Toledo Blade March 9, 1950
Ann Arbor Rail Service Cut OK'd
LANSING. Mich., March 9 (AP) The Michigan Public Service Commission todaypermitted the Ann Arbor Railroad to discontinue part of its passenger service on its line running between Frankfort, Mich., and Toledo.
In an order issued today the commission required the railroad to maintain its once-daily passenger train between Frankfort and Durand. At Durand passengers for other points including Toledo will transfer to the Grand Trunk Railroad.
The order discontinues passenger service between Durand and Toledo and will result in the end of north-south service for such communities as Howell,Ann Arbor and Milan.
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ANN ARBOR RAILROAD COMPANY YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1950
PASSENGER SERVICE DISCONTINUED For a number of years the Company has endeavored to discontinue the unprofitable operation of passenger train service between Toledo, Ohio, and Frankfort, Michigan. World War II interfered with efforts to that end, but in the fall of 1949 the Michigan Public Service Commission granted a hearing on the matter, and an order was issued by the Commission on February 21, 1950, that a part of the unprofitable operation be continued. A temporary restraining order was obtained from the Federal Court at Detroit, Michigan, against enforcement of this order and an interlocutory injunction restraining the Michigan Public Service Commission from enforcing the order was granted by the three-judge Federal Court on July 6, 1950. On July 13, 1950 the Court entered a preliminary injunction and on July 20, 1950, all passenger service was discontinued. On September 18, 1950, the injunction was made permanent. All exclusive passenger facilities which cannot be put to useful service have been or will be dismantled.
COMPLETE DIESELIZATION ACCOMPLISHED Delivery of seven 3200 h.p. diesel-electric road freight locomotives, two 1000 h.p. diesel-electric road switching locomotives and four 660 h.p. diesel-electric switching locomotives, which were placed in service in December, 1950, provided sufficient diesel motive power to permit the discontinuance of use. of steam locomotives and roadway facilities required solely for steam operation. The use of this new efficient type of power is expected to produce substantial savings in the cost of operation.
The Owosso Argus-Press Sept. 27, 1950
Ann Arbor Railroad Diesels Will Replace Steam Locomotives
Company to Remodel Building Here, Erect 200,000 Gallon Fuel Tanks
The familiar chug of the old iron horse will be a thing of the past on the Ann Arbor Railroad after the middle of December. In its place will be heard the throbbing of mighty Diesel engines.
During November and December, D. J. Gareau, superintendent of the Ann Arbor railroad has announced, delivery of Diesel engines now on order will be completed.
The order includes seven freight engines of 3,200 horse power capacity for road freight service, two 1,000 horse power freight engines for local service, and four 660 horse power yard switch engines to complete the Dieselization of the Ann Arbor.
Three Diesel switch engines have been in use on the railroad for the past several years.
Conversion to Diesel electric power. Mr. Gareau explained will increase the railroad's capacity and enable the Ann Arbor to maintain its competitive position.
Economies too, he said, bulk large in the decision, since Diesel engines do not require wayside fuel and water stations, cleaning of fires enroute or servicing at each terminal. Faster runs are possible, he remarked, through elimination of fuel and water stops enroute.
Alterations will be made in existing structures in Owosso,Mr. Gareau said, to convert them for service and repairs of the new engines. The Owosso shop, he added, will continue as the principal locomotive repair and maintenance station.
Also planned, he continued, is construction in Owosso of fuel oil storage tanks with a capacity of 200,000 gallons.
The engines, he said, together with servicing and repair facilities at Owosso and in other locations, will represent an outlay of approximately $3,000,000.
The Owosso Argus-Press Oct. 31, 1950 (30 years ago)
A new turntable has been installed in the Ann Arbor yards. It is an 80-foot turntable and was made necessary to “shop” the four big engines recently secured from the Santa Fe Railroad.
