Looking for photos of Detroit's railroad stations

**jmlowman** · September-15-09, 10:22 PM

Hi, I'm new here. Former resident of Flint and now living in California.

Does anyone have any photos, particularly of the interiors, of Fort Street Union Station, Michigan Central Station or Brush Street Station?

I was in Detroit in July and shot a few photos of the exterior of Michigan Central Station. Hopefully, this structure can be saved. Any news on that? Last I heard, an individual was awarded an injunction to halt the demolition.

Thanks in advance for any leads,

Jim

**boulevard_nights** · September-16-09, 01:11 AM

I can't help with photos, but maybe one day. "Urban exploring" can be dangerous and is likely to be illegal.

Agreed, Michigan Central is a spectacular piece of work, even if it resembles a monolithic gravestone these days. Did you do any exploring when you were in the D, or only view the outsides?

**jmlowman** · September-16-09, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by boulevard_nights

I can't help with photos, but maybe one day. "Urban exploring" can be dangerous and is likely to be illegal.

Agreed, Michigan Central is a spectacular piece of work, even if it resembles a monolithic gravestone these days. Did you do any exploring when you were in the D, or only view the outsides?

Yes, I've seen at least one website with photos where someone climbed all the way to the roof level of Michigan Central Station. I'd be concerned about going inside at all, much less navigating 18 stories. Now it's fenced in.

I was there only a short time, got to the street side of MC Station and shot a couple of quick photos, not knowing how good or bad that neighborhood is.

**Detroitgayhistoryguy** · September-16-09, 03:41 AM

Here is a cool pic of MCS. You'll find tons of photos of it online.

**jmlowman** · September-16-09, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitgayhistoryguy

Here is a cool pic of MCS. You'll find tons of photos of it online.

Nice photo - thanks! I'll look around online.

**douglasm** · September-16-09, 06:09 AM

Aparently the forum has changed looks again, as I don't see a link to the old forum. If you can find a way in, there is a grand thread on Fort Street Union Station that ended up spreading out to cover railroads in Detroit in general. It's definately worth a look.

As to Brush Street, I'm suprised there aren't many photos out there, but you might try contacting the Grand Trunk Western Historical Society here:
http://gtwhs.tripod.com/
or by making a trip to Durand on Saturdays. Their archives are in Durand Union Station and are open Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm.

Hope this helps.....

**MikeM** · September-16-09, 06:44 AM

http://atdetroit.net/forum/messages/6790/54651.html

**jmlowman** · September-16-09, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by MikeM

http://atdetroit.net/forum/messages/6790/54651.html

Thanks, Mike. That's going to take a while to view, but should have a lot of good information.

**jmlowman** · September-16-09, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by douglasm

As to Brush Street, I'm suprised there aren't many photos out there, but you might try contacting the Grand Trunk Western Historical Society here:
http://gtwhs.tripod.com/
or by making a trip to Durand on Saturdays. Their archives are in Durand Union Station and are open Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm.

Hope this helps.....

I tried to do a search on the site, but it's asking for login credentials. Maybe it's for members only?

I was at Durand two summers ago and took a thorough tour of the museum, but I suppose I'd need to be present to view the archives.

**buildingsofdetroit** · September-16-09, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by jmlowman

Hi, I'm new here. Former resident of Flint and now living in California.

Does anyone have any photos, particularly of the interiors, of Fort Street Union Station, Michigan Central Station or Brush Street Station?

I was in Detroit in July and shot a few photos of the exterior of Michigan Central Station. Hopefully, this structure can be saved. Any news on that? Last I heard, an individual was awarded an injunction to halt the demolition.

I have photos of the interior and exterior of the Union Station and MCS [[then and now) at www.buildingsofdetroit.com

**jmlowman** · September-16-09, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by buildingsofdetroit

I have photos of the interior and exterior of the Union Station and MCS [[then and now) at www.buildingsofdetroit.com

Very nice! Thanks for those photos.

**douglasm** · September-16-09, 04:37 PM

You might try contacting The Michigan Railroad Club through their website.

http://www.michiganrailroads.com/Mic...RRClubHome.htm

Possibly one of their members has some interior shots of Fort Street Union and Brush Street. As to the GTWRHS, contact them anyway. Although they might not have any photos in their Durand archives, some of their members might. Like I said though, the problem with finding interior photos was that it was about the most nondescript station you'll run across. My theory was why waste film on something like that, when the Huron and Lansdowne's ferry slip was 20 yards away......

