In addition to the GRGH&M, Westinghouse, Church Kerr and Co. owned the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad and was building that line at the same time.

In the cities of Grand Rapids and Muskegon, the line used the tracks of the local street railway systems.

[7] Although the main purpose of the GRGH&M was carrying passengers and express packages between the major and minor cities on its route, a boat connection between Grand Haven and Chicago was a key feature.

Private automobiles and paved highways were poised to cut into both passenger and freight traffic.

United Light and Power transferred ownership once again, spinning the company off to a group of local managers.