An Afternoon in Durand

A westbound crude oil tank train passes the classic Durand Union Station in late afternoon.

We recently made a short trip to Michigan to visit my wife’s family in Flint. I was able to get away for the afternoon to spend some time in nearby Durand.

Durand is a nice place to visit, but you have to be prepared to spend a lot of time looking at rail and listening to a silent scanner.

I waited more than an hour before the first train arrived, an eastbound Canadian National manifest freight.

That was at 1:45 p.m. CN then went silent until 4:15 p.m. In about 45 minutes, three CN trains converged on Durand from the east, west and south.

But it wasn’t all silent during that long lull. A Huron & Eastern train showed up just after 2 p.m.

It had an eclectic motive power consist of five locomotives.

That was more than what was needed for a 19-car train, but two of the locomotives were left behind after the train made a pickup and headed back up the Saginaw Subdivision.

There were several signal maintainers and track workers out during the afternoon.

Much of the work involved the switches on the CN Holly Subdivision. I’m not sure what all those guys were doing.

I also noticed that the searchlight style signals are still in use in Durand, although their days are numbered.

The new modern hood-type signals are already up and appear ready to be turned on at any time.

Although the searchlight signals will be missed, the new signals will offer advantages to railfans.

At present, the only signals visible from the Durand Union Station are at East Durand, which is well east of the depot.

That is about to change. Observers will be able to see the signals for the Durand diamond for westbound trains on the Flint Subdivision.

Also visible will be signals south of the station on the Holly Sub and signals for northbound trains before they get onto the Flint Sub.

Another set of signals by the Main Street crossing of the Flint Sub located to the east of the station will also show what is lined up heading toward Flint for eastbound traffic.

It won’t mean more trains, but being able to see the signals will provide more information about what is coming.

Article and Photographs by Craig Sanders

The second train of the day that I saw was the Huron & Eastern train coming into town on the Sagniaw Subdivision. It is heading out onto the Port Huron wye.

It’s quite a colorful motive consist leading the Huron & Eastern train into Durand.

Wearing a new livery that shows it is a Genesee & Wyoming family member, N&E No. 3038 is a GP40-2LW. It is the first of three roster shots that I made of this motive power consist.

What’s this Indiana & Southern interloper doing here?

The old livery of the Huron & Eastern 3866, a GP38-2 that once belonged to the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie as well as the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. It was built for the latter.

Before it could go home, the H&E train had to back out of the yard and onto the Port Huron wye of Canadian National. A crew member watches the signals and switches as the train backs past a former Grant Trunk caboose now on static display.

After making a pickup and dropping off two units, the H&E train is ready to leave Durand.

Union Pacific was the leader of this northbound manifest freight on the Holly Sub, but the motive power consist also included locomotives of CN, BNSF and Grand Trunk Western.

The fourth unit on the manifest freight from Flat Rock had a former Grant Trunk Western GP38-2. Sure, it was trailing but how many of these can you see these days?

Here comes a tank train headed west. It is on Track No. 1 of the Flint Sub.

Banging across the diamonds, this train will work the yard in Durand.

Pulling down to get onto the Port Huron wye to go work the yard located on the former Grand Trunk line to Grand Haven. Today, CN, Huron & Eastern and Great Lakes Central interchange cars there.

Make a left turn onto Main Street and you’ll be driving into the side of a train.

 

Tags: Canadian National, Canadian National locomotives, Durand Michigan, Huron & Eastern motive power, Huron & Eastern Railway, Railfanning in Durand Michigan