Whysall Light Railway

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.

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.

References

• The Whysall Light Railway