I do not have any information on this abandoned route. If you know anything about this route, please feel free to leave a comment below.
Thank you!
Wikipedia: Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Michigan Railroad
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I learned of this railroad moving to the town's I live in now. (Camden & Montgomery Mi.) The whole town of Camden was moved in 1870 1 mile to meet up with the new railroad. This line was to be part of the Pennsylvania RR system to connect up with the GR&I also part of the PRR. The GR&I was built to bring people from central Indiana up to the lakes, resorts, and campgrounds in the state of Michigan. It was so successful the PRR thought let's try it with central Ohio. In 1870 the MCW&LM was formed, kind of. They sold stock and where able to get the land done. Well that's as far as they got, all the road bed was in and most all the ties laid but lack of funds and mishandling of money took it's toll and in 1877 it was done. In 1889 all land was sold and most the right of way destroyed. There is still spot's in Camden where you can walk the right of way in perfect shape today. Read up on it in Hillsdale County history books to find out the story of it. In Coldwater, Mi there was track laid and the LS&MS switched it out for years. The line was to run from Mansfield, Ohio to Allegan, Mi. Some good info on Wikipedia but some off dates. Also a 1874 map showing how it would have ran. Thought you'd get a kick out of this line since it was kinda built.
Richard Roberts Michigan 8/17/2012
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This line ran from Toledo Junction north of Mansfield.
Dustin Gray Ontario Ohio 9/20/2012
I live in Henry Co. Ohio and the MC&LM ROW is about 3/4 of a mile north of where I live. I've been researching this line. The portion from Mansfield to Tiffin, did become the PRR line into Toledo. I'm thinking and still investigating if the B&O used the portion from Tiffin to Fostoria. If not they paralleled each other. The ROW did head from Fostoria to Napoleon, passing through Weston and McClure. From the Henry Co engineers web site I found this... http://henry.tgisites.com/Henry_Viewer/Viewer.html
It appears that the old DT&I bridge in Napoleon Ohio may have been part of this RR's ROW. Most of the viewer claims the ROW as undeveloped but some is shown as abandoned. Coldwater Street in McClure is the old ROW. I'm still researching this line. Email me should you have additional info or want to chat about what I've found in more detail.
Bill
AKA Deshler Railfan
Bill Shaffer McClure, OH 12/7/2012