Delray Tower Shutdown / To Be Torn Down

[CharlieX90]

There are always rumors...... I had a 10 minute talk with the maintainer about the tower and the items he was moving out of it at the time. So, if it is a rumor, then the railroad management should not let it out to their workers....

My father was an operator there in the 50's through the middle 60's. I can remember switching on the lights and gates with knife type switches back then. The levers are still there, as of 1995 when I was in the tower, and they control the turnout switches with electric relays connected to the lever in the tower.

Pete

I noticed someone removing the items on the inside walls of the tower last night

[hoborich]

Even if they close down the tower, what's the point of tearing it down? That piece of property is not exactly prime for development. They could save it as some kind of historic site.

[CharlieX90]

Even if they close down the tower, what's the point of tearing it down? That piece of property is not exactly prime for development. They could save it as some kind of historic site.

yeah but what kind of tourist would visit it?? hell who would wanna even visit Detroit or Delray?

[KenB]

And whats wrong with visiting Detroit? There are three casinos, Great art museum, nice Historical museum, a marine museum, very nice conservatory on Belle Isle, a nice park. The Diamond jack river tours, the people mover. Great ride for fifty cents. A pre-civil War era Fort to visit, Ft. Wayne. See trains at Delray or Milwaukee Jct. The craft fair in the old Murray body plant. Hart plaza, the riverwalk.

The railroad would like to tear down the tower to: A. lower their taxes,

B. Get rid of the liability of some one torching the place and stopping the railroad.

If you don't like Detroit...don't come here but don't bash the place based on the news media.

[azimmer]

They could save it as some kind of historic site.

I can't understand this railroad nostalgia.

When Kroger replaces its human-operated cash registers with self-serve check out scanners, do we all weep and moan for the old, obsolete ways?

Time marches on. Things get better. Human-staffed rail towers are no longer necessary and should be allowed to quietly disappear. Don't kick up a fuss. Just understand and enjoy the new technology.

What does make me sad and angry, however, is the decision to abandon development of the 6000 HP locomotive. Engineering difficulties made them give it up. The 6000 HP loco is an example of true technical progress and the lack of fortitude and resolve on the part of the manufacturers and the railroad companies should make everyone bitter.

[Mackinac Mac]

The read sad loss is that of more jobs and a craft that will someday be forgotten.

[CharlieX90]

Well Ken i dont know about you....but im sick of getting propositioned by a hooker everytime i go to Delray in the middle of the day..Or having the "Hood Boys" ride by and look at us like we are some dumb "crackers".That is exactly why i only go to Delray if i need to get a CP heading for the tunnel as was the case today...and wouldnt you know it,i got asked if i wanted to go for a car ride with the hooker.

[redside20]

Well Ken i dont know about you....but im sick of getting propositioned by a hooker everytime i go to Delray in the middle of the day..Or having the "Hood Boys" ride by and look at us like we are some dumb "crackers".That is exactly why i only go to Delray if i need to get a CP heading for the tunnel as was the case today...and wouldnt you know it,i got asked if i wanted to go for a car ride with the hooker.

really..i live out of state and i've been to Delray three times and i wasn't bothered at all. However i did get glares from the local hood rats as they drove by in their ghetto blasters and hooptys and even witnessed a drug deal go on down the street between ghetto rats in a hoopty and some dude sitting on the curb and tossing glass bottles in the street. And other than the six wheel dump trucks clamoring by from cement factory didn't really bother me at all

[Trainman2223]

100% agree with Ken. Detroit has plenty of good things..but as with any "urban" city there is rif-raf and trash....sad to know the tower is going that was the only way to know that was delray and not just detroit. if/when they tear down the tower i wont forget the big blue sign with delray in white letters kind of a city limits sign.

[CharlieX90]

Well Ken i dont know about you....but im sick of getting propositioned by a hooker everytime i go to Delray in the middle of the day..Or having the "Hood Boys" ride by and look at us like we are some dumb "crackers".That is exactly why i only go to Delray if i need to get a CP heading for the tunnel as was the case today...and wouldnt you know it,i got asked if i wanted to go for a car ride with the hooker.

really..i live out of state and i've been to Delray three times and i wasn't bothered at all. However i did get glares from the local hood rats as they drove by in their ghetto blasters and hooptys and even witnessed a drug deal go on down the street between ghetto rats in a hoopty and some dude sitting on the curb and tossing glass bottles in the street. And other than the six wheel dump trucks clamoring by from cement factory didn't really bother me at all

yeah has happened to me the last 3 times ive been there..Same girl too..She comes up asking what time it is and then asks if i wanna go for a ride...the first few times she would see my scanner and think i was a cop or something.

