CR 1984 Detroit to Toledo Screen Shots

[westdetroit]

Hi all. It has been suggested to me on a few occasions over at trainsim.com to post my route at RWA. Well, here goes. First a little background of myself and the route for those not familiar with it.
I am legally disabled but prior to this I have had experience working on the railroad. Also, my dad retired from Conrail in 2006 as a block (tower) operator. Yes, Conrail, as Detroit is part of the shared assets. My route is based off the 1984 era using first hand knowledge of the area and time period, ZTS (zone tracking system) and track profile charts. Currently most items are "scratch" built. I'm using 3dtrains® Scenery Pack® for the trees. The route will be roughly 14 miles east/west and 75 miles north/south. it will run from Detroit and northern suburbs down to Toledo (Stanley yard). My initial plans are to release as payware but for now I will keep this thread in the freeware screen shots and create a new thread in the payware screen shots when I get closer to release in case I decide to release as freeware as I am still a ways from completing this. Originally my route was going as far west as Jackson, Michigan but as it has already taken me about a year and a half I've decided to go only as far as the Amtrak Dearborn, Michigan station for now. Currently I have all the tracks laid from the Dearborn station to Conrail's Windsor Ontario yard and roughly 22 miles of track laid north/south. I have some scenery but as this is mostly an urban route it will take time to create all the structures that are unique to Detroit and Toledo. Enough gabbing. Here's screen shots of the route so far from west (Amtrak Dearborn station) to east (Conrail's Windsor Ontario yard). I will post more screen shots tomorrow of the Junction Yard Branch and the line north (Milwaukee Junction) to south (Trenton, Michigan). Those familiar with my route at trainsim.com know that I give pretty good details and interesting information when I can of each shot. Take care all.

A #9 screen shot of the route laid so far:


Looking east at the Dearborn station:


Just east of the Dearborn station looking towards CP (contol point) Townline where the Old and New wyes from the Junction Yard Branch merges with the Michigan Line along with the tracks from Livernois/Junction yard's Advance Departure yard:




The Advance Departure yard and the Junction Yard Branch:


Continuing east. Livernois/Junction Yard is roughly four miles long! The track leading towards Fordson is an interchange track to the GTW at the huge Ford Motors River Rouge plant. The C&O Detroit Sub crosses overhead on a Warren Truss bridge:


The leads to the 32 track Westbound Class and Westbound Departure yards:




Roughly 40 more pics to follow!

[westdetroit]

Continuing......

The Westbound Class leads on the hump (east) end:


The hump lead over Lonyo:


The Car Shop area (the shop itself is on the right):


The hump, looking west, over Lonyo:


Looking east over Central Avenue at the Eastbound Class, North Receiving and Detroit Industrial receiving yards:


East end of the Eastbound Class and North Receiving yards and where there will be a non working turntable and roundhouse. The turntable was not in operation in 1984 and any power to be "turned" went to the Bay City Junction Wye:


West of West Detroit interlocking. This is my favorite location that my dad worked at. Back in '84 all trains to/from Canada went by here along with Conrail trains to/from Toledo. NS, GTW and C&Os. In addition, GTW's Shoreline Sub crossed here. The Toledo Branch (today's Detroit Line) junctions here with six double slip switches! The Cadillac Clark and Merritt Street plants are located across from each other and was serviced by Conrail's Cadillac Job. Amtraks to/from Chicago and Toledo. It was nothing to see 40 "moves" during one shift:


Just inside West Detroit interlocking (where I'm currently working on scenery):


An overhead view of West Detroit interlocking:


Looking northeast at the Cadillac Clark Street plant (which I'm currently texturing):

[westdetroit]

Continuing...

East end of West Detroit interlocking where the Toledo Branch (today's Detroit Line) junctions with the Michigan Line via six double slip switches!:




The Cadillac Clark Street plant:








The Cadillac Valley Track. One will soon see how it got its name. This track will run through one building cross Clark Street and into another building:






To be continued.....

[westdetroit]

Continuing.....

