Story: D&M to Operate Light Engines without a Flagman (1945)

Editors note: This was an order from the Michigan Public Service Commission in 1945. It should be noted that this precedes the dieselization of the D&M (about 1946). Though the MPSC allowed the request to eliminate flagmen, it is presumed that the light engine had both an engineer and fireman. The article contains interesting information about D&M operations in 1945.

December 7, 1942 In the matter of the application of the Detroit and Mackinac Railway Company for permission to operate light engines without flagmen over all of its main line. File D-3452. October 18, 1945.

Application was filed on August 7, 1945, and amended application was filed on September 18, 1945, by the Detroit and Mackinac Railway Company, in accordance with the provisions of Act No. 75 of the Public Acts of 1945, for permission to operate a light engine without a flagman over all of, and any part of, its main line.

A hearing was duly held in the matter before this Commission on the 21st day of September, 1945, at which time representatives of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and the Order of Railway Conductors appeared in opposition to the granting of said application.

It appears that the train operations between Alpena and Bay City are two passenger trains operated daily, except Sunday, and on Sunday there is one passenger train operated in each direction.

Freight trains operate from Alpena to Bay City on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays of each week with a return northbound movement to Alpena leaving Bay City after eight hours' terminal rest. There is also an extra crew working out of Tawas City weekdays, operating between Tawas and Bay City on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and between Tawas and National City on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. At times said train works between Skeels Spur and Oscoda, and, occasionally, that run operates as far south as Omer.

The AuGres Branch is operated when it is necessary to operate loads to AuGres or from AuGres to Omer. This service is intermittent and not regular.

On the Alpena and Cheboygan north division, there is one passenger train operated in each direction daily, except Sunday, and one freight train from Cheboygan to Alpena southbound Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and northbound to Cheboygan Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. On the Rogers City Branch, one passenger train is operated from Posen to Rogers City and return to Posen daily, except Sunday, and a freight train is operated from Posen to Rogers City and return on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and, occasionally, during the movement of sugar stone, there is an extra train from Posen to Calcite and return on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

On the Hillman Branch, a freight train operates from Alpena to the end of the branch and return Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and, during the movement of heavy shale loading, an additional train is operated from Alpena to Paxton and return Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. There is never more than one train on the Hillman Branch at the same time.

Trains are operated on the applicant's railroad under the so-called Standard Book of Rules. The trains are operated by train order through a dispatcher. The applicant agrees that the crews of light engines will be relieved of flagging by the use of a block system or a positive block by train order.

Upon consideration of the applicant's petition, as amended, and of the record herein, we find that a flagman is not necessary to the operation of light engines over all of the main line of the Detroit and Mackinac Railway Company. -

THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED by the Michigan Public Service Commission that permission be, and the same is, hereby granted to the Detroit and Mackinac Railway Company to operate a light engine without a flagman over all of the main line of the Detroit and Mackinac Railway Company. The Commission reserves unto itself jurisdiction of the matter and the right to issue any further order or orders herein which, in its judgment, may be deemed necessary. [MPSC-1945]