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Bad Axe, Michigan - The city's unusual name dates to the time of its settlement. While surveying the first state road through the Huron County wilderness in 1861, Rudolph Papst and George Willis Pack made camp at the future site of the city and found a much-used and badly damaged axe. At Pack’s suggestion, Papst used the name “Bad Axe Camp” in the minutes of the survey and on a sign he placed along the main trail. Bad Axe became a city in 1905. (Wikipedia)
Bad Axe was serviced by two railroads until 1951, the C&O (Pere Marquette) and the GTW. The GTW discontinued service in April, 1951. Today, rail service is provided by the Huron & Eastern Railroad. Above - Prototype photos taken in 1994 by David Held.
Left - Prototype photos showing the track side and north end of the station in 2006. All photos by David Held.
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Above - Supporting structures were built using a foam core base with appropriate styrene siding material and details added. Bad Axe Lumber & Hardware was the NASG Sponsored Citrus Shed. The Bad Axe station is a Wiseman Model Services kit altered slightly to fit the space. Grain silos were fabricated from 4 inch PVC pipe with styrene structural components added.
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Rail traffic on the PH&N RR - The time is 1957. Bad Axe is serviced regularly by the PH&N RR, the C&O and the GTW.
Occasionally, a NYC or PRR "Vacation Special" passes through on it's way to Detroit, Bay City or Grindstone City.
Click image for a larger photo.
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Above - Passenger train departing Bad Axe on the PH&N RR.
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Above & Above Rt. - Grand Trunk 0-6-0 #7529 goes about its switching chores with a cut of grain loaded box cars from the Farmers Co-Op siding at Bad Axe. (below) A local freight on its way to Port Huron arrives from Grindstone city.
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Right - Heading north, Pere Marquette #1225 enters Bad Axe after leaving Croswell. The local freight will drop several grain cars at Bad Axe and make its way to the end of the line at Kings Mill and Grindstone City where it will lay overnight and return to Port Huron in the morning.. All photos by David Held.