A northbound Grand Trunk Western gravel train pulls past XD Tower at Oxford, Michigan.  This photo was taken in 1957 by Michigan Central Engineer E. L. Novak as he sat waiting for his signal to proceed through the interlocking.  The building at the left was the Junction Hotel.  The tower was operated by the Michigan Central Railroad.  The Oxford Depot is behind the 3751, which is a Mikado type.  Both railroads are now gone.  The GTW ran a daily round trip train to Oxford from Pontiac to sort gravel at the Oxford yard.  Another GTW train, which ran every other day, went north to Caseville at the top of the thumb and returned the following day, Monday through Saturday.  The NYC also had a yard in Oxford and in the 1950's used to average 50-90 cars per day of aggregate (according to records from Lapeer tower).

 [Charlie Whipp Collection]

Oxford, MI

Grand Trunk Western