{"id":2469,"date":"2019-03-03T07:59:03","date_gmt":"2019-03-03T12:59:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/?p=2469"},"modified":"2019-10-22T12:13:27","modified_gmt":"2019-10-22T16:13:27","slug":"expressway-for-industry-detroit-toledo-shore-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/expressway-for-industry-detroit-toledo-shore-line\/","title":{"rendered":"Expressway for Industry – Detroit & Toledo Shore Line"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The corridor between Toledo and Detroit contains several\nrail lines. The area was a who\u2019s who of Northeastern railroad giants. Within\nthe corridor existed the small but highly efficient short line, the Detroit\n& Toledo Shore Line (reporting mark DTS). The line lasted until 1981 when\nit was absorbed into one those giants. During its existence the 47-mile double\ntrack line was continuously busy and profitable, paying dividends to its owners\non a regular basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DTS was formed from a failed interurban line in 1899. In\n1902 the Grand Trunk Western (GTW) and the Clover Leaf (Toledo, St. Louis and\nWestern Railroad) purchased the line. The GTW wanted direct access to the\nEast-West interchanges in Toledo while the Clover Leaf (later Nickle Plate)\nwanted access to the growing industrial complexes of Detroit. Once acquired,\nthe line was quickly upgraded to GTW standards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From an early GTW map <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a bridge route with a lot of traffic from the parent\nroads, the DTS grew and was very profitable even in times when other roads had\ntrouble. During the height of the steam era the line relied on a small fleet of\nMikados and Consolidations for most of its main line work. When the line moved\nto diesels it purchased all EMD units. The DTS purchased its first diesel in\n1950 (SW7) and its last in 1953 (GP7). In the end, the entire diesel fleet was\n16 units consisting of SW7, SW9 and GP7 units. This fleet would serve the line\nuntil 1981 without change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Typical DTS GP7 in later paint scheme.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

DTS trains were not limited to DTS trackage. Through trains\nran at various points on the GTW with some going all the way to Flint and Port\nHuron. The GTW also ran through trains over the DTS through to Toledo. In 1981\nGTW purchased the 50% from Norfolk Southern and the line became part of GTW as\nthe Shore Line Subdivision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DTS SW7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The DTS handled a large amount of traffic reporting 243\nmillion net ton-miles of revenue freight in 1960. The DTS never handled a\nsingle passenger and was a freight only line for its entire existence. Although\nthe line was double tracked, the line did suffer from traffic issues due to its\ncrossing other roads in the congested corridor, especially in West Detroit at Ecorse\nJct., NS Bridge, CSX Delray, and the Dix Ave. interlockings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DTS #76 GP7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Models of the DTS GP7 and some freight cars are available in\nN and HO. O scale has a few freight cars. Modelling the DTS could be done on a\nsmall or large scale. The DTS served several industries at various points on\nthe line plus had its through freights for operational interest. Occasional\nflashes of GTW GP38 and GP40 could be introduced to break up the scenes and\nprovide visual interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Atlas HO GP7 with DTS paint scheme<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you are not into operations, the DTS is a great subject. Its\ndouble track main could easily be put into a continuous running layout with a\nyard to allow trains to arrive and depart. Any number of scenes could be\nincluded to give viewing and photo interest. A quick search found the following\nthree track planes which would work on a 4×8 in HO or 2×4 in N scale. These are\nfrom the Michael Fischer\u2019s Track plans\nwebpage<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Simple double track loop with small yard and some industries.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Split layout to provide additional visual interest and additional yard space.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Additional information and photographs are available on-line\nfrom a variety of sources. Some I found very enjoyable include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n