Station: West Detroit (Grand Junction), MI

West Detroit began as a Grand Trunk station at the end of their route from Fort Gratiot (Port Huron) southeast to the Detroit area. The line ended here at the Michigan Central railroad and the area quickly became an industrial center with railroad car and wheel manufacturing in the northeast quadrant of the junction. The Michigan Central located their shops near here in 1873. The area was called Grand Junction and Detroit Junction before being renamed West Detroit in 1887. The area was annexed by the City of Detroit. [MPN]

Photo Info: A 1991 view from a D&TSL southbound freight on the approach to West Detroit interlocking. The train will cross the Conrail (former Michigan Central) main line here. The tracks off to the right are part of the GTW West Detroit Yard which connected with Conrail and the Chesapeake & Ohio West Detroit branch (original main line in Detroit). [Charles Geletzke Jr. photo]

Notes

Comments by Chuck Geletzke Jr. about the above photo: Westbound on the GTW approaching the diamond at West Detroit, Michigan on January 6, 1991. On the left is the Conrail (former NYC-PC) West Detroit interlocking tower. Here I was running on Track #1 (the only yard on the entire GTW where the Main Track actually had a number and was not formally designated as a Main Track!). The five tracks that we were about to cross were the former MC Mainline from buffalo to Chicago. Beyond the diamond we would enter the N&W's (former Wabash) double-tracked Old Mainline to Delray, which had spring switches at each end requiring trains to keep to the right. The curving tracks to the right was the west end of the GTW's West Detroit Yard and connected to the C&O's (former PM) line to Oak Yard. The Wabash and GTW track was also used by the D&TSL.

For more information and photos, click here → Grand Junction/West Detroit.

Time Line

1864. August. A train on the Detroit & Milwaukee brought in from Grand Rapids a number of recruits and substitutes en route for the army. Among them was the one of the latter class who perceived here his last chance to escape and cross the river (to Canada) with his ill-gotten gains. When the train slackened speed in passing Grand Trunk Junction, he seized the opportunity to jump off. The guard fired at him but did not succeed in hitting him. Two of the guards jumped off and gave chase, finally capturing him before he could reach the woods, for which he made tracks on the double-quick, and brought him into the city of foot where he was properly secured against another attempt to break away. [DFP-1864-0816]

1865. A retirement ceremony was conducted in the dinning-room of the "refreshment saloon" at the Grand Trunk Junction. After a splendid supper, the presentation (of a gold watch) was made, followed by speeches. [DFP-1866-0513]

1866. Arrangements have been made between the MS&NI railroad company and A.B. Hinman & Co. of Detroit. Hinman will receive, store and deliver crude and refined petroleum, naptha, benzine, etc., at the Grand Trunk Junction warehouse erected especially for that purpose. All railroads leading from the city will, by agreement, receive the above described goods for shipment at this warehouse so that consingees need not remove their oils, etc. for transshipment. The warehouse will be open from nine a.m. to four p.m. [DFP-1866-1209]

1872. October 2: Conrad Doyle, an engineer for the Michigan Central, sat down on an adjacent track while waiting at Grand Trunk Junction (West Detroit), fell asleep, and was struck by a passing train and killed. [MCR/72]

1882. Twenty-five teams were employed during the week hauling ice from the ponds near the Grand Trunk Junction to the city for brewers. The ice is about eight inches thick and was quite solid till Friday's thaw set in. [DFP-1882-0122]