Looking south down Clark Street from the Cadillac Valley Track. Now one can see how the track got its name:


Looking north up Clark Street. Note the three story pedestrian bridge between the two buildings:


Into the second building:


Back on the Michigan Line looking east at CP Scotten where the Old and New Wyes veer left towards the Mackinaw Branch (todays North Yard Branch):




Cadillac Stac Pac (Conrail Bay City Juction) yard:


East end of the Stac Pac Yard and Bay City Junction Wye:


CP Bay City Junction. The crossovers run all the way across:


Looking towards the Michigan Central Depot over I-75 at CP 20th Street:


Continuing east:

[westdetroit]

Continuing......


At the MC Depot train sheds:


Looking towards the Detroit-Windsor tunnel at CP 15th Street:




The tunnel vent:


On the Canadian side:


Windsor interlocking:


Conrails Windsor Yard:








One more post........

[westdetroit]

Last but not least......

Continuing through Conrails Windsor Yard (Howard Avenue):


End of the line:


I'll post the north/south portion tomorrow. Take care and I hope all enjoyed what's been completed thus far.

[RAILSOHIO]

As a huge Detroit,Toledo and Ironton fan,I had watched your progress on that other site. I am working on the DT&I south-end,myself. This reminds me I really need to finish up some of the DT&I re-skins I have started,especially the RSC GP-9's. Keep up the great work,and the progress shots.

[imnew]

and thank you for showing us your progress. Your project looks like its off to a great start. Being a route builder myself, Conrail Chicago Lines, i know how much time goes into creating something on this scale. Keep up the great work.

[Rich_S]

Hi James,
Welcome aboard Your route is looking great. Not sure if you've been following the threads over here on the RWA forum, but several months ago I released my first public beta of the Montour railroad. It's in the file library here at RWA. I don't visit the TS forum very much anymore. I'm glad to see you are also posting your progress on your route here, thank you for keeping us updated on your route.

Regards,
Rich S.

[krellnut]

Yes hello James, I thought you were out of this game, but very glad to see your still at it. I hope everything is going well.

[westdetroit]

Thank you everyone for the positive feedbacks.
@RAILSOHIO, I was originally doing 1981 so I could incorporate the DT&I, and The Queen that used Conrail tracks to Canada, but decided it would make things a little more difficult for I wasn't sure how or where I'd get DT&I and D&TSL equipment. If D&TSL equipment becomes available then I may "back track" to '81.
@imnew, Wow! Detroit's difficult enough. I can't even begin to imagine Chicago! lol Good luck (Sincerely). I'll have to take a look around this forum at the other routes. I will be glad when mine is finished so I can "kick back" and enjoy other individuals routes. I do look at screenshots as I take breaks. That's the one thing that slows me down is my bad back hence the disability. I mean I can't lift a gallon of milk so it's difficult to sit for prolonged period of time but this is a dream come true for me to "go back in time" to model my favorite railroad and time period.
@Rich_S, As per my above comment I'll have to take a look during one of my "breaks". I can't wait to see it as what I've seen over at ts.com looked very impressive.
@Walter, Yes, I did "give up" right after Christmas but I had just dealt with the loss of my last remaining closest relative and felt "deflated". But it's a new year and I feel rejuvenated and ready to go. I will do my best to have a better positive attitude. Besides, I don't want Hawk upset with me. lol I've been a member here for a little while now but I was trying to stay with just one forum until I was close to release. Since I unregistered at ts.com I figured that I would just start fresh over here.

I have more pics coming up in a few.

[westdetroit]

Ok, round two. These next pics are of the Junction Yard Branch which runs from Junction Yard (Livernois) to CP YD where it meets the Toledo Branch (todays Detroit Line). I have also included pics of the Lincoln Industrial track which veers off the Junction Yard Branch at NS Ecorse Junction and turns into the Lincoln Secondary track at Penford interlocking in Taylor, Michigan and runs to the C&O at Carleton, Michigan. A little history of the Lincoln Industrial/Secondary. It was Pennsys only direct route into Detroit. It ran the C&O from Toledo, Ohio to Carleton, Michigan and into Detroit via the Lincoln Industrial/Secondary. In '84 this line had only three major customers, A Ford Distribution plant, a glass plant and a scrap yard, and one satellite yard (Lincoln Yard). Penford interlocking use to use PRR position light signals but as my route is '84, after the tower closed, I unfortunately will not be using them. The line currently ends just south of Lincoln Yard. This may end up becoming an add on as I don't want to be the next decade before I make my first release. lol I will be starting west then (timetable) south at Schaefer tower to CP YD then west at Ecorse Junction on the Lincoln Industrial then south again at Lincoln Yard. Confused yet? lol I will provide map(s) with the release. actually, I'll post a map a little later.

