Tunnel: Detroit-Windsor International Rail Tunnel

The Detroit-Windsor International railroad tunnel was built by the Canada Southern railroad (Michigan Central) opening in 1910. Prior to the opening of this tunnel, passenger and freight cars were ferried across the river nearby and at Grosse Isle (downriver).

Photo info: Top, the new tunnel under construction. 2nd photo, a crew pauses for a photo on a tunnel electric locomotive in a postcard view, early 1910's. 3rd photo, two passenger trains approach 15th Street interlocking, at the west entrance to the international tunnel and the east entrance to the new MCRR station on Vernor. The steam engine approaches from the old Third Street station, while the electric motor unit  pulls its train from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. 4th photo, a similar photo taken in the winter. 56h photo, the west entrance to the double tubes of the tunnel. 6th photo, a motor pulling through the tunnel. 7th photo, a view of the entrance to the double tube tunnel. [
Dave Fulkerth collection]

Notes

The west (U.S.) portal of the tunnel was located near Porter Street at the east end of the Michigan Central passenger station. It was controlled by the 15th Street interlocking tower.

Portal Location: 42^o19.479'N / 83^o04.187'W.

Image info: Below top, a section of the new tunnel being floated down the river to the permanent location. 2nd photo, the original sinking of the Detroit-Windsor Railroad Tunnel Tubes. [Both, Alan Loftis Collection] 

Time Line

1905. The construction of the Detroit tunnel line from Windsor, Ontario to West Detroit yard, Michigan including the electrification thereof, is placed in charge of an advisory board of engineers consisting of William J Wilgus, vice president of the NYC&HRR, Mr. Howard Carson's, consulting engineer and Mr. W. S. Kinnear, chief engineer of the Tunnel Company.

The chief engineer will be in direct charge of construction, reporting to Mr. H. B. Ledyard, chairman of the board of directors, on executive and financial matters, and to the board of advisory engineers as to plans, specifications and methods of doing the work. [DFP-8-5-1905]

1908. The roll call of dead and injured taken from shaft No. 4 at the Michigan Central tunnel bore in Windsor is now formidable. 24 injured men have been taken from the twin tubes by the Windsor city ambulance since January 1. 13 of these being taken out since June 1. The number who have lost their lives since the operations began is four. How many have been removed from the scene by private conveyance will not be known. [PHTH-1908-0918]

1920. Approximately 900,000 cars a year are handled through the tunnel on two tracks. Prior to the tunnel being built, the MC utilized 10 ferries for the transfer of traffic across the river. In 1909, 735,753 cars were ferried. [DWT-1920]

1935. 600 Volt Direct Current third rail is installed from Bay City Jct. interlocking plant through the passenger station yard to Vermont Street, and through the tunnel to the east limits of Windsor Tower 2 and Tower 3 interlocking plants. Overhead contact rail is installed in the main train shed and in the passenger station yard between the train shed and the west approach to the tunnel. Equipment conforming to standard N.Y.C. clearances for electrified territory will clear. [MC Detroit Terminal Employee Timetable No. 76]

2020. December. Canadian Pacific acquires full ownership of the Detroit River rail tunnel from OMERS for a reported $312 million. In 1995 Conrail sold the tunnel to CN and CP. CN sold its share in 2000. About 400,000 railcars used the tunnel annually. [R&R-2020-12]