The Detroit and Shelby Railroad Company was a project initiated as part of the Michigan Internal Improvements Program in the 1830s which had the goal of linking Detroit to Shelby Township through a series of steam-powered railroads. Despite ambitious plans for success and even the construction of a hotel, the railway unfortunately met its premature end when its omnibus car derailed just five miles from reaching Detroit.
The Michigan Internal Improvements program of the 1830s was a significant driver in the development of both railroad and canal projects, leading to the authorization of the Romeo and Mount Clemens Railroad Company in 1833. This company had a capital stock of $150,000 and was given six years for construction, though its charter was eventually allowed to lapse. The introduction of steam-powered railroads, with their iconic wood-burning engines, marked the demise of plank roads throughout Michigan.
Nevertheless, the Detroit and Shelby Railroad Company was one of the five lucky railroads to be built from the original charters, which numbered twenty-one. Incorporated on March 7th, 1834, and beginning operations in September 1839, this railway was designed to connect the bustling Campus Martius in Detroit with the settlement of Utica or Leech's Mill in Shelby Township. With rails of poles strapped to logs and horse-drawn coaches, the Detroit and Shelby Railroad Company had great visions for success and even built a three-story hotel in anticipation of the growth that this project and the Clinton & Kalamazoo Canal could bring to Utica.
However, only five miles from its destination in Detroit, an issue with the roadbed caused the omnibus car to slide into Conner's Creek and the service was cut short in 1844. The legislature then changed the name to the Detroit, Romeo, and Port Huron Railroad, but it was ultimately unsuccessful. Despite this setback, the Detroit and Shelby Railroad Company still managed to extend their railway to Bay City, where it became the Detroit Bay City Railroad.
In 1928, it was incorporated into the Michigan Central System and is now operated by Conrail. This railroad follows a route that was established more than thirty years earlier. The Macomb County railway network was further developed in 1859 with the construction of the Detroit and Canada Grand Trunk Junction Railroad, which connected to the Michigan Central at West Detroit. This line became a major artery for transporting goods between the Grand Trunk and the West. Ten years later, the Michigan Air Line opened, connecting Ridgeway (now Lenox) to Romeo, and was eventually extended to Shelby and Pontiac. This expansion of transportation infrastructure enabled Macomb County to become connected to the world beyond.
Today, the Grand Trunk tracks have been removed and converted into the Macomb Orchard Trail, a 23-mile stretch of trail from Richmond to Shelby Township. This trail crosses Dequindre Road south of 24 Mile Road/Parkdale, connecting to the Clinton River Trail, Paint Creek Trail, Bloomer Park, Stony Creek, and finally Pontiac. The Macomb Orchard Trail is a testament to the county's rich transportation history and a great source of pride for all of Macomb County.
Ultimately, the Michigan Internal Improvements program of the 1830s gave rise to several ambitious railroads and canals that not only facilitated easy access between metropolitan areas but also fostered the chance for economic development in rural areas. However, the journey towards building a successful railway was not easily achieved, as evidenced by the Detroit and Shelby Railroad Company. As history shows us, unsuccessful projects might be overshadowed by their successes. Despite the initial failure of the Detroit, Rome, and Port Huron Railroad, this project eventually led to the creation of the Detroit Bay City Railroad and connected existing business centers while providing larger cities with a means to improve rail service and increase trade opportunities.
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