Whysall Light Railway
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The Whysall Light Railway was a private railroad constructed in the 1930's by Horace P. and Brewster H. Shaw of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The railroad was subsequently purchased by Stephen and David Booth and renamed the Tipsico Lakeshore Railroad.
History
From Railroad Magazine, 1939:
- Another midget line in Michigan is the Whysall Light Railway at Bloomfield Hills, whose engines and rolling stock were built as a hobby under the critical eye of Jesse Gall, superintendent of production at Ternstedt plant 16 in Detroit. The WLR is one-quarter of a mile long, with 7-1/4 inch gauge, eight pound mine rails, and a pebble-ballasted roadbed. The locomotive, a live steamer, can haul ten loaded cars at speeds up to thirty miles per hour with no trouble at all.
From Tipsico Lakesore Railroad:
- What was once a dream of brothers Steve and Dave Booth’s in 1935 (top photo) at age 10 and 8, became a reality in 1947 with the purchase of the 7-1/4 inch gauge Whysall Light Railway from Horace P. Shaw. Started in the early 1930’s, Shaw’s railroad had stood idle for many years on his Bloomfield Hills property near what is now the Woodward Avenue entrance to the Cranbrook Educational Community. Absorbed by the railroad bug, Stephen and David, and many enthusiastic volunteers, would labor for the next 15 years to complete a 1/2 mile point to point run.
This is one of the few known photos of Horace Shaw’s Railroad, years before it was purchased by Stephen and David Booth, and renamed the Tipsico Lakeshore. The steam locomotive and All of the cars seen in the photo, are still in use on the TLS today.
The Booth Brothers at Whysall Light Railroad in the late 1930's. Is Horace Shaw at the head of the locomotive?
