Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
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Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
First Post here so sorry if I'm not doing everything correctly. I was curious if any other AARR trains run to Osmer except the daily (I think) grainer that comes through. I've caught it before, actually was a couple of weekends ago on a Saturday. Thank you!
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
Nope - they bring either assorted freight cars or a grain train but rarely do you see two moves north of Saline where they have a branch they use for storage cars.Thatmichrailfan wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:11 amFirst Post here so sorry if I'm not doing everything correctly. I was curious if any other AARR trains run to Osmer except the daily (I think) grainer that comes through. I've caught it before, actually was a couple of weekends ago on a Saturday. Thank you!
These are their interchange points with other railroads:
Diann, MI – IORY
Milan, MI – NS
Osmer, MI – GLC
Toledo, OH – CN, CSX, NS, WE
There's four online customers in Dundee, MI and about 10 in Toledo, OH. That's it.
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
Thanks! I've heard they store cars at Saline now because the Ford factory they served there closed down. It's usually tank cars which I find interesting, considering they only use tank cars in Toledo I think.LansingRailFan wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:57 amNope - they bring either assorted freight cars or a grain train but rarely do you see two moves north of Saline where they have a branch they use for storage cars.Thatmichrailfan wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:11 amFirst Post here so sorry if I'm not doing everything correctly. I was curious if any other AARR trains run to Osmer except the daily (I think) grainer that comes through. I've caught it before, actually was a couple of weekends ago on a Saturday. Thank you!
These are their interchange points with other railroads:
Diann, MI – IORY
Milan, MI – NS
Osmer, MI – GLC
Toledo, OH – CN, CSX, NS, WE
There's four online customers in Dundee, MI and about 10 in Toledo, OH. That's it.
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
Yeah whomever is in that space now does not want rail service. Tis a shame.Thatmichrailfan wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 9:10 amThanks! I've heard they store cars at Saline now because the Ford factory they served there closed down. It's usually tank cars which I find interesting, considering they only use tank cars in Toledo I think.LansingRailFan wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:57 amNope - they bring either assorted freight cars or a grain train but rarely do you see two moves north of Saline where they have a branch they use for storage cars.Thatmichrailfan wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:11 amFirst Post here so sorry if I'm not doing everything correctly. I was curious if any other AARR trains run to Osmer except the daily (I think) grainer that comes through. I've caught it before, actually was a couple of weekends ago on a Saturday. Thank you!
There's four online customers in Dundee, MI and about 10 in Toledo, OH. That's it.
Historically, the AARR was designed and built to run freight out of Toledo thru to car ferries. They built their railroad without much thought into potential customers - the through traffic was the point of the line.
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
Howdy Thatmichrailfan and welcome aboard Railroadfan! LansingRailfan’s insight is right on. The historical Ann Arbor railroad has an interesting history unlike many other Michigan railroads. The modern Ann Arbor between Toledo and just north of Ann Arbor honestly follows much of the same role as a carrier of bridge traffic just trying to get further north or south down the line.Thatmichrailfan wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:11 amFirst Post here so sorry if I'm not doing everything correctly. I was curious if any other AARR trains run to Osmer except the daily (I think) grainer that comes through. I've caught it before, actually was a couple of weekends ago on a Saturday. Thank you!
I lived in Ann Arbor/Ypsi in the 2008-2011 timeframe and only recall seeing the Ann Arbor in daylight a few times. Most of their daytime work is focused in Toledo switching the docks and ramps at the Jeep plants, switching industrial customers and interchanging with other railroads. Their typical MO back then was a late afternoon/early evening departure north into Michigan. Depending on how much work was needed in Dundee, you could see them often around dusk at Milan and then it was generally in darkness after that. I’m not sure if that remains the regular operation.
You may already know that the Saline branch is all that remains of a New York Central branch line which originally connected with the Michigan Central mainline in Ypsilanti down to Hillsdale. I’m not sure when it reverted to Ann Arbor operation, perhaps during the PC era? Ford (later Faurencia) was always the big customer on that line. It’s too bad it no longer needs rail service, but I’m so pleased AA is leaving the line in place and making revenue off car storage there. I wish I had made an effort to chase trains on that line when I lived there, but it wasn’t just after dark, it was typically the wee wee hours as they would do that run on their southbound turn from Osmer: cutoff their southbound cars at Pittsfield JCT, back around the wye with their Saline cars, then lead west to the plant, run around, switch it all out, then head back to grab the rest of their train north of the Pittsfield wye and continue to Toledo. I guess they must have shoved from Saline all the way to Pittsfield.
