Lansing, St. Johns and St. Louis Railway

The company incorporated on April 10, 1900, with the intention of constructing a new line north from Lansing through St. Johns and Maple Rapids to St. Louis (today the route of U.S. Highway 127).

On entering Lansing trains joined the Cedar Street line of the local streetcar system.

Arnold's account states that steam service began on November 15, 1901; Meints puts the completion of the line in February 1902.

[2][3] Construction of the overhead lines was finished by December 1902, and tests began the following March.

These were of wooden construction, 56 feet 5 inches (17.20 m) in length, capable of seating 50 passengers, but at that stage Arnold's experimental motor lacked the motive power to drive them.

A sketch of a car supplied by the Jewett Car Company and fitted with a trolley pole to connect with the overhead lines .
A technical drawing of Arnold's second locomotive, which was lost in the fire of December 1903.