Junction/Livernois Yard's Westbound Departure and Class leads:


Continuing west. This is where the Junction Yard Branch begins. This is also where the Advance Departure Yard begins:


This is where we'll veer off (timetable) south away from the Michigan Line towards Schaefer tower:


The "top end" of the wye from CP Townline. This is so trains coming from/to Toledo can head either east/south to/from the Junction Yard or can head north/west to/from Chicago:


Heading towards Schaefer tower. This is where the Junction Yard Branch becomes single track. It was double track when it was first built:


Schaefer interlocking. This is the last tower that my dad worked at when he retired. They closed the tower the same day. The Junction Yard Branch is crossing right in the middle of GTW's Rouge Yard on the Dearborn Sub:


The entrance to Ford Motors Rouge Steel Hot Strip Mill:


An actual model of a Ford Motors sign off Schaefer highway:


Tracks inside the fence at the Ford Motors River Rouge Hot Strip Mill:


The other end:


Two more posts...

[westdetroit]

Continuing...

The NS Salt Spur crossing. Not only is Detroit known for its auto industry but has a huge salt mine under the city and neighboring cities as well. It's huge. Conrail now services it but in '84 it was only the NS:


The Junction yard Branch is paralleling the NS tracks from NS Oakwood Yard near Ecorse Junction. The NS tracks are "sandwiched" between the Junction Yard Branch and the Lincoln Industrial at this point:


The Junction Yard Branch crossing the NS and GTW mains at NS Ecorse Junction on its way towards CP YD and the Toledo branch. The Lincoln Industrial also begins here:


The Junction yard Branch crossing the GTW Shoreline Sub at Ecorse Junction, whose tracks also cross at West detroit. The GTW Shoreline Sub parallels Conrails main from just north of Toledo to just north of Detroit. About 50 miles!:


Continuing around the bend towards CP YD:


CP YD where the Junction Yard Branch meets the Toledo Branch. Just think of it as a huge triangle as the Toledo Branch runs north from Toledo, past CP YD to West Detroit where the Michigan Line runs west to Junction Yard then the Junction Yard Branch runs southeast back to CP YD. :) :


Back to NS Ecorse Junction where we'll follow the Lincoln Industrial:


Marathon Oil off the Lincoln Industrial:


Now the Lincoln Industrial is "sandwiched" between a NS auto loading facility and NS Oakwood Yard:

[westdetroit]

Last post until later when I upload the Toledo Branch (todays Detroit Line)..........

The Lincoln Industrial "sandwiched" between a joint NS/CR auto loading facility and NS Oakwood Yard:




North end of Lincoln Yard:


South end of Lincoln yard and the end of the current line:


I'll have the Mackinaw (todays North Yard Branch) and Toledo Branch (todays Detroit Line) this evening.

[imnew]

Wow, you certainly know your modeling area, excellent ! Looking through your pics shows you are the encyclopedia of Detroit railroads, Thank you for naming the various lines in your pics, makes it easier for us to follow along. I read you are going to scratch build some of the Toledo and Detroit structures, that is just superb ! Seems you and i are building routes in areas where yards and interlockings are situated at every corner, can be a pain sometimes.

Laying track is the fun part, placing scenery however, thats a time consuming "chore". Its easy to burn out when placing scenery over long periods of time. A friendly advise, dont wait with scenery, place scenery as you go along or you will/might meet the " im so sick of placing scenery burned out feeling "

Regarding disability, in my profession I have met many people with various disabilities and i can truly say that i have the upmost respect for people like yourself Just wanted to say that.

When you are up for a break, head over to the Conrail Chicago Lines, I would really appreciate the constructive criticism from a fellow city dweller / route builder

Thomas