I am greatly intrigued by the industrial foundation of Western civilisation. Many great engineering wonders have been wrought over
the past several centuries. One of these wonders is the diesel locomotive and the train, which represent the most efficient system
of land transport that is known.
My intention is not to expound the technical aspects of trains, which can be surprisingly complex, but rather to capture
the raw beauty of trains in action, within their industrial setting, through digital photography. Hopefully, this small collection
of images will do the intended job.
All of these images were captured with a Nikon D100 camera and automatically processed from the RAW data using
the script described in my associated article.
Rail Scenes Around Detroit (Not Delray)
Detroit was once the engine of the arsenal of democracy. Amid the extensive industrial activity in Detroit during its heyday were of course
an extensive railroad network. Today, however, the industrial infrastructure has all but completely vanished. Detroit is now solidly in the rust belt
and most of the rail traffic has dwindled accordingly. But train activity still can be found by the diligent railfan who is familiar with the area.
The images that follow were captured in Detroit and environs and all are outside the hot spot of Delray Junction. (Click any thumbnail to view the full-sized image. Best viewed at 1920x1080.)
A northbound BNSF coal train waits patiently for permission at the Visger Road crossing in Ecorse, MI. It is a very hot and hazy mid-summer day.
The tracks are the CN Shoreline sub.
CN northbound at Saliotte Rd. in Ecorse, MI (Ecorse High School at right). The loco doors are sometimes left open for, AFAIK, cooling purposes.
A side view of the previous image to better show the loco details.
CN southbound past the Detroit Amtrak station. The loco is pulling truck chassis between plants.
A southbound CN at Milwaukee Junction in Detroit belches black exhaust as he starts to roll. Roadrailers are on the adjacent track.
A short CN freight train heads south on the Shoreline sub at St. John St. in Wyandotte, MI.
CSX southbound at Milwaukee Junction on Detroit. Shot from the shoulder of St. Aubin Street. CN Shoreline tracks are seen in the background.
With truck chassis rolling south, a northbound CN approaches Saliotte Rd. in Ecorse, MI.
A BNSF coal train diverges from the CN Shoreline sub to the CN Holly sub at Milwaukee Junction in Detroit. The crossing is Clay Street.
More truck chassis rolling south at Visger Road in Ecorse, MI.
Norfolk Southern, operating on the Conrail Shared Assets along with CSX, pulls autoracks south at Milwaukee Junction. CN activity, on their own tracks, is seen at right. The road at left is St. Aubin St.
A southbound CP sports an unusual hood ornament. Shot from Commercial St. near West Detroit Junction. Coords: 42.323293119163026, -83.10750583805032.
CN southbound on the Holly sub waits at Milwaukee Junction in Detroit. The crossing is Clay St.
On a dark, dreary, and rainy afternoon, a BNSF rolls north at Milwaukee Junction in Detroit. In the background is the Grand Blvd. overpass.
A westbound CP waits on the CSX main along Coleman St. in Detroit. Coords: 42.34910412790932, -83.19537966736902
On a foggy and heavily overcast morning, auto chassis roll northward through Livernois Yard in Detroit. Shot from John Kronk St. The crossing in back is Central Avenue.
A trainman walks to throw some switches at Livernois Yard in Detroit. Shot from John Kronk St.
Southbound BNSF coal at West Detroit Junction. Note the "Old Main" marker. Shot from Federal Street. Coords: 42.324318951562795, -83.10787766086598
The skyline of downtown Detroit shot from the mid section of the once bustling Livernois Yard. Shot from near the Central Ave. crossing.
A CN southbound waits at Milwaukee Junction in Detroit. The Conrail Shared Assets are in the foreground. The road at left is St. Aubin St.
Conrail rolling south through Detroit's Milwaukee Junction on Conrail Shared Assets. The CN Shoreline, which runs parallel, is seen at left. The crossing track leads to the CN Holly sub.
A UP loco leads a mixed freight through a labyrinth of tracks as it moves to the NS Oakwood yard. The I-75 Rouge River bridge is in the background. Shot from the Fort St. Bridge. Coords: 42.28437293944133, -83.1484209509571.
I relax the zoom from the previous shot to better include the maze of tracks.
I now increase the zoom to capture the loco details as it begins to roll under the Fort Street bridge.
Norfolk Southern pulls autoracks south from Sterling Yard. The crossing is Sherwood Ave. Coords: 42.47977556697113, -83.0373702086852.
Rubber-tired CSX power does maintenance work at Milwaukee Junction in Detroit. (See also next image.)
A string of gondolas with attached crane dumping ties being pulled by the truck of the previous image.
Winter Rail Scenes Around Detroit
On a very cold, heavily overcast, and greatly foggy afternoon, a CSX pulls through Delray Jct. in Detroit.
A freight train backs northward from North Yard in Detroit. The caboose is used for extra safety during these build moves. Shot from the E. Davison St. crossing. Coords: 42.4233541465273, -83.0358382938747.
Conrail northbound past the rime-covered weeds. The location is Nevada St. in Detroit.
Some rime on a CN loco pulling roadrailers through Jct. in Detroit.
Amtrak heads north through the slush at Milwaukee Junction in Detroit.
A break in the heavy overcast puts a "crown" of light over a CN pulling north through Delray Junction in Detroit.
A CSX local heads past some businesses on Fullerton Ave. on Detroit's west side. (See also next image.) Coords: 42.38015786291746, -83.18362580033869.
A short way beyond the location of the previous image, the CSX local comes to a rail junction that is controlled by stop signs. This location is known as the Fullerton Wye.
The same CSX local further on doing its local work. The crossing is Wyoming Ave. viewed from Plymouth Rd. Coords: 42.3735789404036, -83.15788453328807.
Amtrak Around Detroit
Amtrak barrelling eastbound through Livernois Yard in Detroit. Shot from Lonyo Ave. The truss bridge in the background carries the CSX Detroit sub.
An Amtrak train, actually viewing the rear end pusher, rounds the bend heading west at Milwaukee Jct. in Detroit.
An Amtrak train approaches the Detroit station from the west.
The head end of a eastbound Amtrak rounding the bend onto the CN Holly sub. The location is Milwaukee Jct. in Detroit.
An Amtrak train barrels westward through Livernois yard in Detroit. Shot from John Kronk St. which closely parallels the tracks.
Another Amtrak at the same location as previous showing the close proximity of John Kronk St.
