 |
| Photo by Douglas Weitzman 10-2013. Looking west at the old Grand Trunk Western coal chute at Durand, Mich. [The yard was along the Detroit Line. The branch curving off and going northeast to Lennon is now the Central Michigan Railway CMGN).] |
 |
| Photo by Douglas Weitzman 10-2013. The GTW Durand, Mich station. Tracks on the right were the Main, opposite side was the Detroit Line & AA. [Amtrak and CP also operate on the CN/GTW main. Tuscola and Sabinaw Bay Railway (TSBY) operates the GTW Detroit Line to the west. Since the AA was redundant with the GTW line, it has been abandoned. TSBY and CN operate the Detroit Line to Pitt where TSBY heads south on the former AA route.] |
 |
| Jim Kelling posted Durand Michigan (Grand Trunk Western, gone) photo |
 |
| Charles Geletzke Jr. posted A late 1950's aerial view of the GTW roundhouse and yard in Durand, Michigan.(Carl Dennis photo) |
 |
| Terry B. Carlson commented on Jim's post Sadly, nothing is left. This is a June 2011 shot that best shows the remains. |
I found it with this topo map before I saw Terry's comment.
 |
| 1943 Durand Quad @ 62,500 |
 |
| Mark Mcgowan posted Durand, Michigan's Union Station once served the Grand Trunk Western and Ann Arbor Railroads. From its construction in 1903 until the late 1940s, only the Detroit Central Station was busier in the state. The Ann Arbor discontinued passenger service here in 1950 and the GTW in 1971. They closed the depot in 1974, the same year Amtrak restored service here, although only intercity service is offered and an office in the depot is only used for ticket sales. The building is now owned by the City of Durand. It is preserved and cared for by the non-profit Durand Union Station, Inc. and houses GTW and Ann Arbor rail museums. I'm assuming the interlocking in the foreground was the GTW/Ann Arbor but I'm not certain. In a Google Earth of the location it appears the diamonds are removed but it's hard to tell. Any more information (or corrections) on this spectacular structure would be greatly appreciated! (Undated photo by Robert Genat) Greg Neyman: Railstream has a live camera at this location. |
 |
| Steam Engines, Tractors, Trains, & More posted Seven trains at the Durand, Michigan Grand Trunk Depot, circa 1900-10. Mark Breznay shared Stephen Phillips shared Mark Mcgowan posted Trains, crews, passengers and the public pose at the depot at Durand, Michigan in 1905. The original depot, exactly like this one, burned in 1904. This station served the Grand Trunk Western and Ann Arbor Railroads and saw about 150 trains per day at its peak. Library of Congress photo Dan McClary: The view is, of course, a left front 3/4 photo of the depot. The Ann Arbor RR engines are on the track on the depot's right side [behind the depot] facing each other across the diamond. The photo's lower left engine is GTW. The left-hand Ann Arbor engine is above the Lower left GTW engine and the right-hand Ann Arbor engine is next to the depot looking like it is almost hitting the rear passenger car of a Flint heading GTW passenger train. The Annie's track was still used when I worked on the Ann Arbor RR in 1969 and I remember passengers on the depot's right front platform waiting for a GTW passenger train (two years before Amtrak started in1971) as our Ann Arbor freight train crossed the depot's left side tracks on the diamonds behind the depot, curving to it's right side then up along the right side of the depot. We were very concerned that the waiting passengers had their backs toward us and we were afraid they might step in front of our approaching train (lots of horn blowing and constant bell ringing). The Ann Arbor's track has now been removed, subsequent to the Conrail breakup that affected the Ann Arbor RR (the AARR was owned by the DT&I, which was owned by the PRR, which became part of Conrail), and the depot's parking lot was extended over where the tracks were at. So, if you visit the Durand Depot and park your car facing the right side of it, you are parked on top of where that track was at.When the Conrail assets were sold off, the GTW bought the Ann Arbor RR's track from Durand through Owosso, including the AARR'S shops, and up to Ashley, where the GTW's second line (ex TS&M) branched off toward Muskegon. For years, the GTW had to pay trackage rights to the Ann Arbor RR from Owosso to Ashley. Now the roles were reversed. The GTW now owned the tracks from Durand to Ashley. They removed the Ann Arbor's trackage on the right side of the Durand Depot, put in a switch to connect the Ann Arbor to the GTW's left side depot track and then made the AARR pay revenge trackage rights from Durand to Owosso and Ashley, plus the Ann Arbor and it's successors (TSBY, etc.), had to now rent it's own Owosso shops from the GTW. This was one of the great screwups of the Conrail breakup and the GTW took advantage of it. I don't know if the trackage/shops are still leased from the GTW/CN, or if other arrangements have been made over the years since then. Maybe someone can update me. |
A different exposure.
