!

[@nancyhaun]

You sound pretty busy Paul! Happy Thanksgiving!

[@hughgautier3894]

The stacks on the cars were truck frames

[@poowg2657]

There used to be a steam locomotive at the paper mill on the south side of the river but I can't seem to find much info on it. I have pics in my stash somewhere but can't put my hands on them. Great video!

[@nancyhaun]

If you find them I'd love to see them!

[@poowg2657]

Probably took them 30 yrs. ago and they're in the hoarder's mess in the basement somewhere. Surely someone else on this site has pics of it.

[@davidsquires154]

Hi Nancy, This is an excellent video,of the Ontonagon Depot. It is sad that,there are no railroad tracks along side the Ontonagon Depot. My last trip to Port Huron and I seen a Lake State Railway train. And I also seen a Great Lakes Freighter. Tonight,I was watching the 6:00pm local news and weather. I just heard that Buffalo,New York is getting 5 feet of snow 🌨. Now,that you are in Toledo,Ohio and Norfolk/Southern Trains are Jaw Tooth's trains.

[@nancyhaun]

Port Huron is pretty awesome!

[@erbewayne6868]

That portion of the Lake State is not being used in Port Huron as the paper mill was closed. The boats still go past.

[@TI4438]

This was a fun vid. Really enjoying it.

[@nancyhaun]

THanks!

[@georgesmith8113]

Very interesting about the old depot. Definitely some goodies both inside and out. Fun to see. And yeah……amazing how quiet that train was. Thanks Nancy! 👍👍👍👊😎

[@nancyhaun]

Hi George!

[@bryanlosen3262]

Definitely not owned by the DNR. They don't buy railroad depots... My father in law is retired from the DNR and assured me that it isn't owned by them...

[@HavelockYard]

In Ontario real estate agents can look up who owns a property (and the last price paid for it ) for you

[@bryanlosen3262]

Conrail went out of business decades ago, so not sure what you meant when viewing NS that Conrail is here. They aren't...

[@douglasweller9709]

Maybe tell us what state this is in. I have no idea .

[@nancyhaun]

Michigan

[@ajknaup3530]

Ontonagon is in the western part of Michigan's Upper Penninsula, on the Lake Superior shore.

[@ScottMiller-le4hb]

My hometowns Keokuk Union Depot is under restoration and i have some beautiful images of it with its new lighting recently when the small yard in front of it had been unusually completely emptied , providing an really nice opportunity to photograph it about dusk .

[@ScottMiller-le4hb]

I see you are spread'n out a bit but Toledo ? Keokuk Union Depot was one of Two , Western Terminals of the ; Old Toledo Peoria & Western RR . It wouldn't even go to Toledo !

[@ScottMiller-le4hb]

Both places but particularly the latter looked like places to potentially get mugged or worse ! Be careful !

[@thomasrobinson8336]

Great video. very sad