**jmlowman** · September-16-09, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by douglasm

You might try contacting The Michigan Railroad Club through their website.

Someone answered my e-mail promptly, but said that the group really doesn't have a photo archive. Worth a try, though!

**PlymouthRes** · September-17-09, 09:38 AM

jm-

Have you seen or heard of the Arcadia Publishing book series? They have a pretty good book [[lots of old postcard type pictures) showing the entire Michigan railroad history. It also discusses the chronological progression of the railroad industry and the mergers/buyouts of all of the railroads that operated in Michigan from the very beginning until now.

The Acknowledgements and Introduction pages at the beginning also detail the sources, in depth, that were used in the compilation of the book. At the end of the book there is also an extensive bibliography to support the data within the book that may be of interest to you as well.

The MC terminal is higlighted on many pages, but pages 21, 22 and 23 show two exterior shots and two exterior shots that may be more along the lines of what you are looking for.

The book is available at all retailers around town. I would imagine that if you are doing this type of a project that the book would be essential to you.

Hope this helps!

Res

**PlymouthRes** · September-17-09, 09:40 AM

PS- Name of the book is "Images of Rail-Railroad Depots of Michigan".

**jmlowman** · September-17-09, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by PlymouthRes

PS- Name of the book is "Images of Rail-Railroad Depots of Michigan".

Thanks! I don't live in Michigan any longer, but I put an order in with Amazon.com

Those Arcadia books are great - I have several of them, including one on the Michigan Central.

**douglasm** · September-17-09, 07:18 PM

You know, it's a shame the Michigan Railroad Club doesn't have a photo archive, given all the steam excursions out of Windsor [[Walkerville) and Brush Street they sponsored in the 60's. I still think I have cinders in my hair.....

**mcsdetroitfriend** · September-17-09, 10:18 PM

those are definitely a start I've seen both sites before they're very useful! Hopefully some people will post some unpublished photographs!

**mcsdetroitfriend** · September-21-09, 01:04 PM

rsa.313 hate to make you repost something but I looked through your list of posts and searched on here [[albeit I'm in a rush so I didn't search too hard) and found nothing =\

**jmlowman** · September-21-09, 02:37 PM

The thread probably is in the archives. I'm new to the site and didn't notice a search function for each archive. If someone would post a link it would be helpful.

**DetroitZack** · September-21-09, 08:24 PM

I have a bunch of old postcards of MCS that I can scan for you if you would like. As well as a book with pictures and some history of railroad depots in Michigan.

**jmlowman** · September-21-09, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitZack

I have a bunch of old postcards of MCS that I can scan for you if you would like. As well as a book with pictures and some history of railroad depots in Michigan.

That would be great! Thanks for the offer.

If the book is this one, though, I have it on order and should receive it in about a week:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/073..._ya_oh_product

**DetroitZack** · September-21-09, 09:13 PM

I love the Images of America books. I also have one called "Detroit's Michigan Central Station". You should check it out, there are a lot of interior pictures too. Architecture of train stations has always interested me. I've thought of making a website to post pictures of train station across the state. I have a lot of pictures you may be interested in seeing, though mine are mostly exterior. Anways, I will try to get the post cards scanned soon.

**mcsdetroitfriend** · September-21-09, 11:52 PM

Zack, that's the book we've all been referring to as "the Arcadia book" thanks though

Check my flickr photostream for an article written right as the station opened [[which I found someone referring to in the archives), I will be posting more stuff as I find or have the time to photocopy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashtonp...7621870139708/

**jmlowman** · September-22-09, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitZack

I love the Images of America books. I also have one called "Detroit's Michigan Central Station". You should check it out, there are a lot of interior pictures too. Architecture of train stations has always interested me. I've thought of making a website to post pictures of train station across the state. I have a lot of pictures you may be interested in seeing, though mine are mostly exterior. Anways, I will try to get the post cards scanned soon.

Zack, Jack Marshall has a website at www.depotmaps.com with photos of many of the depots in Michigan, as well as most other states. I've contributed about 100 photos to his site in the last couple of years, including one of the Michigan Central Station that I took in July.