Oxford, MI: Tower (XD): GTW vs. NYC/MC and NYC/MC Depot

(Satellite, the tower was in the northeast quadrant, and the depot was in the southest quadrant.)

It is easy to find the GTW RoW because it is now the Polly Ann Trail - Oakland County, including a new trail bridge over Washington Street. And land scars show where NYC cut diagonally through town.

Carl Venzke posted
A northbound Grand Trunk Western gravel train pulls past XD Tower at Oxford, Michigan. This photo was taken in 1957 by Michigan Central Engineer E. L. Novak as he sat waiting for his signal to proceed through the interlocking.

Charles Geletzke Jr. posted
GTW 4-6-2 5038 is headed south and is stopped at the NYC's tower and depot in Oxford, Michigan in 1956. My father grew-up in Oxford and had a friend whose father was the afternoon operator in the tower.  Dad said he spent many afternoons up there in the tower during the late 1930's. The building on the left was a hotel. (Ernest L. Novak photo; C. H. Geletzke, Jr. collection)
Charles Geletzke Jr. posted with the same comment
Tim Shanahan shared

T. J. Gaffney commented on Charles' second post
Here we go. Let’s give old Ernie the credit right on the photo. 👍

 

Gregory Taylor Mills commented on Charles' second post
This is the Michigan Central RR and station, not NYC (though the mistake is understandable since MCR was owned by the NYC. Keep in mind MCR was a stand-alone operation with its own distinct ID call letters, equipment and depots, with rail trackage rights through Canada to Niagara & Buffalo. Here's an official map, you'll notice there is no indication of NYC anywhere.

Maxwell Crosby: Gregory Taylor Mills given the Michigan Central was bought by NYC and under full control of the NYC by then this is the New York Central

Charles Geletzke Jr. posted in Grand Trunk Western Historical Society
On July 27, 1967 we see Train 549 the "Caseville Local" at Oxford, Michigan with the GTW 1512. During this entire summer, Trains 549/552 ran as a "turn" 99 miles from Pontiac to Caseville & return each day (M-Sa). This was the only time this was ever done! I will have the entire story in my next book, this fall. (C. H. Geletzke, Jr. photo)

Mike Long: Looking forward to your book. I grew up along the Cass City Sub in Oxford. I'd catch the train almost every day in the summers 1979-1983.

Northbound run on Mon, Wed, & Fri; returning Southbound to Pontiac on Tues, Thu, & Sat.

The caboose was always #75014 with the "Safety Pays Allways" safety slogan, power was one of the new GP38-2s.

End of summer also had occasional Bean trains Extras to Pigeon, usually a pair of GP9's and a long string of blue GTW PS & ACF covered hoppers.