.jpg) |
| Clare Union Railroad Depot posted Down at the Durand Station, early in the last century, the Ann Arbor and Grand Trunk Railroads staged what has become this classic photo. No less than 7 trains are seen meeting at multiple diamonds in this uncredited photo from around 1905. On the rear of the postcard, sender Lyle hopes his friend Hilda Richards gets better. (see comment section) Later, the local papers around Pinconning reported on Miss Hilda Richards’ teaching and social life in the early 1930s. We can only hope that was Lyle’s friend whom he thought of when he sent his note. The Durand Union Station now houses the Michigan Railroad History Museum. See durandstation.org for details. Robert Warrick shared |
 |
| Craig Hensley Photography posted A flurry of snow falls over Durand, MI as we look south towards the diamond where the CN Flint sub crosses the Holly sub in front of Durand Union Station. Durand, MI - November 2024 |
 |
| Durand Union Station-Michigan Railroad History Museum posted A century ago, Durand Union Station was alive with activity - a continuous stream of people and trains were arriving and departing from the railroad hub of Durand, MI. Around 1911, at its peak, Durand had up to 42 passenger, 22 mail, and 78 freight trains pass through EACH DAY. 🚂 At this same time, nearly 3,000 passengers came through Durand Union Station daily. The depot is truly a testament to a bygone era. |
 |
| Robert Wanner posted Grand Trunk Western RR at Durand, Michigan as it looked in 1954. Mainline Port Huron, Battle Creek to Chicago, Detroit to Grand Rapids, Muskegon Line crossing left to right. Lots of activity. Photo from the collection. |
 |
| Raymond Storey posted DURAND MI 1955 |
 |
| Charles Geletzke Jr. posted Always one of my favorite photos! On July 21, 1967, the Ann Arbor Railroad was running a Sperry Track Inspection Car westbound. I happened to catch it passing the east side of the depot in Durand, Michigan. Here it is waiting for the GTW Switchtender to line the gate, so that it might proceed. (C. H. Geletzke, Jr. photo) Tom Weaver: Not track inspection Chuck, rail detector car just looking for rail defects. Sorry for being an Engineering Department snob! |
 |
| Craig Hensley Photography posted CN E251 makes the turn of the Holly sub and onto the Flint sub through Durand, MI with the historic Union Station filling in the background. Durand, MI - July 2021 |
 |
| Greg Bunce posted GTW#s 5634, 5633 and two unidentified locomotives in the dead line Durand 1962. Slide from Joe Rodgers. [The deadline was long enough that he caught the coal tower at the end.] |
 |
| Peter Mayor posted A beautiful morning to stare at the coaling tower in Durand and try to picture it alive with activity decades ago on a similar day... Nicholas Katz I know this is a drone shot, but is it possible to take photos on the ground of the tower without trespassing? Peter Mayor Negative Tim Shanahan shared |
Stock Pens
 |
| Charles Geletzke Jr. posted The GTW stock pens at Durand, Michigan as seen in September 1967. The last car of livestock was unloaded here for feed, water, and rest on October 25, 1969. (C. H. Geletzke, Jr. photo) |
Depot
 |
| Roger Riblett shared Craig Hensley Photography's post CN Combo Shot Carson and I visited the station in Durand this past Saturday. It definitely was not a busy afternoon as we waited quite a while for this E251 to come through, and it was the only train we saw. We had fun anyways checking out the model railroad in the meantime, and walking through the museum. Tech: DJI Mavic Air 2s + Canon 5D Mark III + Canon 70-200mm f2.8 is ii Symbol CN E251 Date: 7/24/21 430p Location: Durand, Michigan |
