Grand Trunk Memories

A Grand Trunk Western train crosses the Conrail Chicago line at Vickers in Toledo on April 29, 1984

With the recent debut of the Canadian National Heritage schemes, I looked back in my photo collection knowing I had examples from years ago.

I found from several photographs of Grand Trunk Western motive power that I made while railfanning with Marty Surdyk in Toledo and Durand, Michigan.

There are, of course several locomotives still wearing Grand Trunk and Illinois Central liveries that are in pretty good condition. 

In this post are some photographs from 1984 and 1985, including images made during a railfan outing on April 29, 1984, to Toledo.

Also shown are excursions sponsored by the Bluewater Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society from Toledo to Durand for the May 5, 1985, Durand Railroad Days.

During that event a caboose train offered train rides.

In addition to Toledo and Durand, some photographs were made in Michigan at Luna, Monroe, Wyandotte and Corunna.

Photographs by Edward Ribinskas

The caboose of the GTW train at Vickers

A Bluewater Michigan NRHS chapter excursion at Toledo on May 5, 1985.

At Luna, Michigan

At Monroe, Michigan

At Wyandotte, Michigan

At Durand, Michigan

The caboose train at Durand

At Corunna, Michigan

Blue Water Donating Observation Car to N.C. Museum

A crew member rides the rear of a former Seaboard Air Line observation car owned by the Blue Water Michigan Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society during an excursion pulled by Pere Marquette No. 1225.

A Michigan group plans to donate its tavern lounge observation car to the North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation.

The streamlined car was built in 1947 for the Seaboard Air Line and was for many years a fixture on excursions operated by the Bluewater Michigan Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.

The chapter is disbanding and disposing of its collection of passenger equipment.

No. 6604 is an 85-foot stainless steel rail car featuring a hidden bedroom for hostesses and a rounded observation section with swiveling chairs.

Most recently the car has been used by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“I’m happy to return this car to its home rails,” said Bluewater President John Moore.

During it days at the SAL, No. 6604 ran in the consists of such New York-Florida streamliners as the Silver Meteor and Silver Star.

It was saw use on the Silver Comet, running between New York and Birmingham, Alabama.

The North Carolina museum plans to use the 6604 for such special event train rides as Brew & Choo, The Polar Express, and Wine & Dine.

Plans are being worked out to move the car to Spencer, North Carolina, after its lease with the TVRM expires.