South: This section focuses on the GR&I branch between Traverse City and Walton Junction
Document a composite trip south between the two
2462 On connector track to return to the GR&I
2477 On connector track to return to the GR&I
This Great Lakes Central train movement is departing Traverse City for the main track
at Walton Junction. The location is near that of the former Pere Marquette station in
town, a part of which can be seen in the background. The handsome station now houses
eateries and lies between the north end of Boardman Lake and East 8th Street.
The diminutive train is seen here on what (I assume) was once a spur that crossed the
Pere Marquette to serve a customer near Wellington Street. With some reconfiguration,
the train is now moving fromt he PM to he GR&I. GLC 399 is an EMD GP38-2 built for
Penn Central in 1972. Taken June 15th 2017.
3992 Alongside Keystone Road (2-23-21)
0016 Keystone Road with light rail evident
9971 Keystone Road with curves near new construction over railroad
July 10th 2018.
5925 Keystone Road as seen from the observatory
Heading Home—Seen from the J. H. Rogers Observatory
Here the turn is seen here heading back up the former Grand Rapids & Indiana branch
along Keystone Road toward Walton Junction. From there it will get on the main and
return to Cadillac, Michigan. The Great Lakes Central crew has worked Beacon Recycling
and the lumber yard at Williamsburg this Friday; I’m standing adjacent to the J. H.
Rogers Observatory for this viewpoint. Taken August 2nd 2019.
7876 Seen off River Road (with birches)
In this image, the local train down to Traverse City has picked up the empty bulkhead cars
from Amerhart and is taking them back up the branch. Taken during the summer of 2016.
4063 Seen off River Road (2-23-21)
4073 Seen off River Road (2-23-21)
5940 Mayfield coming
5941 Mayfield going
7901 Summit City coming
7907 Summit City going
5950 Arriving Walton Jct
5953 Arriving Walton Junction, on wye
Walton Junction: this is where the Traverse City branch of the former Grand Rapids &
Indiana (later Pennsylvania Railroad) meets its mainline. In this image, the Traverse
City job, of the Great Lakes Central, has come up the branch, negotiated the wye, and
has coupled itself onto some cars (from the north) I believe it left on the main. It
will now head down to Cadillac, about 23 miles to the south. Taken August 2nd 2019.