 |
| Charles Geletzke Jr. posted The GTW depot in Durand, Michigan was photographed on February 26, 1988. (C. H. Geletzke, Jr. photo) Neal Marrison: Before replacement of the dormers. [So they put dormers back in as part of a restoration effort? A satellite image shows it now has dormers.] |
 |
| Clare Union Railroad Depot posted THE END OF THE STEAM ERA ON THE ANN ARBOR Article by and photo from the Warrick Wednesday Collection It is early 1951 as brand-new snow capped Ann Arbor locomotives No.51&51A are about to rattle the diamond crossings of the Grand Trunk Western’s Holly subdivision on the east side of the Durand Depot. In the years following World War II most railroad companies rushed to replace their steam locomotive fleets with diesel-electric power and the Ann Arbor was no different. Owned by the Wabash Railroad, the selection of new diesel power for the AA was heavily influenced by the parent company. The idea then pushed by the diesel salesman was that the sleek new locomotives would replace aging steam locomotives with an eye to the needs of each individual railroad’s operations. Wabash/AA management entertained proposals from every major locomotive builder of the era including the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors(EMD), Fairbanks-Morse(FM), and the American Locomotive Company(ALCO). ALCO won the contract. Seven pairs of ALCO’s FA-2s would best equal the eight 2-8-2 Mikados which were currently in use. Bowing to concerns from the powerful railroad unions that each locomotive would require a separate engine crew, the new diesels were semi-permanently coupled together to form one “locomotive unit”. To emphasize the pairs were indeed one locomotive, each of them carried the same number, albeit with the letter “A” assigned to one end to distinguish each and for direction when it came to providing train orders. Nonetheless, they appeared in the company’s official equipment book and printed timetables as one unit, one locomotive. The reign of ALCO road power on the AA was short lived. When the AA was sold by Wabash to the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton (DTI) in December, 1962, the new owners, who exclusively used Electro-Motive GMC power, moved quickly to replace the AA’s rapidly aging fleet of FA2s with ten fresh EMD GP-35s by 1964. Oddly enough, after serving the railroad together for over 14 years, No.51 was retired in March 1964, but No.51A wasn’t retired until June of the same year when both were traded as credit towards the new EMDs |
 |
| Durand Union Station-Michigan Railroad History Museum posted Just taking a moment to appreciate our beautiful, historic depot 😍 It's no surprise that Durand Union Station is considered one of the most photographed depots in the country! Kathy MacKenzie McKenney: Sheldon Cooper even had a picture of the Durand Depot on his fridge in The Big Bang Theory! |
 |
| Thomas Bowers posted This looked pretty good while in Durand on Saturday. 9-22-2024 GTW #5632 Built 1929 Baldwin Locomotive Works. Dennis DeBruler: Found it: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DKXPW5XMzidHFx8W9 |
 |
| Jonathan Fischer, Oct 2019 |
 |
| Andrew Steiner, Apr 2020 |
They have also preserved a passenger train car and....
