Thursday, January 7, 2016

Pontiac, MI: CN/GTW Yard, Turntable and Coaling Tower

Yard: (Satellite)
Turntable: (Satellite)
Coaling Tower: (3D Satellite)

GTW used to enter Pontiac from five different directions. Only two of those directions still exist.

Tim Shanahan updated
Pontiac Michigan coal tower

Rick Shilling posted
1977 Grand Trunk Western Railroad Roundhouse, Turntable and Yard, Pontiac, Michigan.
 
Terry B. Carlson commented on Rick's post
1999 approximately 10 stalls were still covered by the RH. By 2002, it had all been demolished. The TT is still in use.
Google Earth Imagery Date: 6-8-2023
Location: 42.656214,-83.3180313

Charles Geletzke Jr. posted
This was the 10-stall-roundhouse at Pontiac, Michigan as it looked 54 years ago on August 13, 1962. Notice the "original" turntable operator's shanty, which was replaced in July 1967. Certainly a different era!
Todd Harrelson Looks the same as when I got there in 1977
David Cenci I spy one of the RS1's straight ahead..and an SW1200(RS) 3rd from left. Nice shot!

Craig Hensley Photography posted three photos with the comment:
CN Pontiac Terminal 
I really enjoy capturing yard shots with the drone, and while out in the Pontiac area I had to grab a shot of CN yard. The aerial perspective really defines the track and switch layout, and also highlights the relics from the past. I find it fascinating that throughout all the years of modernization, the coaling tower still stands on the far side of the yard. You can also see the remnants of the roundhouse and the turntable that is still there as well. Even though this yard may not seem busy, but I'm sure there is still plenty of rail traffic that cruises through coming out of Detroit.
Tech: DJI Mavic Air 2s
Symbol: N/A
Engine/s: CN 5662 (EMD SD75I)
Date: 5/30/21 4pm
Location: CN Pontiac Terminal, Pontiac, Michigan
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Richard Hueston -> Grand Trunk Western Historical Society

Brandon Mooney posted
GTW 4925 switches Pontiac yard on a misty morning.
Update: Pete Bloom posted two photos with the comment: "Where the roundhouse used to be. And where the long unused coaling tower still stands. Pontiac, Mi. Feb 2017."

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Robert Werth posted two photos with the comment: "Here is the old coaling tower and the old roundhouse at the Grand Trunk Western yard in Pontiac, MI. I took these pictures in the late 1980's or the early 1990's....."
Chad Thompson Pontiac Coal Tower still stands. The roundhouse came down in 1996.

The compressor and drop table went to MSTRP (now Steam Railroading Institute). I believe that they in turn scrapped the compressor and sold/traded the drop table to another preservation entity.


There were patterns saved out of the pattern shop. Those since were sold by SRI to a private collector.

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Ward J McGinnis commented on Robert's posting
Taken in 2013
William D G Baker commented on Robert's posting
Robert Werth posted
I took this picture on a cold December day in the 1980's in Pontiac, MI.
Jeffrey Dobek Off to the right you can see some of the ex-PRR "Keystone" cars that SEMTA purchased, but never put into service. Some of these later ended up on the Coe Rail dinner train in Walled Lake, MI.
Jeffrey Dobek The cars on the left are a mix of ex-UP and ex-PRR cars that SEMTA used on the Detroit commuter trains.

Larry Burk posted
One more from Pontiac. The hill at Durant Ave was a good spot to railfan.
Note the passenger cars center left. When Blue Water Chapter used to have their stuff at the car shop in the yard.
Geri Climer Dunkle: Larry Burk is anything Bluewater still going?
Gabriel Wehner: Geri Climer Dunkle Dissolved in 2019, many cars from the chapters glory days are now in the hands of museums and private owners. Many went to Gary Southgate of Saskatchewan for his CN “Supercontinental” trainset.
Geri Climer Dunkle: ‘Twas grand riding to Port Huron, Cadillac, Fort Wayne and Bellevue… the last two with 611 for steam power❣️🚂
Tim Shanahan shared
Pontiac Michigan

One of nine photos posted by Terry Cummins.

One of nine photos posted by Terry Cummins.
Rodney D Zona The canopy over the diesel fuel pumps at the Pontiac yard. The building on the right was part of the old roundhouse.
Chad Thompson Roundhouse was razed in 1996.The drop table and air compressor went to Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation (SRI).I believe the compressor was later scrapped and the drop table sold?
Terry Cummins What is a drop table?
Dennis DeBruler Terry Cummins It is in a pit under a locomotive in a Diesel Shop that facilitates replacing axle sets. Can you see these photos of the BNSF drop table in Galesburg, IL? They are in a private group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/402599380076756/permalink/1010253219311366/

Chad Thompson Dennis DeBruler - they had them in roundhouses as well for steam locomotives.

Chad Thopson commented on terry's post
I have this ad in my collection, but it shows what was in a typical class I roundhouse.
[Note the ""CHANGE THOSE TIRES" description on the right side. ]


Eric Seitz posted three images of the coaling tower.

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