detroit edison trains

[mechanic_06]

Hey, another shout out for information on trains.  anyone have any pics or information why detroit edison bought its own Sd40-2's and U30C's for coal trains.  I've been searching online for some time and have found some great pics, but if anyone has any in their collections that they would share I'd appreciate it alot.  From what I've collected, Penn Central couldn't provide adequate or reliable power for Detroit Edison's unit trains out of West Virginia, Monongahela Railway, so they bought their own to power their trains.  Does anybody have anymore knowledge about this?  Did they buy the motive power new from EMD and GE?  I've also seen pictures of light blue Penn Central cabooses, (Model N-10?) what happened to them?  When did Detroit Edison stop running their own motive power on their unit trains.  I know some of it went to Lake Superior & Ishpemming and to Guilford System (Boston & Maine) when were they sold?  Also DTE still has switchers that they use if anyone has any information on the also it would be appreciated.  Thank in advance for any answer you might have.

[Erie Lackawanna]

Not much help, but you bring up the lunch I wish I never had.  I spent two days in Mentor, OH in December of 1978, desperate to catch the Detroit Edison train.  My railfan buddy and I (we were kids, but I had just gotten my driver's license) decided we'd go have the fastest of fast lunches at Bob's Big Boy, late on the second day... and sure enough, when we got back, the DE train was passing through (I took a shot of the helpers from the car).

[mechanic_06]

Ooh, sorry to bring back a bad memory, (or lunch for that matter, Lol).  At least I now know i'm not the only one interested in DE trains.  Oh, well thanks for the response.

[SSW9389]

There is an article in Trains Magazine about this very subject. Check the Model Railroad magazine database for the issue.

[beaulieu]

Yes, the Detroit Edison locomotives were bought during the Penn Central era. The first six SD40s (001-006) came in 1970, they were followed by six U30Cs (007-012) in early 1972, and then five more SD40s (013-017) in the fall of 1972, these were the last five SD40s built, after SD40-2 production had begun. Finally in 1974 the last five U30Cs were acquired (018-022). These were all leased and as the leases ended, and with circumstances changed DE let the locomotives go. So they left the roster about in the order they came. SD40s 001 to 006 went to Helm Leasing, I think they still belong to Helm but have been rebuilt to SD40M-2s. The second batch of SD40s went to Guildford's various railroads (B&M, ST, and MEC). DE retained the last three U30Cs as dumper locomotives at Monroe, MI powerplant. The rotary dumper track was stub-ended so the road power would bring the train in the powerplant and the three U30Cs would couple onto the rear of the train and push it through the dumper. Construction of a loop ended this about 8 years ago and I believe the three U30Cs were then scrapped. U30Cs 006 - 012 and 018, 019 were split between Guildford and LS&I. I don't think any remain.

[nanaimo73]

DEEX 004 left Helm to become TRRA Road Slug 2206-

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=28553

[mechanic_06]

Thanks for the information everybody.  Keep it coming if you have any more.  Thanks again.

[mechanic_06]

I've found pictures of both SD40's and U30C's them still in coal unit train service in 1985.  My mother has worked for Detroit Edison for the past 27 years and live near Port Huron, Mi. where four of their power plants are located.  Belle River and St. Clair power plants are located south of St. Clair, Mi, and St. Clair Power Plant is located right on the St. Clair River and not only recieves coal service from CSX Transportation along the old Port Huron and Detroit line, but from lake freighters.  Belle River Power Plant and St. Clair Power Plant both share coal storage and have a rotary dumper on site. They have two switchers I believe SW 600 and a SW 1200.  Marysville Power Plant located eight miles north also recieved its coal from freighters but even though it has a spur it lacks adequite space to recieve unit trains.  Marysville had I believe a GE 90 or something similar but it was sold in the mid-90's and sat outside the fence there for about a year and a half.  The last power plant near me is Greenwood Energy Center north of Avoca, Mi and has a spur off of the Chessie System line that ran from Port Huron to Wadhams over a old steel trestle bridge over Mill Creek before going through Avoca, Yale and up to Brown City.  This line has been recently converted over to a bike trail in past years and now the trail runs from Port Huron to Avoca. The line north of there is still intact but hasn't been used in over a decade.  Greenwood recieves bunker C oil by barge from Sarnia, Ont. via a pipe line from Marysville Power Plant the 30 plus miles to Greenwood.  It also was supplemented by tank cars.  It know burns natural gas.  The spur was mainly used during construction in the early 80's but was used to bring parts in still until the line was closed.  Its great rail action in the area but I unfortunatly never got to see the DE locomotives.

[Andrew Falconer]

Is there a map of the Port Huron and Detroit as it existed in the 1970's?

Maps of the Port Huron and Detroit are hard to find directly in books or on the internet.

Andrew 

[SSW9389]

Detroit Edison SD40s #013-017 were built in July 1972. They were the last domestic SD40s built. The Boke Project (Guinea) SD40s #101-106 built in August 1972 were the last SD40s built.  Diesel Data from A J Kristopans EMD Serial Number webpage.

beaulieu

, and then five more SD40s (013-017) in the fall of 1972, these were the last five SD40s built, after SD40-2 production had begun. 

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

SSW9389

There is an article in Trains Magazine about this very subject. Check the Model Railroad magazine database for the issue.

The case of the shipper who owns his own train
Trains, September 1971 page 38
Detroit Edison
( COAL, DEEX, "HAMLEY, DAVID H.", TRN )

Pretty sure I still have this issue . . .

- PDN.