Flat Rock Yard
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:03 am
IIRC Flat Rock used to be a hump yard at one time and was then converted to Flat switching.
Looking at the Flat Rock Yard on Google Maps I see what appears to be 4 distinct sets of tracks. Starting on the south end of the property,
South end) I see the 7 track wide south yard that curves close to Vreeland Rd and is somewhat disconnected from the rest of the yard.
Middle South - I see a clustrer of 4 tracks adjacent to a cluster of 3 tracks. The 4 tracks run the length of the yard and connect to the various yard leads at both ends. This is the track to the north of the turntable complex. The 3 track cluster starts at the same area as the eastern end of the three track cluster, but connects to the main yard section in the middle of the yard.
Main Yard - The next section I see is what I think was the old hump yard tracks. Two tracks fan out into a large cluster of tracks in the middle of the yard. This is located next to the old hump tower on the east end of the yard. These tracks recombined near the western end and seems to connect more easily to the northern set of tracks.
Northern End) I see what appears to be about 13 tracks on the side of the yard. These tracks run the entire length of the yard.
My question is what was the use of each cluster of tracks when Flat Rock was still a hump yard? Was the southern most set even present or was this built to serve the auto plant south of the yard?
My guess would be the Middle South tracks would have been the arrival yard. This would seem the easiest track cluster to pull cars from to run over the hump.
The hump tracks are pretty obvious. The northern set of tracks would appewr to be the departure yard. This would appear the easiest tracks to pull cars from the hump tracks and put into trains on the departure tracks.
Also, was there ever any consideration to putting a grade separation at either end of the yard? I know Hall road was severed after at one time crossing the east end of the yard. I am a bit surprised Vreeland was never part of a separation project.
Looking at the Flat Rock Yard on Google Maps I see what appears to be 4 distinct sets of tracks. Starting on the south end of the property,
South end) I see the 7 track wide south yard that curves close to Vreeland Rd and is somewhat disconnected from the rest of the yard.
Middle South - I see a clustrer of 4 tracks adjacent to a cluster of 3 tracks. The 4 tracks run the length of the yard and connect to the various yard leads at both ends. This is the track to the north of the turntable complex. The 3 track cluster starts at the same area as the eastern end of the three track cluster, but connects to the main yard section in the middle of the yard.
Main Yard - The next section I see is what I think was the old hump yard tracks. Two tracks fan out into a large cluster of tracks in the middle of the yard. This is located next to the old hump tower on the east end of the yard. These tracks recombined near the western end and seems to connect more easily to the northern set of tracks.
Northern End) I see what appears to be about 13 tracks on the side of the yard. These tracks run the entire length of the yard.
My question is what was the use of each cluster of tracks when Flat Rock was still a hump yard? Was the southern most set even present or was this built to serve the auto plant south of the yard?
My guess would be the Middle South tracks would have been the arrival yard. This would seem the easiest track cluster to pull cars from to run over the hump.
The hump tracks are pretty obvious. The northern set of tracks would appewr to be the departure yard. This would appear the easiest tracks to pull cars from the hump tracks and put into trains on the departure tracks.
Also, was there ever any consideration to putting a grade separation at either end of the yard? I know Hall road was severed after at one time crossing the east end of the yard. I am a bit surprised Vreeland was never part of a separation project.