PREX 1616 between White Pigeon and Sturgis, Michigan.
(Fair use, Title 17, Section 107, via https://www.youtube.com/@PereMarquette1223)
MICHIGAN SOUTHERN RAILROAD (MSO) (1989)
The Michigan Southern Railroad (reporting mark MSO), was created in 1989 to operate former New York Central lines in Branch and St. Joseph counties. These lines include a portion of the former Michigan Southern Railroad (1846-1855) between White Pigeon and Sturgis, Michigan and former GR&I trackage in and near Sturgis. At White Pigeon, the line connects with the Grand Elk. Until 2012, the line connected with the Indiana Northeastern Railroad in Sturgis, when Indiana Northeastern abandoned a portion of their line between Batavia and Sturgis.
The line was operated and owned by Pioneer Railcorp since 1999 and was acquired by Patriot Rail in 2022.
The main commodities hauled on the line include scrap, paper, coal, lumber, sand, and soybean oil.
Chasing Pioneer's Michigan Southern
A seldom seen operation, the Michigan Southern is a Pioneer (now Patriot Rail) owned and operated railroad running on the former New York Central "Old Road" and portions of former PRR mainline between White Pigeon and Sturgis, Michigan. It is at the moment, the only Pioneer owned operation in Michigan. The "Old Road" is one of the oldest railroads in the State of Michigan, predating most other rail lines in the state. Power for the line consists of a pair of former Seaboard GP16 rebuilds, but today we see only one of these units in operation as it slowly makes its way between White Pigeon and Sturgis and return.
Michigan Southern Railroad Overview
Headquarters: Peoria, Illinois
Reporting mark: MSO
Locale: Southern Michigan
Dates of operation: 1989–Present
Predecessor: Conrail
Technical
Track gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length: 17.09 miles
Other
Website: pioneerlines.com/the-michigan-southern-railroad-company-mso/
