daveklepper Rather than gallery cars, I would like to see both the Ann Arbor and the Pontiac commuter services restored with Stadler tram-train cars, low-floor, compatible with the Woodward Avenue streetcar, with on-street trackage connectding both operations through the real Detroit downtown area, giving a one-seat ride for commuters and thus getting more ridership than just commuter trains to one separate station for each of the two operations. Deetroit's avenues are wide enough to allow for on-street dedicated lane operation. Could be diesel, or electric, or dual-power; all three types are available. Altsom and Bombardier and Siemens have also built similar equipment.
Rather than gallery cars, I would like to see both the Ann Arbor and the Pontiac commuter services restored with Stadler tram-train cars, low-floor, compatible with the Woodward Avenue streetcar, with on-street trackage connectding both operations through the real Detroit downtown area, giving a one-seat ride for commuters and thus getting more ridership than just commuter trains to one separate station for each of the two operations. Deetroit's avenues are wide enough to allow for on-street dedicated lane operation.
Could be diesel, or electric, or dual-power; all three types are available. Altsom and Bombardier and Siemens have also built similar equipment.
Don't know that FRA would allow trams on a HrSR line. Also Ann Arbor station has had some rebuilding for high level wheelchair access. What Detroit really needs is a rail tunnel thru downtown.
I went by the station on Friday and it looks like work is well in hand; there were cranes and so forth all around the building. Unfortunately I didn't bring a camera, but work is progressing.
They were vandalized in Cadillac. Not sure who paid for rehab. Google Earth image from May 2018 shows them at end of track at Yuma, MI., about 20 miles west of Cadillac. 44°20'53.31"N 85°45'26.02"W
nickelplaterickThe cars are at Owasso, Michigan at The Steam Railroading Institute. They use the cars The Polar Express trips.
Weren't they also vandalized once by the local turd burgulars and the State of Michigan had to pay again to rehab them.....it was over a million I believe for the second rehab. Then they moved them to a more secure location I thought.
CMStPnP daveklepper Hope some day Ann Arbor commutor service will be restored, and the station will be stop between downtown and Dearborn. Last I heard they bought old Gallery Cars from Chicago for that and stored them somewhere but have not heard a peep since.
daveklepper Hope some day Ann Arbor commutor service will be restored, and the station will be stop between downtown and Dearborn.
Last I heard they bought old Gallery Cars from Chicago for that and stored them somewhere but have not heard a peep since.
The cars are at Owasso, Michigan at The Steam Railroading Institute. They use the cars The Polar Express trips.
daveklepperHope some day Ann Arbor commutor service will be restored, and the station will be stop between downtown and Dearborn.
Thanks to both of you for these links, great additions to my Michigan RR digital library. I only just figured out from these sources that the NYC ran through Michigan. I grew up next to the former F&PM, C&O mainline in Northville, and spent not just hours, but days on end walking the rails there. Lots of great memories including taking the throttle on the siding of a GP35 double consist when I was 12, summer of '66. The crews had all came to recognize me, I guess, and things were different back then. No trespass terrorism mania like today.
The streetcar tracks are still on Michigan avenue and are working their way through the asphalt near the MC station. It would seem logical to restore the streetcar, I mean if they want to be part of the "future."
Hope some day Ann Arbor commutor service will be restored, and the station will be stop between downtown and Dearborn. Possibly a tram-train with street operation on Michigasn Avenue between the station and Woodward, linking to the preesent streetcar.
Some more good pics of status from Spring of 2019:
https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/2019/05/24/ford-renovation-detroit-train-station-michigan-central-depot/1207596001/
Conceptual video in this article of what the station is projected to look like after it's rehab:
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2018/06/19/detroit-train-station-party-ford/713159002/
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