DescriptionPostcard of a steam locomotive with two passenger cars on an open plain. In the distance a house is visible in the background. People are visible in the engine's window, behind the engine and in the door of the first car. Printed on the front of the card is "FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN ON L. S. & M. S. R. R. INTO ALLEGAN, MICH., 1869. Issued by E. T. Messinger." Postcard back is blank except for the stamped text "HENRY L. BRADY" and "96-1-36" written by hand. "L. S. & M. S. R. R." is the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway "The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad was created in 1869 to combine the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana (Toledo to Chicago) with Vanderbilt lines between Toledo, Cleveland and Buffalo. It later became part of the New York Central in 1915. In Michigan, the Lake Shore had major terminal operations in Adrian and Hillsdale, as well as branch lines going north to Michigan's growing cities in Jackson, Lansing, Ypsilanti, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids." source: http://www.michiganrailroads.com/railroads-in-history/463-k-l/3532-lake-shore-and-michigan-southern-railway-company-the