Ann Arbor Railroad Trains

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Thatmichrailfan
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Ann Arbor Railroad Trains

Unread post by Thatmichrailfan »

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

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Thatmichrailfan wrote:
Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:11 am
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!
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.

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

Unread post by Thatmichrailfan »

LansingRailFan wrote:
Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:57 am
Thatmichrailfan wrote:
Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:11 am
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!
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.

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.
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.

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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains

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Thatmichrailfan wrote:
Mon Feb 03, 2025 9:10 am
LansingRailFan wrote:
Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:57 am
Thatmichrailfan wrote:
Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:11 am
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!
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.

There's four online customers in Dundee, MI and about 10 in Toledo, OH. That's it.
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.
Yeah whomever is in that space now does not want rail service. Tis a shame.

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

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Thatmichrailfan wrote:
Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:11 am
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!
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.

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!

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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains

Unread post by chapmaja »

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.

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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains

Unread post by chapmaja »

GP30M4216 wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:13 am
Thatmichrailfan wrote:
Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:11 am
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!
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.

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!
The boxcar that was at the end of the Saline Branch is now in Milan, on the spur by the old lumber yard.

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

Unread post by Thatmichrailfan »

chapmaja wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:23 am
GP30M4216 wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:13 am
Thatmichrailfan wrote:
Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:11 am
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!
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.

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!
The boxcar that was at the end of the Saline Branch is now in Milan, on the spur by the old lumber yard.

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.
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.

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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains

Unread post by Thatmichrailfan »

chapmaja wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:17 am
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.
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).

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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains

Unread post by Erroneous Monk »

Thatmichrailfan wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:19 pm
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.
Grain trains are usually what you can find running daylight.


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

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chapmaja wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:17 am
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.
IIRC the last Assembly Plant to receive Saline's product by rail was in Minneapolis.
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

Unread post by LansingRailFan »

AARR wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:18 pm
chapmaja wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:17 am
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.
IIRC the last Assembly Plant to receive Saline's product by rail was in Minneapolis.
That one that Soo/CP served on that interesting line thru the neighborhood?

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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains

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LansingRailFan wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:20 pm
AARR wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:18 pm
chapmaja wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:17 am
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.
IIRC the last Assembly Plant to receive Saline's product by rail was in Minneapolis.
That one that Soo/CP served on that interesting line thru the neighborhood?
That sounds correct
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

Unread post by GTW6401 »

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

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GTW6401 wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:08 pm
The CP Ford Hauler was in St. Paul, MN. That served the Ranger plant before it closed.
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

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Erroneous Monk wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:01 pm
Thatmichrailfan wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:19 pm
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.
Grain trains are usually what you can find running daylight.


The normal road freight is out of Toledo around 5 so during the summer you can usually get them into AA at sundown.
Thank 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

Unread post by Erroneous Monk »

Thatmichrailfan wrote:
Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:06 am
Thank you! Do they interchange any freight at Osmer too? Or is it light power by then?
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 random

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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains

Unread post by ConrailDetr​oit »

Erroneous Monk wrote:
Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:52 am
Thatmichrailfan wrote:
Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:06 am
Thank you! Do they interchange any freight at Osmer too? Or is it light power by then?
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 random
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.

Is any interchange still happening between NS and AA at Milan?

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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains

Unread post by cfriedri »

ConrailDetr​oit wrote:
Fri Feb 07, 2025 3:49 pm
Erroneous Monk wrote:
Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:52 am
Thatmichrailfan wrote:
Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:06 am
Thank you! Do they interchange any freight at Osmer too? Or is it light power by then?
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 random
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.

Is any interchange still happening between NS and AA at Milan?
Unless they started doing this again, they haven't run racks to Milan since 2020.
Connor

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Re: Ann Arbor Railroad Trains

Unread post by AARR »

cfriedri wrote:
Fri Feb 07, 2025 6:53 pm
ConrailDetr​oit wrote:
Fri Feb 07, 2025 3:49 pm
Is any interchange still happening between NS and AA at Milan?
Unless they started doing this again, they haven't run racks to Milan since 2020.
If not auto racks, what do AA & NS interchange in 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...

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