Railroads first came to Plymouth in 1871 with two major rail lines crossing there. The first companies operating there were the Detroit, Lansing & Lake Michigan Railroad and the Holly, Wayne & Monroe Railway. The railroad companies were very fluid early on, changing hands frequently. Ultimately, the Pere Marquette Railroad took over both lines. Through the years, the tracks were also owned by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, the Chessie System, and CSX, which owns the tracks today. The railroads allowed Plymouth to thrive as a commercial manufacturing location.