Maybe we’ll get lucky and another rail customer will set up shop along what remains of the line someday. Did that ancient AA boxcar parked at the end of track in Saline near Maple Road finally get cut up?
We’d love you to report in on any AA sightings you see!
Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
The former Ford Plant in Saline was never shut down. It was sold a couple times. The problem for rail service is that the products produced there used to be shipped to Mexico, which made sense for a railroad to service. That product is now shipped to Wayne, a trip trucks can make much quicker and more cost effectively.
What would have been interesting is to see if the short haul would use rail if they still have the Saline branch going all the way up to the Michigan Line so it coould be a single haul trip. My guess is it still would go by truck, but it would be interesting to see.
What would have been interesting is to see if the short haul would use rail if they still have the Saline branch going all the way up to the Michigan Line so it coould be a single haul trip. My guess is it still would go by truck, but it would be interesting to see.
Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
The boxcar that was at the end of the Saline Branch is now in Milan, on the spur by the old lumber yard.GP30M4216 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:13 amHowdy Thatmichrailfan and welcome aboard Railroadfan! LansingRailfan’s insight is right on. The historical Ann Arbor railroad has an interesting history unlike many other Michigan railroads. The modern Ann Arbor between Toledo and just north of Ann Arbor honestly follows much of the same role as a carrier of bridge traffic just trying to get further north or south down the line.Thatmichrailfan wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:11 amFirst Post here so sorry if I'm not doing everything correctly. I was curious if any other AARR trains run to Osmer except the daily (I think) grainer that comes through. I've caught it before, actually was a couple of weekends ago on a Saturday. Thank you!
I lived in Ann Arbor/Ypsi in the 2008-2011 timeframe and only recall seeing the Ann Arbor in daylight a few times. Most of their daytime work is focused in Toledo switching the docks and ramps at the Jeep plants, switching industrial customers and interchanging with other railroads. Their typical MO back then was a late afternoon/early evening departure north into Michigan. Depending on how much work was needed in Dundee, you could see them often around dusk at Milan and then it was generally in darkness after that. I’m not sure if that remains the regular operation.
You may already know that the Saline branch is all that remains of a New York Central branch line which originally connected with the Michigan Central mainline in Ypsilanti down to Hillsdale. I’m not sure when it reverted to Ann Arbor operation, perhaps during the PC era? Ford (later Faurencia) was always the big customer on that line. It’s too bad it no longer needs rail service, but I’m so pleased AA is leaving the line in place and making revenue off car storage there. I wish I had made an effort to chase trains on that line when I lived there, but it wasn’t just after dark, it was typically the wee wee hours as they would do that run on their southbound turn from Osmer: cutoff their southbound cars at Pittsfield JCT, back around the wye with their Saline cars, then lead west to the plant, run around, switch it all out, then head back to grab the rest of their train north of the Pittsfield wye and continue to Toledo. I guess they must have shoved from Saline all the way to Pittsfield.
Maybe we’ll get lucky and another rail customer will set up shop along what remains of the line someday. Did that ancient AA boxcar parked at the end of track in Saline near Maple Road finally get cut up?
We’d love you to report in on any AA sightings you see!
I was lucky enough to catch the AA doing a evening move to the Saline plant one Friday night while officiating a track meet at the Saline High School track. You could see through the trees to the tracks as the AARR came through to work the plant.
As far as I know the normal operations are still a night train to Osmer, although if they have a grain train it can and will run at any time of the day or night because of timing restrictions for trains off the NS system. There is only a limited amount of time from when the train leaves the NS system until it has to be loaded and back, so the GLC and AARR will run grain trains on occassion seperate from the manifest freight trains that also run the line.