[AJR]

When will people relize that Detroit is dead. Its a third word country city with no hope. They may have a few attraction items, but for the most part it is a dead city. If its so great then why those promoting Detroit as this great place move into the city??????

[nssd70m-2]

I rarely have any problems with Delray ,mainly because im well...."in a building near the tracks" when im there... The worst thing i've seen so far were 2 guys chasing and crashing into each other with there cars.

[CharlieX90]

When will people relize that Detroit is dead. Its a third word country city with no hope. They may have a few attraction items, but for the most part it is a dead city. If its so great then why those promoting Detroit as this great place move into the city??????

Agree 100 percent...We all knew this tower would go sooner or later...not get your pics and quit sulking about it.

[PAT.C]

LOOK AT THE RIFLE BULLET HOLE THRU THE NORTH EAST FACING WINDOW. THE BULLET ENTERED THRU THE STEEL DOOR ON THE S.W SIDE AND WENT THRU THE BULLET PROOF GLASS .
PISTOL BULLETS ONLY SMUDGE THE GLASS.
DETROIT IS AN OPEN SORE THAT IS SUCKING TAX DOLLARS OUT OF ALL TAXPAYERS IN MICHIGAN.
MAYOR BING IS A GREAT MAN DOING AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB WITH A MASSIVE PROBLEM - I PRAY THAT HE IS SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFUL AS WE WILL ALL BENEFIT FROM HIS ACTIONS.

I SELDOM GO TO DETROIT AND WHEN I DO , THE TRIGGER OF A .38 SPEC IS WITHIN INCHES OF MY HAND.

AND IF YOU DISAGREE WITH MY OPINION...
WATCH SOME OF THESE VIDEOS AND LOOK AT THE PICS.

http://ksc711.smugmug.com/Detroit-FD

AND HERE IS ONE MORE STAT TO THINK ABOUT...

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-ne ... of-america

[redside20]

While most of Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park are on the decline...one can still find parts of the Detroit metro safe to go to..I always enjoyed going to Dearborn because of the retail areas and the folks there are friendly. Ferndale, Royal Oak, Allen Park, Taylor, Southfield, and Livonia are some bright spots as well...And then you have places like Inkster, Redford, Wayne, Ecorse, etc....spotty...but livable

[willardgarrett]

What does make me sad and angry, however, is the decision to abandon development of the 6000 HP locomotive. Engineering difficulties made them give it up. The 6000 HP loco is an example of true technical progress and the lack of fortitude and resolve on the part of the manufacturers and the railroad companies should make everyone bitter.

6000HPX2=12000HP
4400HPX3=13200HP
No real reason for 6000hp in this day and age in this country.

[GTW6401]

How did the subject swing from the tower being removed to how dangerous the area is.

The area around Delray Junction isn’t the greatest area - but this shouldn’t be news to anyone since the neighborhood has been on the rougher side for the past 30 years. I’ve been going to Delray since the mid-1990s with my dad when I was 13 years old - I’m now 27.

I was down there yesterday for around an hour. I stayed in my car unless I was getting out to take photos. Typically the only people that talk to me down there are people looking for directions on how to get onto I-75. I actually feel more uncomfortable at places like Union Station in Chicago where the homeless are constantly asking me for money.

Railfans who arent comfortable watching trains in an area like Delray might want to see some of the same trains in different spots in the suburbs, like CP Trains near Oakwood Junction or the NS and CN in Wyandotte.

[hoborich]

Charlie X90 wrote:

Well Ken i dont know about you....but im sick of getting propositioned by a hooker everytime i go to Delray in the middle of the day..

What have you got, that I don't have?
I never get propositioned anymore. Sniff.

Was it that skinny chick, with the long brown hair? She walked right by my van the other day, and just gave me a quick look out of the corner of her eye. Never missed a step.

[CharlieX90]

Charlie X90 wrote:

Well Ken i dont know about you....but im sick of getting propositioned by a hooker everytime i go to Delray in the middle of the day..

What have you got, that I don't have?
I never get propositioned anymore. Sniff.

Was it that skinny chick, with the long brown hair? She walked right by my van the other day, and just gave me a quick look out of the corner of her eye. Never missed a step.

No but she came looking too..It was the short black one who constantly walks back and forth between the tower and the 75 ramp...i have yet to have anyone ask for directions but have been asked if i have any "Dro" or know anyone that has it....but i guess thats the hood for you.

[hoborich]

Never heard of "Dro".