Station: Battle Creek, MI - GTW Facilities

The Grand Trunk Western railroad had major locomotive and car shops in northeast Battle Creek and the town was a division point for the railroad.

Photo info: Top, GTW 1951, an Alco RS-1, at the GTW Battle Creek shops in 1976. [Charlie Whipp] Middle photos, a landscape view of the shops in 1976. [Charlie Whipp], Bottom, a postcard view the GTW shops, date unknown. [Tim Shanahan]. 7t photo, GTW 5800 is photographed inside the Battle Creek shops in 1984 [Jim Slater]. 8th photo, a view of the shops during the winter of 1993. [Charles Geletzke Jr.]

Photo Info: GTW Battle Creek Roundhouse. The last photo is of a derailment in Battle Creek Yard which brought out the wrecker outfit. 1988 [Charles Geletzke]

Notes

The GTW had a 90' electrically operated turntable here, which was removed in the 1980's.

Time Line

1886. At the C&GT shops there is a drive well 40 feet deep in sand rock, that for four years has supplied perfectly pure, cold water. Since the earthquake the water is full of white animaleuae (sic)(?) resembling little serpents. [AR-1886-0917]

1889. The GTW installs a 60' steel turntable at Nichols Yard. The through-girder turntable is manufactured by the D.B. & Iron Works. [GTBB]

1881, The GTW builds a 34'x130' 22' high frame ice house at Nichols yard. [GTBB]