The company's main line is partially abandoned with ownership split between the state of Michigan, the Huron and Eastern Railway, and the shortline Ann Arbor Railroad (founded in 1988).

The railroad company was chartered September 21, 1895, as successor to the Toledo, Ann Arbor and North Michigan Railway.

Major stops on the route besides the end points included Ann Arbor, Durand, Owosso, Mt.

[6] The combined DT&I and AA were operated as independent subsidiaries of the PRR but suffered from the parent company's ill-fated 1968 merger with the New York Central.

Upon the resulting Penn Central's 1970 bankruptcy, the DT&I and its Ann Arbor subsidiary were sold off to private investors.

[8] In 1984 the state ended Michigan Northern's contract and designated Tuscola & Saginaw Bay as the operator on that portion.