Location: Port Huron, MI - PM/C&O Dock and Operator

The PM/C&O railroad car ferry dock was located on the St. Clair river near the old PM depot in Port Huron.

Notes

From retired C&O operator and dispatcher Doug Hefty: Working the night operator's assignment at Port Huron was an interesting experience. It was railroading but also had a unique marine component as well. I was first sent there in 1970 to learn teletype work as part of my initial training. It wasn't until 1976-78 that I was sent there to fill some temporary vacancies. By then, we had gone "high tech" with the graduation to punch cards!

The Port Huron operator was located at the ferry slip in a small shanty, which also housed the yardmaster and yard clerk. (Note: The daytime Port Huron agent worked from the depot). As soon as Saginaw sent the consist on (inbound) PH77 and it was printed out, the yardmaster grabbed his straight edge and began drawing "cut" lines for each float run across the river to Sarnia. I would then cut consists for each run (just like you would for a train) to enter into the car location system. In the mean time, cars would be arriving from Sarnia for Saginaw train SA37 to be switched, and thus began the outbound train building process. Other cars were added from local industries was well as the salt and other interchange cars from the Port Huron & Detroit.

When incoming PH77 arrived from Saginaw, he'd double into the yard and then usually the crew was taken to the hotel for rest. Cars from PH77's train were switched and the east bounds were floated across the river in the cuts determined earlier by the yardmaster. There was all manner of traffic: autos, auto parts, chemicals and general freight. When the crew was called back to handle outgoing SA37, either I or the day operator would copy the train orders for the return trip and send out the consist as prepared throughout the night. When SA37 made his final double out of the yard, the head end would usually be well west of the Military Street overpass. 

The only time I ever operated the Black River drawbridge was in 1970 in order to "qualify" on its operation. Back then, they would sometimes lower the bridge for the inbound train to use as head room doubling into the yard. By 1976, they would instead have PH77 set out part of this train at 16th Street (if necessary) and later retrieve it with a yard job. [DH]

Time Line