{"product_id":"the-haywire-a-brief-history-of-the-manistique-and-lake-superior-railroad","title":"The Haywire: A Brief History of the Manistique and Lake Superior Railroad","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"The Haywire \" a railroad more properly known as the Manistique and Lake Superior Railroad for much of its existence  was one of what Willis Dunbar called the \"Little Fellows.\" In its earliest days it was the product of a New York visionary who saw a bright future for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Builders laid track through gloomy swamps  heavy forests  and treacherous muskegs. During its three-quarters of a century of existence  the railroad carried iron ores  lumber  pulpwood  alcoholic beverages  and livestock. Having limited passenger accommodations  it carried them in both passenger cars as well as cabooses  in rail-mounted motor cars  and  even  on occasion  in the locomotive cabs. Briefly  it even carried passengers on its own railroad car ferry. \"The Haywire\" played a major role in the industrial development of Michigans Manistique and Schoolcraft counties. However  for much of its life it existed in virtual anonymity-merely the northern branch of a Lower Peninsula railroad. Started by visionaries  the railroad was finished by scavengers. By 1968  \"The Haywire\" had outlived its usefulness; it had become an economic drain on its parent  the Ann Arbor Railroad  which also had economic problems. With one exception  the industries it had helped to found had ceased to exist. Trucks  cars  and a major class-1 railroad had taken over virtually all traffic; therefore  on 18 July 1968  at 12:01 A.M. \"The Haywire\" ceased to exist.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44974520762421,"sku":"ByrdShop_087013731X","price":225.56,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780870137310.jpg?v=1770662373","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-haywire-a-brief-history-of-the-manistique-and-lake-superior-railroad","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}