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
Thanks for the response and kind words! I've heard that they run grain trains at dusk at Osmer, as that is when I caught the AA train at Osmer. Also, for your question about the old NYC branch at Saline now, I think it was during the Michigan Interstate days when they got the line, considering it was torn up in '76, I think.chapmaja wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:23 amThe boxcar that was at the end of the Saline Branch is now in Milan, on the spur by the old lumber yard.GP30M4216 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:13 amHowdy Thatmichrailfan and welcome aboard Railroadfan! LansingRailfan’s insight is right on. The historical Ann Arbor railroad has an interesting history unlike many other Michigan railroads. The modern Ann Arbor between Toledo and just north of Ann Arbor honestly follows much of the same role as a carrier of bridge traffic just trying to get further north or south down the line.Thatmichrailfan wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:11 amFirst Post here so sorry if I'm not doing everything correctly. I was curious if any other AARR trains run to Osmer except the daily (I think) grainer that comes through. I've caught it before, actually was a couple of weekends ago on a Saturday. Thank you!
I lived in Ann Arbor/Ypsi in the 2008-2011 timeframe and only recall seeing the Ann Arbor in daylight a few times. Most of their daytime work is focused in Toledo switching the docks and ramps at the Jeep plants, switching industrial customers and interchanging with other railroads. Their typical MO back then was a late afternoon/early evening departure north into Michigan. Depending on how much work was needed in Dundee, you could see them often around dusk at Milan and then it was generally in darkness after that. I’m not sure if that remains the regular operation.
You may already know that the Saline branch is all that remains of a New York Central branch line which originally connected with the Michigan Central mainline in Ypsilanti down to Hillsdale. I’m not sure when it reverted to Ann Arbor operation, perhaps during the PC era? Ford (later Faurencia) was always the big customer on that line. It’s too bad it no longer needs rail service, but I’m so pleased AA is leaving the line in place and making revenue off car storage there. I wish I had made an effort to chase trains on that line when I lived there, but it wasn’t just after dark, it was typically the wee wee hours as they would do that run on their southbound turn from Osmer: cutoff their southbound cars at Pittsfield JCT, back around the wye with their Saline cars, then lead west to the plant, run around, switch it all out, then head back to grab the rest of their train north of the Pittsfield wye and continue to Toledo. I guess they must have shoved from Saline all the way to Pittsfield.
Maybe we’ll get lucky and another rail customer will set up shop along what remains of the line someday. Did that ancient AA boxcar parked at the end of track in Saline near Maple Road finally get cut up?
We’d love you to report in on any AA sightings you see!
I was lucky enough to catch the AA doing a evening move to the Saline plant one Friday night while officiating a track meet at the Saline High School track. You could see through the trees to the tracks as the AARR came through to work the plant.
As far as I know the normal operations are still a night train to Osmer, although if they have a grain train it can and will run at any time of the day or night because of timing restrictions for trains off the NS system. There is only a limited amount of time from when the train leaves the NS system until it has to be loaded and back, so the GLC and AARR will run grain trains on occassion seperate from the manifest freight trains that also run the line.
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
Considering the line is torn up there, probably not. They used to interchange on the AML right by the Huron River bridge at Ann Arbor, it was a switch right before the bridge and they would usually take a few cars at a time, because I'm sure it was a large grade. The track was torn up sometimes in the 80's or 90's (From google earth archive data). Funnily enough, they still have the box for the crossing equipment, as the spur went over N Main (Bus US23).chapmaja wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:17 amThe former Ford Plant in Saline was never shut down. It was sold a couple times. The problem for rail service is that the products produced there used to be shipped to Mexico, which made sense for a railroad to service. That product is now shipped to Wayne, a trip trucks can make much quicker and more cost effectively.
What would have been interesting is to see if the short haul would use rail if they still have the Saline branch going all the way up to the Michigan Line so it coould be a single haul trip. My guess is it still would go by truck, but it would be interesting to see.
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
Grain trains are usually what you can find running daylight.Thatmichrailfan wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:19 pmThanks for the response and kind words! I've heard that they run grain trains at dusk at Osmer, as that is when I caught the AA train at Osmer. Also, for your question about the old NYC branch at Saline now, I think it was during the Michigan Interstate days when they got the line, considering it was torn up in '76, I think.
