Gaines
Prior to October, 2017, the only experiences I had in the state of Michigan were a few retreats in Adrian, some trips to the airport in Detroit and occasional railfanning around Monroe, not far from Toledo.
Last fall, I journeyed the furthest north I've been into the state when I chased Pere Marquette 1225 on an excursion from Alma to Owosso. After spending some time in Owosso, I ventured over to Durand to check out the Canadian National main line, meeting up with some local railfans who were more than willing to show me around the area.
Later in the day, we learned of an eastbound train approaching Durand, which would turn south onto the Holly Sub, headed for Pontiac. We relocated to the small community of Gaines, south of Durand, where a set of old signals still stood. Led by a pair of SD70M-2s, train Q116 passes the old searchlight signal in Gaines on a blustery cold fall evening. These signals were removed a few months later, replaced with PTC equipped ones.
Gaines
Prior to October, 2017, the only experiences I had in the state of Michigan were a few retreats in Adrian, some trips to the airport in Detroit and occasional railfanning around Monroe, not far from Toledo.
Last fall, I journeyed the furthest north I've been into the state when I chased Pere Marquette 1225 on an excursion from Alma to Owosso. After spending some time in Owosso, I ventured over to Durand to check out the Canadian National main line, meeting up with some local railfans who were more than willing to show me around the area.
Later in the day, we learned of an eastbound train approaching Durand, which would turn south onto the Holly Sub, headed for Pontiac. We relocated to the small community of Gaines, south of Durand, where a set of old signals still stood. Led by a pair of SD70M-2s, train Q116 passes the old searchlight signal in Gaines on a blustery cold fall evening. These signals were removed a few months later, replaced with PTC equipped ones.