Lapeer, MI: Amtrak/GTW Depot & 3 Preserved Cabooses and Junction (G) Tower: GTW vs. MC

Depot: (Satellite)

Tower: (Satellite, according to Charles' photo below, it was catty-corner from the depot.)

For once, Amtrak uses the cute little depot that was already in the town.

Street View, Jun 2022

Street View, Jun 2022

Charlie Whipp posted
Another one to cool you off this morning, caught on a morning coffee run after an overnight snow storm. The old Grand Trunk station at Lapeer has seen many beautiful winter mornings like this in its 123 year history.
Dennis DeBruler shared

Dennis DeBruler posted two street views with the comment: "Lapeer, MI, preserved their depot and some cabooses. (The GT is privately owned, but shared with the public.) And Amtrak uses the preserved depot. The Grand Trunk ran east/west through town and the Michigan Central went north/south. And the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton was in southeast Michigan."

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The Michigan Central went north/south through town just east of the depot. CN uses a remnant of the southern spoke as an industrial spur to Delta Faucet Company. In a satellite image, I saw three covered hoppers spotted next to the plant. They are probably carrying plastic pellets.

1963 Lapeer Quad @ 24,000

This is probably a feed mill. Note the little locomotive on the left side. And the circular foundation for an abandoned grain bin.

Satellite

Looking past that bin foundation, we can see the locomotive.

Street View, Jun 2022

Does the locomotive service the feed mill and/or the Delta Faucet Company?

Satellite

Michigan Railroad History Conference posted
The interlocking tower at Lapeer between Grand Trunk Western’s main line and the former Michigan Central Bay City Branch; circa 1974

Charlie Whipp: a 24 hour operation and manual block station for the Michigan Central.

Here's an over view of the scene looking west at Lapeer Jct. 1979 https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliewhipp/48087845752/in/dateposted-public/

Tim Shanahan shared

Note the wood grain elevator behind the depot.

Charlie's Flickr

Night shift at Lapeer

While scanning negatives this morning, I came across this companion shot to another (seen here: www.flickr.com/photos/20517853@N06/46365299225/in/datepos... )view of the tower at Lapeer Jct. MI (GTW-NYC) looking west, the opposite direction as one I had posted previously. Taken in Feb. 1979, a few months before the tower closed forever. This negative became separated from the others that I took on that particular night when I had it out printing it for someone years ago. Anyway, the photo looks west towards the railroad control point "East Lapeer", the East end of the CTC siding at Lapeer on the GTW Flint Sub. You can make out the absolute signal in the distance well as the overhead signal just east of Court Street which protected eastward trains through the interlocking. It was a bitter, snowy night to be out shooting but I'd pay good money to be able to reshoot it in 2019.

The diamond and tower were located at Mile 290.0 (From Chicago) of the Flint Sub. and Mile D59.8 (From Detroit) of the PC Mackinaw branch. Telegraphic call sign for Lapeer Jct. was "G". Taken with a Yashica Mat 124G using Kodak Tri-X pan 120 film.