The new tracks made an almost 90 degree curve and headed northwest towards Whitmore Lake and Hamburg. The tracks between Leland and South Lyon remained for several years but they were rarely used. [2] The curvature of the ‘Leland Bend’ was so severe that trains could not safely travel over it unless they were going at a very slow speed. In 1894 or 1895 new tracks were laid at a location which is still known as Osmer (a few miles north of Ann Arbor). These new tracks headed north, directly towards Whitmore Lake and are still in use today. Travel over the dangerous ‘Leland Bend’ was no longer necessary and this section of track fell into infrequent use.

  • Northfield harvest: a pictorial history of Northfield Township, Wystan Stevens, 1999, p. 217

The sections were finally joined and on Monday, October 18, 1886, the first train steamed from Ann Arbor to Owosso around the new Leland bend.

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