The normal road freight is out of Toledo around 5 so during the summer you can usually get them into AA at sundown.
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
IIRC the last Assembly Plant to receive Saline's product by rail was in Minneapolis.chapmaja wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:17 amThe former Ford Plant in Saline was never shut down. It was sold a couple times. The problem for rail service is that the products produced there used to be shipped to Mexico, which made sense for a railroad to service. That product is now shipped to Wayne, a trip trucks can make much quicker and more cost effectively.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
That one that Soo/CP served on that interesting line thru the neighborhood?AARR wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:18 pmIIRC the last Assembly Plant to receive Saline's product by rail was in Minneapolis.chapmaja wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:17 amThe former Ford Plant in Saline was never shut down. It was sold a couple times. The problem for rail service is that the products produced there used to be shipped to Mexico, which made sense for a railroad to service. That product is now shipped to Wayne, a trip trucks can make much quicker and more cost effectively.
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
That sounds correctLansingRailFan wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:20 pmThat one that Soo/CP served on that interesting line thru the neighborhood?AARR wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:18 pmIIRC the last Assembly Plant to receive Saline's product by rail was in Minneapolis.chapmaja wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:17 amThe former Ford Plant in Saline was never shut down. It was sold a couple times. The problem for rail service is that the products produced there used to be shipped to Mexico, which made sense for a railroad to service. That product is now shipped to Wayne, a trip trucks can make much quicker and more cost effectively.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
The CP Ford Hauler was in St. Paul, MN. That served the Ranger plant before it closed.
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
Yes, St. Paul Assembly made Rangers. I was lucky enough to go on a tour once, but I was pretty young. My dad worked for Ford and somehow got my family a chance to tag along with another group while we were visiting family in the Twin Cities around 2006 - I think they were a university master’s students. I wish I were older. No cameras were allowed, of course. I don’t remember much but I do recall walking along the interior dock where the 86’ boxcars of parts (maybe from Saline!) were being unloaded. Those cars are HUGE.
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
Thank you! Do they interchange any freight at Osmer too? Or is it light power by then?Erroneous Monk wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:01 pmGrain trains are usually what you can find running daylight.Thatmichrailfan wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:19 pmThanks for the response and kind words! I've heard that they run grain trains at dusk at Osmer, as that is when I caught the AA train at Osmer. Also, for your question about the old NYC branch at Saline now, I think it was during the Michigan Interstate days when they got the line, considering it was torn up in '76, I think.
The normal road freight is out of Toledo around 5 so during the summer you can usually get them into AA at sundown.
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
Really the only reason they ever go north of Dundee is to interchange freight with GLC and this happens most weekdays. Grain train extras are randomThatmichrailfan wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:06 amThank you! Do they interchange any freight at Osmer too? Or is it light power by then?
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
Autoracks were interchanged to NS at Milan a few years back. The NS 121 would make a pickup at the Arkona Siding to relieve Oakwood and Toledo congestion.Erroneous Monk wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:52 amReally the only reason they ever go north of Dundee is to interchange freight with GLC and this happens most weekdays. Grain train extras are randomThatmichrailfan wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:06 amThank you! Do they interchange any freight at Osmer too? Or is it light power by then?
Is any interchange still happening between NS and AA at Milan?
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
Unless they started doing this again, they haven't run racks to Milan since 2020.ConrailDetroit wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 3:49 pmAutoracks were interchanged to NS at Milan a few years back. The NS 121 would make a pickup at the Arkona Siding to relieve Oakwood and Toledo congestion.Erroneous Monk wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:52 amReally the only reason they ever go north of Dundee is to interchange freight with GLC and this happens most weekdays. Grain train extras are randomThatmichrailfan wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:06 amThank you! Do they interchange any freight at Osmer too? Or is it light power by then?
Is any interchange still happening between NS and AA at Milan?
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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains
If not auto racks, what do AA & NS interchange in Milan?cfriedri wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 6:53 pmUnless they started doing this again, they haven't run racks to Milan since 2020.ConrailDetroit wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 3:49 pmIs any interchange still happening between NS and AA at Milan?
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...