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An image posted to the newsgroup alt.binaries.pictures.rail shows a Detroit scene from 1971:



Doing some research, I discover that Acme Paint was located on St. Aubin street so this must be Milwaukee Junction.

Acme Paint seems to have been a large facility judging by the two widely separated towers seen in the photo. When, and why, did this Acme Paint plant disappear? Did they ship by rail?

1950 and 1951 were the last two RS1's built IIRC. If you look real close at the top where the hood ends there's a little lip. I believe these were the only units built with that subtle feature. Originally they were to be assigned to the passenger station in Chicago but eventually made their way around the GTW system until finding a niche as local power on the Greenville Sub.

Acme Paint was a big plant. Received product in tankcars. Think they were bought out by City for GM Poletown project.

The tower in the photograph is SAINT AUBIN STREET TOWER, which controlled the road crossing signals at the crossing of SAINT AUBIN and CLAY STREETS across NYC and GTW tracks. This tower was approximately one-half mile North of MILWAUKEE JUNCTION.

Cool picture. Have anymore to share??

People still use newsgroups?

AARR wrote:1950 and 1951 were the last two RS1's built IIRC. If you look real close at the top where the hood ends there's a little lip. I believe these were the only units built with that subtle feature. Originally they were to be assigned to the passenger station in Chicago but eventually made their way around the GTW system until finding a niche as local power on the Greenville Sub.

I believe they were also frequent power on the Jackson line as well. You are correct these were the last two RS1's built in November 1957 and the only ones with the lip on the hoods. 1951 survives at the Illinois Railway Museum.

MP73point4 wrote:

AARR wrote:1950 and 1951 were the last two RS1's built IIRC. Originally they were to be assigned to the passenger station in Chicago but eventually made their way around the GTW system until finding a niche as local power on the Greenville Sub.

I believe they were also frequent power on the Jackson line as well. 1951 survives at the Illinois Railway Museum.

Yes they were, I remember seeing them often in Pinckney Michigan before those tracks were abandoned and pulled out.

azimmer wrote:An image posted to the newsgroup alt.binaries.pictures.rail shows a Detroit scene from 1971:



Doing some research, I discover that Acme Paint was located on St. Aubin street so this must be Milwaukee Junction.

Acme Paint seems to have been a large facility judging by the two widely separated towers seen in the photo. When, and why, did this Acme Paint plant disappear? Did they ship by rail?

came across this article in Detroit Free Press back in 1962 couple of storage tank filled with paint thinner went up in flames

J T wrote:People still use newsgroups?

I guess....alt.stumped.confused.oldtimers.binaries? (precursor of the #)

NYCMan wrote:The tower in the photograph is SAINT AUBIN STREET TOWER, which controlled the road crossing signals at the crossing of SAINT AUBIN and CLAY STREETS across NYC and GTW tracks. This tower was approximately one-half mile North of MILWAUKEE JUNCTION.

Thanks for this info.

The area has changed drasticlly over the intervening years. The street layout must be quite different but, with the exception of the tower demolition, the tracks are still the same.

J T wrote:People still use newsgroups?

Benefits of Usenet newsgroups

No censorship
No tracking.
No registration.
No need to put up with annoying javascript tricks and formatting wizardry .
Super-abundance of a wide variety of material (too much in fact).
Extremely easy access.
Extremely fast downlods.

Drawbacks of Usenet

Requires more computer sophistication.
Requires manual installatiion and configuration of software (too much for most people to handle ite seems).
Requires understanding of the difference between image compression and transmission encoding (too much for most people to handle ite seems).
Requires tolerance and thick skin due to the vigorous and vituperative flame wars (too much for most people to handle it seems).

azimmer wrote:

J T wrote:People still use newsgroups?

Benefits of Usenet newsgroups

No censorship
No tracking.
No registration.
No need to put up with annoying javascript tricks and formatting wizardry .
Super-abundance of a wide variety of material (too much in fact).
Extremely easy access.
Extremely fast downlods.

I can get all that with a google image search.

I was a heavy newsgroup user back in the 90s, buy when the internet "changed," I quickly deserted them. I guess I just figured that old way of doing things would have gone the same way as the dodo bird and dial up modems.

I was a heavy newsgroup user back in the 90s, buy when the internet "changed," I quickly deserted them. I guess I just figured that old way of doing things would have gone the same way as the dodo bird and dial up modems.

HEY MR. SMARTAZZ KOMPUTR KNOW IT ALL - I USE AN ETCH-A-SKETCH AND I DRINK MILLER LITE !!!!!!!!!

THE OLD WAY WORKS FOR ME !!!!


U R A BEER SNOB !!!!!!!!!

J T wrote:I guess I just figured that old way of doing things would have gone the same way as the dodo bird and dial up modems.

Software and net protocols do not rust or corrode. They do not "age." Only human attitudes, based in irrational emotions, change. Web 2.0/3.0 is a fashion, using glitz and flash to cover up extreme awkwardness and inefficiency.

Time

Google search and download of 10,000 images: 3 hours minimum.

Usenet search and download of 10,000 images: 60 seconds maximum.

Both the 1950 and the 1951 were repainted from their original green and gold scheme. The 1951 was the regular power on the Jackson local, when I worked on the GTW in Pontiac, in the late 60s. I believe the 1950 was used on the Pontiac, Oxford and Northern local, to Bad Axe. The Jackson local ran to Jackson and back, Mon thru Friday, and usually would back into the yard. I remember the conductor blowing the caboose air whistle for the Johnson Ave crossing most days around 5:00.

I can't see a number on that ladder truck, but it likely is Ladder 11, which was stationed at Milwaukee and Riopelle, along with Engine 13, and would have been first due at Acme Paint. Both companys were closed many years ago, shortly after a firefighter was decapitated on Ladder 11. The companies had received an alarm, and a firefighter climbed up into the tiller bucket on the rear of the ladder truck. He stood up in the tiller bucket to buckle his firecoat, just as the rig pulled out of quarters, and a ceiling beam took his head nearly off. The station was closed shortly after.

I'd like to see the GTW 1950 (or anything on steel rails for that matter) rolling down the old PO&N by my house here in Oxford. Alas, just a bike path now - devoid of rails and ties.

Progress...

We used to get a lot of gravel from the Oxford pits.

azimmer wrote:

J T wrote:I guess I just figured that old way of doing things would have gone the same way as the dodo bird and dial up modems.

Software and net protocols do not rust or corrode. They do not "age." Only human attitudes, based in irrational emotions, change. Web 2.0/3.0 is a fashion, using glitz and flash to cover up extreme awkwardness and inefficiency.

Time

Google search and download of 10,000 images: 3 hours minimum.

Usenet search and download of 10,000 images: 60 seconds maximum.

Makes sense. I guess the usenet is good for those people who don't want to be caught sharing illegal images, too.

BL2-1843 wrote: Yes they were, I remember seeing them often in Pinckney Michigan before those tracks were abandoned and pulled out.

Do you happen to have any pictures from the line through the Pinckney area. I live about 2 miles south of town and have spent plenty of time on the Lakeland Trail, but sadly never got a chance to see trains operating the line. I did see the GT serving South Lyon once or twice, but by that time the line ended there.