Michigan Central Railroad

[richhotrain]

Thanks, rcdrye, that is very useful information.

Can you make sense of that old photo? I simply cannot match it up to the current Google Image.

Rich

[gmpullman]

@richhotrain

Can you make sense of that old photo? I simply cannot match it up to the current Google Image.

More here:

Griffith, IN: 1924-1999 CN/EJ&E vs. CN/GTW Junction Tower vs....

Here’s a Google Maps image with Broad street running l-to-r:

You’re aware of the compass in Google maps, Rich?

There’s an April of 1998 view in Google Earth Pro that shows more trackage and less ‘commercial buildup’ :

Cheers, Ed

[gmpullman]

1975, not all that long ago for some of us!

Erie RS-3’s Griffith tower April 1975 by Mark LLanuza, on Flickr

1970:

19700340 32 GTW Griffith, IN by David Wilson, on Flickr

Cheers, Ed

[richhotrain]

@gmpullman

You’re aware of the compass in Google maps, Rich?

I was asking about the first photo that I posted this morning , Ed.

Rich

[rcdrye]

C&O of Indiana started using Pere Marquette’s Rockwell Street yard near 75th and Kedzie after C&O took over the PM. Rockwell Street was reached via C&WI to Pullman Junction, and Belt Railway of Chicago the rest of the way. Of course, later, the B&OCT was used to Barr Yard.

[richhotrain]

Thanks, rcdrye. It always amazes me to trace the routes through the various junctions coming into Chicago from the east through Indiana. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle.

Rich

[amflyer1]

Those are incredible photos love see the old one and how they compare to today, thanks for sharing.

Chuck

[richhotrain]

@richhotrain

I cannot quite figure out the orientation of those old photos

I did a bit more research on those two old photos that I posted this morning. Those photos were taken facing northwest.

Rich

[richhotrain]

@gmpullman

More here:

Industrial History: Griffith, IN: 1924-1999 CN/EJ&E vs. CN/GTW Junction Tower vs. Aban/(Erie+C&O) vs. Aban/MC

He is mistaken on something. He attributed the orange colored line to CN/EJ&E, but I believe that should be NS, not CN.

Michigan Central (MC) originally shared that line with EJ&E. MC got acquired by Penn Central which is turn got divided between CSX and NS.

Rich

[gmpullman]

@richhotrain

He is mistaken on something. He attributed the orange colored line to CN/EJ&E, but I believe that should be NS, not CN.

I haven’t kept up with recent railroad M&A but I do know CN is a ‘player’ in the great lakes area.

From The Tower Friday–Griffith by SE Delmar tower, on Flickr

More here:

Griffith

Cheers, Ed

[richhotrain]

@gmpullman

I haven’t kept up with recent railroad M&A but I do know CN is a ‘player’ in the great lakes area.

CN is there in Griffith Indiana alright, but it is on the former GTW tracks, not the former Michigan Central (later PC) track.

Rich

[gmpullman]

I could be mistaken then.

Over the years, however, lines disappeared either through mergers or abandonment. By the late 1970s, only the EJ&E and Grand Trunk remained. Both were eventually acquired by the Canadian National railroad.

The New York Central is completely gone. Most of the EJ&E is gone east of Broad Street, except for the segment that runs north to Gary. A small segment of the C&O remains to serve customers. The former Erie Lackawanna right-of-way has been converted into a trail.

Today, while only one railroad company remains, there are still seven tracks to cross. The Canadian National railroad operates the former EJ&E and Grand Trunk double mainlines as the Matteson and South Bend subdivisions.

I thought NYC/MC/PC/Conrail bailed out of Griffith in the late '70s and track was pulled up in the early 1980s. I must be mistaken.

Cheers, Ed

[richhotrain]

@gmpullman

Over the years, however, lines disappeared either through mergers or abandonment. By the late 1970s, only the EJ&E and Grand Trunk remained. Both were eventually acquired by the Canadian National railroad.

The New York Central is completely gone. Most of the EJ&E is gone east of Broad Street, except for the segment that runs north to Gary. A small segment of the C&O remains to serve customers. The former Erie Lackawanna right-of-way has been converted into a trail.

Today, while only one railroad company remains, there are still seven tracks to cross. The Canadian National railroad operates the former EJ&E and Grand Trunk double mainlines as the Matteson and South Bend subdivisions.

Yep, we agree. There have been so many changes and so many reconfigurations of that crossing at Griffith Indiana that it is difficult to describe without a whole bunch of track diagrams.

This is a close-up view of the current crossing at Griffith.

Source: Google Maps

And, this track diagram labels the individual tracks.

Source: Industrial History: Griffith, IN: 1924-1999 CN/EJ&E vs. CN/GTW Junction Tower vs. Aban/(Erie+C&O) vs. Aban/MC

As you say, Ed, Canadian National owns and operates the entire junction.

Rich

[wjstix]

@richhotrain

@wjstix

I’m still trying to figure out how Michigan Central was a “small railroad”? Niagara Falls to Chicago is over 500 miles, not to mention the line up through Michigan to Mackinaw City across from the U.P. (Upper Peninsula).

Small as in, the eye of the beholder, a matter of personal opinion, the average modeler’s awareness and perception. It’s all subjective, but I think of the Michigan Central Railroad as small compared to the likes of the New York Central, Pennsylvania, Santa Fe, Union Pacific, etc.

Rich

In my case I grew up across the street from a branchline of the Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Ry. To me, that would be a small railroad compared to even a regional railroad like say the Soo Line (who eventually took over the line).

CN took over several US railroads, including Illinois Central, Wisconsin Central, and DM&IR, so has a pretty strong presence in the Midwest. CN bought the old Michigan Central / Canada Southern lines in Ontario from Conrail, and pretty much tore up the tracks.

[richhotrain]

@wjstix

CN took over several US railroads, including Illinois Central, Wisconsin Central, and DM&IR, so has a pretty strong presence in the Midwest. CN bought the old Michigan Central / Canada Southern lines in Ontario from Conrail, and pretty much tore up the tracks.

The more that I research so-called Fallen Flags, the more I come to realize how many former railroads are now part of the Canadian National landscape. Simply amazing!

Rich

[amflyer1]

I’m glad you guys brought up the CN I thought they bought up a lot of American railroads but was not sure thank you for the info. Had no idea it was that many.

Chuck

[richhotrain]

@amflyer1

I’m glad you guys brought up the CN I thought they bought up a lot of American railroads but was not sure thank you for the info. Had no idea it was that many.

What we need is a CN emoji that we can click on for every reply that includes something about CN ownership. We would overload the software.

Rich

[amflyer1]

How about this one Rich L.O.L

Chuck

[richhotrain]

Awesome, now we just have to turn it into an emoji. I wonder if the software has provision to do that?

Rich

[amflyer1]

That’s a tech question, I will have to ask the kids.

Chuck