By 1897, the line between Grosvenor and Fayette was the only portion of the Chicago and Canada Southern Railway that remained under LS&MS control.

[2] The LS&MS was one of a dozen companies consolidated in 1914 to create the modern New York Central Railroad.

The New York Central abandoned the western 6.6 miles (10.6 km) between Fayette and Morenci, Michigan, in 1941.

The final system plan of the United States Railway Association classified the line as "light density" and it was not conveyed to Conrail.

The Lenawee County Railroad succeeded Conrail as the designated operator of the line on April 1, 1978.