The GTW had a large roundhouse in Durand to support two main lines and branches to Muskegon (via Ashley) and to Bay City. The roundhouse had an 85' electrically operated turntable, in addition to a roundhouse and a large concrete coaling facility which still exists today (2020) but is inoperative. The railroad also had a large freight yard here and it was a major interchange yard for their lines in five different directions which centered here.
Photo Info: Top, a yard locomotive and crew pauses for a photo at the roundhouse in a postcard view. 2nd image, a 1920's view of two locomotives at the Durand roundhouse in a postcard view. This photo gives a good view of the attached machine shop.
1873. The DGH&M installs a 60' iron deck girder turntable at Durand. [GTBB]
1901. The DGH&M builds a 50'x100' 24' high ice house at Durand. It holds 2,500 tons of ice. [GTBB]
1908. February. A new roundhouse opens at Durand. [SBR]
1929. January. Durand's roundhouse was constructed in 1907 and houses 40 engines at one time. Now the building has a new roof and a new sewage system. A machine shop and stationery boiler room which houses three boilers and has been extended at the rear of the round house. The railroad has its own water supply of three tanks, each holding 100,000 gallons. Strong flood lights of 1500 watts each are placed on the exterior of the building. The roundhouse also has its own fire squad. [FLJ-1929-0101]
The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:
