the manistee railroad in michigan was a wholly owned subsidiary of the flint and pere marquette railroad (f&pm). it was established on june 19, 1880, to construct a branch line from the f&pm's main line (ludington–monroe) at walhalla to manistee. the completion of this line in 1883 gave the f&pm access to manistee's lake trade and local salt mining operations. the manistee railroad was consolidated with the f&pm on january 30, 1889.