.jpg) |
| Jonathan Fischer, Oct 2019 |
...an interlocking tower.
 |
| Edward Gross, Sep 2013 |
 |
| 1 of 14 interior photos posted by Larry W Harrell |
 |
| Michelle Myrda Lovell posted I took this photograph May 2024… Durand Union Station is one of the most famous historic railroad depots in Michigan and one of the most photographed train stations in the United States. Located in the small city of Durand — nicknamed “Railroad City, USA” — the station became important because two major rail lines crossed there, creating a major railroad hub in the early 20th century. What makes it special The station is unusual because of its wedge-shaped design. It was built right at a rail “diamond” where the east–west and north–south tracks intersect. Instead of facing one direction like most depots, the building sits between the tracks almost like the prow of a ship. That shape is one reason railfans and photographers love it. Today it serves several roles at once: Active Amtrak station Railroad museum Historic landmark Event venue Railfan observation spot Community symbol for Durand It is still used by Amtrak trains on the Blue Water route between Chicago and Port Huron. History Construction and railroad boom Durand Union Station was constructed beginning in 1903 and opened around 1905 during the golden age of rail travel. It served the: Grand Trunk Western Railroad Ann Arbor Railroad At its peak, Durand was extremely busy. Passenger trains, freight trains, railroad workers, mail trains, and travelers all passed through the junction daily. The railroads helped build the town’s economy and identity. The station acted as: Passenger terminal Railroad office center Switching hub Crew location Social gateway to the city In the early 1900s, railroad towns were bustling places full of hotels, restaurants, workers, and travelers, and Durand was one of Michigan’s important examples. Near demolition — and rescue Passenger rail traffic declined heavily after World War II as cars and airplanes became dominant. The station eventually closed as a full-service depot in 1974 and was nearly demolished. But local citizens fought to save it. The City of Durand purchased the building for just $1 in 1979, and preservation efforts began. A nonprofit organization — Durand Union Station, Inc. — was formed to restore and maintain the structure. That preservation effort is considered one of Michigan’s important railroad conservation success stories. Architecture The station is architecturally dramatic for such a small town. Features include: Richardsonian/Romanesque influences Massive brick construction Tall rooflines Arched windows Turrets and towers Ornate interior woodwork Large waiting rooms Symmetrical track-facing design Inside, the station still has much of the atmosphere of early 1900s rail travel. Visitors often describe it as feeling like stepping into another era. Museums inside The depot houses the Michigan Railroad History Museum along with collections focused on: Grand Trunk Western Railroad history Ann Arbor Railroad history Michigan railroading Railroad labor and technology Historic photographs Timetables and artifacts Railroad tools and equipment There is also a model railroad operation inside the station. The archives reportedly include: Historical ledgers Technical railroad records Genealogy materials Union documents Thousands of photographs That makes it valuable not only to railfans but also historians and researchers. Railroad fan hotspot Durand Union Station is extremely popular with train enthusiasts because active freight lines still cross directly beside the depot. Railroads operating nearby include: Canadian National Great Lakes Central Huron & Eastern Freight traffic can be heavy, and trains pass very close to the historic building. Many railfans consider it one of the best train-watching locations in Michigan. Railroad Days Festival One of the station’s biggest annual traditions is the Durand Railroad Days Festival, usually held in May. The event often includes: Train displays Railroad history exhibits Model railroads Excursion activities Vendors Community celebrations Rail photography opportunities For train enthusiasts, it is a major regional attraction. National historic status The station was added to: National Register of Historic Places in 1971 Michigan Register of Historic Places in 1987 That recognition helped preserve the building and acknowledged its importance to American railroad history. Visiting information Durand Union Station 5.0 • Landmarks & Historical Buildings Current features include: Museum exhibits Gift shop Audio tours Event rentals Wedding and reception space Active Amtrak service Rail viewing opportunities Address: 200 S Railroad St, Durand, MI 48429 The depot is also ADA compliant and offers sensory-inclusive accommodations. Why people love it Durand Union Station appeals to different groups for different reasons: Historians love the preservation Railfans love the active tracks Photographers love the architecture Families enjoy the museum Travelers use the Amtrak stop Locals see it as the symbol of the city For many Michiganders, it represents the romance of classic American railroading better than almost any surviving depot in the state. |
21 photos in the private group Grand Trunk Western Historical Societ, in case you want to join.
No comments:
Post a Comment